Mar 14, 2024; Nashville, TN, USA; Mississippi Rebels guard Matthew Murrell (11) shoots over Texas A&M Aggies ahead Solomon Washington (13) throughout the first half at Bridgestone Enviornment. Necessary Credit score: Steve Roberts-Imagn Pictures Ole Miss returns 4 of its prime 5 scorers from final season and provides 5 transfers who averaged double-figure scoring in 2023-24.
Expertise and depth are major explanation why Ole Miss is ranked No. 24 because it prepares to open the season towards Lengthy Island College on Monday in Oxford, Miss.
“We’re an older crew,” second-year coach Chris Beard stated. “They are not going to present us factors on the scoreboard earlier than the sport begins simply because we’re older, however I imagine there is a relationship between profitable and expertise.”
The Rebels went from a 20-loss crew two years in the past to a 20-17 crew that completed 7-11 within the Southeastern Convention in Beard’s first season. They have been picked No. 9 within the SEC preseason media ballot this yr.
Three senior guards might be key figures. Matthew Murrell averaged 16.2 factors and made 39.8 p.c of his 3-point makes an attempt final season. Dre Davis averaged 15.0 factors for Seton Corridor final season, and Sean Pedulla averaged 12.1 factors, 3.2 assists and three.0 rebounds in 102 video games throughout a three-year profession at Virginia Tech.
“I inform the blokes on a regular basis, we’ll have some particular segments, some particular moments, perhaps some particular video games offensively,” Beard stated, “however our destiny might be on the defensive finish, no completely different than anyone else in faculty basketball.”
Mississippi’s depth is such that Beard enters the season uncertain of his actual beginning lineup or rotation.
“In my thoughts we’ve got six starters,” he stated. “This can be a excellent spot to be. There might be a job for the (first) man coming off (the bench). It is a actually, actually essential job for us. We will play with guard play and we are able to play massive, too.
“There are going to be alternatives for guys all through the season. It’ll be laborious to play guys rotational minutes each sport simply due to the depth of our roster. However that is one thing we talked about in recruiting as we set this crew up.”
LIU is also hopeful of getting a lift from the switch portal. Senior wing Malachi Davis, a switch from Arizona State, was chosen to the preseason All-Northeast Convention crew.
“The essential factor is constructing the LIU model,” Davis advised Slam Journal. “We’re attempting to alter the tradition. We’re attempting to alter the atmosphere and produce the neighborhood collectively and do one thing actual particular this yr.”
One other notable newcomer is extremely touted freshman capturing guard Jalen “Roc” Lee. The highest returnees are sophomore ahead Jason Steele and senior level guard Terell Strickland, son of third-year coach Rod Strickland. Terell began his profession at James Madison however adopted his father to LIU earlier than final season.
The Sharks (7-22, 6-10 in 2023-24) have been picked fifth within the NEC preseason ballot.
“The sensible purpose for us is to win,” Steele stated. “We have now individuals who need to compete. Everybody right here desires to work and everybody desires to win.”
–Area Degree Media
