Ole Miss basketball putting a bow on non-conference play with Samford
For all intents and purposes, the Ole Miss basketball team has put all the hay in the barn with SEC play set to start in a week.
There is one final tune up with the Rebels (8-3) hosting Samford (9-2) at the SJB Pavilion on Tuesday at 3 p.m. CT.
A week can make a world of difference and the Rebels are the perfect example currently. After coming off the loss to Western Kentucky in Atlanta on Dec. 11, the Rebels have won two straight.
The biggest difference has been the return of Daeshun Ruffin.
The freshman All-American returned last Wednesday and instantly jump-started an offense that was stagnant.
Ruffin is averaging 15.5 points in his first two games back from injury along with 1.5 assists and a steal per game. He is shooting 50 percent from the floor and 72.2 from the free throw line.
With Robert Allen out for the season and Austin Crowley dropping off in production after a hot start to the season, Ruffin has become crucial off the bench.
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In the Rebels win over Dayton on Saturday, Ruffin showed the explosiveness he can provide in the paint once his is 100 percent healthy again.
“From facilitating the ball to being a pest on defense, it’s a tremendous affect on the game that we play,” Nysier Brooks said of Ruffin’s return to the team. “Especially how (head coach Kermit Davis) wants us to play. His speed is unmatchable when he’s got the ball in his hands and he’s going downhill. It definitely helped our team getting those gaps that we need. … It’s definitely going to impact the game a lot more.”
With the offense sputtering at times through the first 11 games, the Rebels have been relying on their defense to keep them in games.
Opponents have been held to 70 or fewer points in nine games, including 60 points or less in five of their last eight game. The Rebels have forced double-digit turnovers in every game.
On the flip side, the Rebels have protected the ball well, finishing every game with fewer turnovers than their opponents. They currently tied for 45th in the nation — and sixth in the SEC — with a turnover margin of 3.5.
