Sean Pedulla has been a first-half monster for Ole Miss basketball
Virginia Tech transfer Sean Pedulla is one of 10 seniors rostered by Ole Miss basketball.
Ole Miss returned the fourth-highest minutes-per-game figure (284.3) of all Power 5 programs and the most in the SEC.
Pedulla is one of the most experienced. Pedulla was an All-ACC guard with the Hokies. He played north of 100 games in three seasons and totaled over 1,200 points and 300 assists. Pedulla had a team-high 16.4 points a year ago.
“My game is to be aggressive on offense and defense,” Pedulla said in a previous interview with the Ole Miss Spirit. “I can create off the bounce and for my teammates. I like to play pressure defense. We played slower than I like at Virginia Tech; that was one of the selling points.”
Pedulla’s aggression on both ends has helped key the Rebels’ fast start to the 2024-25 campaign.
The Rebels (9-1) this week came in at No. 17 in the AP Top 25, their highest ranking since 2013. Ole Miss is No. 22 in the NET, the highest ranking in school history, and next hosts Southern (5-4) on Tuesday at 6 p.m. CT.
Something about the first half lately for @OleMissMBB's Sean Pedulla
— Jake Hromada (@JakeHromada) December 16, 2024
In the last 3 games, Pedulla is shooting 52% in the first half & is 10-15 from 3pt
He was 5-7 from 3 in the first half vs. USM last Saturday ⬇️⬇️ #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/jdiyYnHzOm
Pedulla is averaging a team-best 9.1 points per game in first halves of games this season.
He’s shooting 56.1 percent (23-41) from 3 and he’s scored 10 or more first-half points four times.
Pedulla scored 15 points on 5 of 7 from the floor (all 3s) in the Rebels’ 77-46 win over Southern Miss. He was 9 for 13 with a combined 27 points in first halves against the Golden Eagles and Lindenwood.
“Sean was aggressive on defense,” Beard said after the win over Southern Miss. “Very competitive on defense today. That happens in our sport; that will bleed into the other end.
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“If you’re thinking about the right things — getting stops, playing team defense — the offense normally takes care of itself when you’re as talented as Sean. But I did notice his extra intensity today on defense. I thought it bled into his offensive performance.”
To Beard’s point, Ole Miss held Southern Miss to just 18 second-half points. The Golden Eagles’ 46 points were the fewest allowed by the Rebels in a full game in nearly four years.
Even more, Ole Miss currently leads college basketball in turnovers forced per game (8.1). The Rebels rank second in turnover margin (+8.0).
Ole Miss has the nation’s fourth-best assist-to-turnover ratio (1.99). Jaylen Murray leads the Rebels (4.70). Pedulla and Matthew Murrell each rank in the Top 50 in steals. Ole Miss is averaging 10.0 per game, good for 20th in the NCAA.
The included photos were provided by Ole Miss Basketball.
Mikeal Brown-Jones
Dre Davis
Sean Pedulla
Eduardo Klafke and Jaemyn Brakefield
Sean Pedulla and Malik Dia
Cam Brent
John Bol
Davon Barnes
Wes Flanigan and Mikeal Brown-Jones
Ole Miss head coach Chris Beard
