Ole Miss begins SEC play at No. 5 Tennessee with a roster that is fully 'bought in'
The non-conference slate is over and No. 22 Ole Miss came out on the other side undefeated, tying its best start in program history. Saturday begins the “second season” with Southeastern Conference play.
How much the Rebels (13-0) have grown since the summer and preseason camp in October will be known this weekend with a trip to Knoxville and No. 5 Tennessee (10-3) at 5 p.m. CT on Saturday first up on the SEC slate.
For first-year head coach Chris Beard the game against the Volunteers is the first barometer for just how much progress Ole Miss has made, especially in the last five games when he had a full roster at his disposal.
“I do think there’s been some positive growth in the team,” Beard said when talking to the media on Thursday. “Think back where we were that very first practice of the summer to where we are today, I think definitely have a better team. Better individual players, everybody’s improved and I hope the players can say the same thing about the staff.”
Ole Miss wrapped up non-conference play last Sunday with a win over Bryant. The schedule has been one where the Rebels have played on average one game a week since Dec. 10. That grind is going to intensify starting Saturday.
With the downtime between games it has allowed Beard to continue to check off those proverbial boxes every coach has in the early portion of a season. Though just like any coach, Beard wishes he was not competing against the clock.
“As a coach you always wish you had more time,” Beard added. “Another practice, another film session. We do believe in preparation around here. No different than anybody else in the SEC, I’m sure, but in terms of preparation you always wish you had a little bit more time. I am proud of this team. …These guys have bought in. Now it’s a matter of going out there and trying to play our best basketball when it matters most.”
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For more than half of the non-conference schedule Ole Miss was without its full roster but heading into January it is full strength.
Brandon Murray was the final player waiting on their waiver status and a court ruling in early December provided Beard the opportunity to utilize his full roster.
In the four games Murray has played in he is averaging six points per game, 2.5 rebounds and shooting 57.1 percent from the floor. He has been valued addition at the free-throw line, shooting 85.7 percent (6-7).
On the defensive end he has added three steals and tallied a block.
Murray along with Moussa Cisse both becoming eligible provided the boost Beard needed out of his team heading into SEC play and a push for the NCAA Tournament.
“Obviously a positive anytime you can add talented players to your roster,” Beard said. “Both of those guys were a real factor in the first games of the season when they weren’t playing. Great leadership from the bench. …To have those two guys back is obviously a positive. Those guys are going to be a big part of what we try to do here the next two-and-half months.”
Heading into Saturday Ole Miss is considered a 8-Seed by ESPN’s Joe Lunardi in this week’s ‘Bracketology’ update and currently No. 60 in the NET Rankings as of Thursday and Tennessee is No. 6.
