Ole Miss men's basketball searching for answers to end SEC losing skid

Through the first four games of the Southeastern Conference schedule Ole Miss is the last out of 14 teams still winless in the SEC. In fact, the Rebels have not won a game since defeating Temple nearly a month ago.

Ole Miss riding a five-game losing streak, including a loss to North Alabama that head coach Kermit Davis called “embarrassing” on Friday. Four of those losses have come in SEC play with Tuesday’s loss to Auburn the latest.

Saturday brings the next opportunity to get into the SEC win column with the Rebels (8-8, 0-4 SEC) hosting Georgia (12-4, 2-1) at Noon CT.

Davis is continuing that search for consistency on offense in practices and even noted they are “tinkering” with different things to see if something can be found for a spark.

“Maybe give (guard) Matt (Murrell) some other opportunities. Maybe give some other guys opportunities,” Davis said. “We haven’t scored it around the goal great and I think we’ve had some good looks around rim. Even Matt, he hasn’t shot it great in SEC play. He’s had some great, great looks. Daeshun (Ruffin) has had some great, great looks and still trying to find his way.”

Despite the struggles over the last couple weeks Murrell is still Ole Miss’ leading scorer, averaging 15.9 points per game.

Murrell is the only Ole Miss player averaging in double figures through 16 games.

The second best scorer for the Rebels behind Murrell is Jaemyn Brakefield who is averaging 9.1 points per game. Though in SEC play Brakefield is averaging 13.2 points per game and has scored in double figures in all four games.

On and off the court Davis is asking more of Murrell in a leadership role along with Tye Fagan and Robert Allen in this stretch of the season.

“We’re even trying to get Matt’s voice to be louder and louder and just encouraging Matt that he’s got to go back and rebound,” Davis said. “Make the toughness plays, make the 50-50 balls and win games even without scoring. …He’s fighting it every single day.”

Body language was something Davis spoke about following the Auburn loss and how Tigers guard Wendell Green, Jr. carried himself and wanting to see that out of his players in practices.

Davis clarified on Friday it was not from a point of negativity but maybe from a source of inspiration.

“I was not so much in a negative way against us but in such a positive way from an older guard, hoping that our younger guards can emulate that kind of swagger and toughness,” Davis said. “I didn’t see Green as a freshman, so maybe he was a guy that’s evolved into that. I thought our practice (on Thursday) was really, really competitive. I thought TJ (Caldwell) and Amaree (Abram) competed at a high level for young guys. Our other guards are fine. We just got to keep making progress and have those freshman grow into roles.”

The string of losses has not taken a toll on the team mentally, according to Davis, but the sense of urgency is still there.

Practices are still physical but is not translating into a full 40-minute game since the start of SEC play.

The four-week stretch of losses is not causing a snowball effect on the players, yet, nor has Davis noticed anything heading towards that direction in the day-to-day grind of the season.

“Practices still really matter,” Davis said. “The physicality of it, just trying to get better and better and better. Our last win was Temple. So, a long time (ago). I think getting the winning taste back in your mouth and try to gain some momentum.

“I can only sense (losses snowballing) in practice and I haven’t sensed that at all. You come to a practice and you’ll see the physicality and guys are together and trying their tails off.”

Watch Kermit Davis’ full press conference from Friday below. Video courtesy of Ole Miss Sports Productions.