Ole Miss women's basketball ready to 'beat up on somebody else' with exhibition this weekend
For the last month the Ole Miss women’s basketball team has hit the practice court inside the Touhy Basketball Center as preseason camp got underway.
But now the No. 12-ranked Rebels are ready to put that practice to use and take on someone other than their teammates for 40 minutes. That happens this weekend.
Ole Miss hosts Rust College at 3 p.m. CT on Sunday in an exhibition game as its only tune up before the regular season starts on November 6.
Head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin sees her team everyday and the desire building up to finally get the 2023-24 season underway as the follow up to a Sweet 16 run back in March.
“Training camp has been intense. They’ve been going at it,” McCuin said durin her appearance on Reb Talk on Thursday. “I’ve really been pushing them. We’ve been grinding them out. Training camp is probably the toughest prep time because it’s four weeks with no game in sight.
“They just want to beat up on somebody else. We have a phenomenal scout team. We have about 10 guys that come out and they beat up on them, but they want to beat up on somebody else and get a win for it. That starts pretty soon.”
Sunday will be the first chance for McCuin to introduce her new lineup to the public, including the trio of transfer standouts of Kennedy Tood-Willams (North Carolina), KK Deans (Florida) and Kharyssa Richardson (Arkansas).
On Thursday McCuin dubbed herself a “Portalista.”
Ole Miss also has a good core of returners this season that includes Madison Scott.
Earning preseason All-SEC honors, Scott is one of the longest-tenured players on McCuin’s roster. Each season there has been more and more expectations put on Scott and McCuin is asking for more from her seasoned forward this year.
McCuin also teased at what the future beyond this season could hold for Scott and Ole Miss.
“Maddie has to thrive in the leadership role this year,” McCuin said. “She’s a senior. She can use another year, but we’ll talk about that later. She say’s she’s coming back. But if you’re dealing with girls, one minute they’re staying the next they’re gone.
“Her leadership and then expanding her range. We’d like to see her shoot the three-point shot this year and continuing to be a two-way player, defensively.”
Scott is one to watch come next year’s WNBA Draft but she has a particular threshold in mind that could play into her decision to return to Oxford one more season or move to the next level.
“She’s on every draft board right now, but knowing Maddie she’s going to want to go Top 10 and they don’t have her Top 10. So she’s going to have to really step on the scene and make an impact right away.”
