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| INSIDE THE NUMBERS |
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2000-01 record: 20-11;
9-7 in SEC (3rd/West)
Postseason: Lost to UCLA 80-58 in first round of NCAA West Region.
RETURNING LEADERS
Points: Reed 14.6
Rebs: Reed 6.7
Assists: Sanders 2.7
FG: Sanders 54.9%
3pt: Sanders 50.7%
FT: Wade 79.4%
01-02 Stats:
Mississippi | SEC
KEY LOSSES
Jason Harrison | 9.7 ppg
PROJECTED STARTERS
G | David Sanders | Senior
G | Em. Wade | Fresh
F | Aaron Harper | Junior
F | Justin Reed | Junior
C | Derrick Allen | Senior
Player to Watch
Justin Reed
Junior Forward
Added outside shot to inside game; a preseason Wooden Award candidate, as well.
DATE TO REMEMBER
Ole Miss travels to LSU, it's first shot at the team it may wind up battling for one of the SEC's final at-large NCAA spots. (The November and December schedule is pretty dull stuff.)
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MISSISSIPPI REBELS
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The Rebels are serially underrated, and this could be another example. Despite being in the NCAA Tournament five of the last six years, despite returning four starters from last year's 20-win team, Ole Miss is again picked down the ladder in the Western Division: well behind Alabama and Mississippi State, and susceptible to sliding behind LSU.
Lowballing the Rebels has been dangerous over the years, but there is reason to question this team's upside.
Ole Miss isn't going to overwhelm anyone with talent, and this year has a glaring void at point guard. Justin Harrison, the fearless 5-5 point guard who finished his career third in school history in assists and steals and first in games played, must be replaced. Skinny 6-4 freshman Trey Pearson, Tennessee's Mr. Basketball last year, may be the most talented candidate. If he comes on, Ole Miss can keep junior sharp-shooter David Sanders in his more natural off-guard spot.
The Rebels might have the league's best natural set of forwards in juniors Justin Reed and Aaron Harper, who combined to average 26.5 points and 10.9 rebounds. What they need badly is for 6-9 Richard Kirklin and 6-10 John Gunn to add up to one solid center. Ole Miss was thin in that area last year but should be better off this time around.
TOUGH ENOUGH..............................
Rod Barnes teams don't often beat themselves, and never make it easy for the opposition to beat them. The Rebels have played admirably reliable and relentless defense since Barnes took over from Rob Evans five years ago. That alone will beat more gifted teams a few times out every year.
TOUGH ENOUGH?..............................
There just isn't overwhelming talent on the Ole Miss roster. Star power? No Rebel has averaged even 15 points per game since 1999. Reed has been Ole Miss' best performer the past two years, but as a 6-8 forward who plays from 17 feet and in, he seems to wear down by season's end. (He's averaging fewer than 10 points per game and only 2.5 foul shots in 11 March games.) The point guard question is a significant one as well.
BOTTOM LINE..............................
Mississippi has averaged more than 21 victories the past six seasons. A lenient schedule might help them get there again this year, but they'll need a point guard and a center to step up. The Rebels can't afford many non-conference slips, because their power rating may be shaky.
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