Mississippi Rebels
Southeastern Conference (16-15, 7-9)
Seed: #
RPI: 83
Big Wins: 1/27 Kentucky (85-80), 2/4 Auburn (78-59), 2/18 Tennessee (81-65)
Bad Losses: 12/30 vs Southern Miss (59-78), 1/21 at Alabama (73-76), 2/28 Alabama (69-90)
Coach: Andy Kennedy
Probable Starters:
Terrico White, Freshman, Guard, 13.7 ppg, 2.3 apg
David Huertas, Junior, Guard, 18.1 ppg, 2.3 apg, 4.5 rpg
Zach Graham, Sophomore, Guard, 8.5 ppg, 3.1 rpg
Murphy Holloway, Freshman, Forward, 8.4 ppg, 6.6 rpg
Malcolm White, Sophomore, Forward, 7.2 ppg, 5.7 rpg
Key Roleplayers:
Will Bogan, Freshman, Guard, 2.3 ppg, 1.4 apg
DeAundre Cranston, Junior, Forward, 3.1 ppg, 4.2 rpg
Terrance Henry, Freshman, Forward, 4.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg
Why They Can Surprise:
It is understandable that Mississippi struggled much of the 2008-2009 campaign. They lost Trevor Gaskins, Eniel Polynice and Chris Warren to injuries early in the campaign and it took a long time for the team to recover. Polynice and Warren would have been starters throughout the season and Gaskins was named to the SEC All-Freshmen team last year and was ready to increase his playing time. Instead, Coach Andy Kennedy had to break in a new group of guards.
Terrico White has taken over the point guard duties. He struggled for a while, but the 6-5 freshman really stepped it up late in the season and has emerged as a great scoring threat and a decent ball handler. Zach Graham has also stepped into a starting role due to injuries. He is a consistent outside shooter and will use his 6-6 frame to mix it up in the paint. Those two players are getting better with every game and Ole Miss can be a dangerous offensive team if that trend continues.
Why They Can Disappoint:
Like White and Graham, Murphy Holloway has been asked to play more than most expected at the beginning of the season. The 6-7 freshman does not have great numbers on the season, but he did have a nice run of double-doubles in February and is always a threat to score 10 to 15 points and grab just as many rebounds. The problem is Holloway is not a post player. Malcolm White is the only shot blocking threat on the team, but at 6-9 and 217 pounds, he can get out matched physically by stronger opponents. On the bench, Terrance Henry has the same problem and DeAundre Cranston, who has the size to battle in the paint, is not a scoring threat.
Who To Watch:
White and Graham were roleplayers who had to step into a starting gig, but David Huertas had to go from a decent scorer to the team’s main scoring option. And he has not disappointed. Last season Huertas struggled with his consistency, but that has not been as much of a problem this year. The 6-5 wing is a prolific outside shooter and knocks down 35.5 percent of his attempts. He is a lot more than just a shooter though and will get to the basket with ease. As the lone upperclassman in the starting lineup, Huertas has turned into a leader on the floor and that role will have to increase during the high pressure moments in March.
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 73.2 (85th in nation, 9th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 72.3 (277, 10)
Field-Goal Percentage: 43.3 (195, 11)
Field-Goal Defense: 43.0 (149, 8)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 7.0 (95, 5)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 34.1 (159, 6)
Free-Throw Percentage: 72.7 (54, 2)
Rebound Margin: 1.1 (154, 7)
Assists Per Game: 11.8 (254, 10)
Turnovers Per Game: 13.0 (102, 3)
Joel’s Bracket Says:
