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Notes and observations from the Rebels' 64-61 loss to Florida ...
There really isn't a lot to note and observe here. While the margin was only three points it was a crushing loss in terms of NCAA tournament hopes for a team that was ranked No. 14 in January.
The game took on the look of so many others for Ole Miss with the Rebels' inability to keep the opponent off the free throw line. Not only were the Gators at the line, they shot 92.6 percent when they got there. 25 of 27. It's hard to do that against air much less in a game.
But there you have it. Free throws. If the Gators are only 21 of 27 Ole Miss wins 61-60.
But Florida took advantage of opportunities, Ole Miss, with walking calls on multiple fastbreak opportunities, carrying calls while dribbling in the backcourt and simply losing control of the ball in traffic, did not. There were 15 turnovers in all for Ole Miss, and they led directly to 20 points for Florida.
The Gators played very well defensively, limiting Ole Miss to few clean looks at the basket. In the final 10-12 minutes when Ole Miss was struggling to get over the hump it got several buckets with a second shot, but basically got no clean looks off a set play from the offense, and after the first shot was missed Florida got the rebound.
Simply put, the Rebels are in "wait till next year mode." Their chances to reach the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2002 are about done unless they win the SEC tournament.
Next year they'll have to guard the post better and keep opponents off the free throw line. Maybe next year they'll be a little more equipped to do that. Incoming freshman DeMarco Cox will give them more size in the middle, a 6-8, 300 pounds, size they haven't had since DeWayne Curtis. Reggie Buckner will have a year under his belt and will be a better player. Buckner played 10 minutes yesterday, but wasn't the same guy. You could tell the ankle was a problem.
Another question next year will be the backcourt. The Rebels will lose only senior post DeAundre Cranston unless there is voluntary attrition from others, which could be the case.
They add Indiana transfer Nick Parker, a slashing scorer from the wing, and point guard Dundrecious Nelson.
The book on Nelson is that he gets to the rim and finishes, but at 5-11 he's only slightly taller than Chrsi Warren.
There was a time when one might ask what Andy Kennedy would do with more guards, but frankly, production from this season's talented guards has been lacking.
Parker and Nelson could come in and take minutes from say, Trevor Gaskins or Zach Graham.
Graham had six points yesterday but was only 2-for-6 from the field. Graham used to be able to get to the rim, but as teams have zoned up against Ole Miss night in and night out, he's been able to do that less and less.
Gaskins, a 3-point shooter hasn't been able to get the shot to fall consistnetly. He played only two minutes yesterday and did not attempt a shot.
Whatever the roster looks like next year, Kennedy will have a few more variables but will have to get them to play with more focus. That's not happening right now.
And the end result is Ole Miss -- if it wins a few more games -- will be headed to the NIT for the third time in four seasons.
his first year, he took a group of rod barnes leftovers to NIT second round and was named co-SEC coach of the year with stallings. second season, they won 24 games, missed out on the NCAA by one win, and went to madison square garden for the NIT final four after a big road win in blacksburg against a good virginia tech squad. last year, we had 3 key players who were out for the season, so it's hard to expect any team to do all that much with those circumstances.
i think this season is the first year that kennedy has had the group he has wanted on the floor. his recruiting has been very good over the years. this season has been very disappointing, mainly to the players. everybody knows the talent level of this team, and the potential is there.
if we were losing all these games by 10 points every week, i'd say you have more of a case to get rid of kennedy. it's just hard to let somebody go with 5 or 6 two-basket losses. granted, a loss is a loss... but execution on the court is what it really comes down to. kennedy can't make people not turn the ball over. what you look for is a coach who takes responsibility for his players' performances, and he has done that.
lastly --- this season isn't over. i suspect the same crowd that wants to throw in the towel on this season are the same ones who wanted to throw in the towel on the football season after it was clear they weren't going to atlanta.
hotty toddy. go rebels.
That is the story EVERY year. I don't know what the stats are, but it seems we're always undersized and getting to the line less than other teams, for the past 10 years. You can't win consistently if the other team shoots twice as many free throws.
I hope the NBA adopts an NFL type eligibility rule, so college ball will have more than a handful of 7-footers.
Ole Miss plays its first organized basketball game, but the celebration is cut short by a 12-11 loss to the Memphis Physicians. Legend has it that Ole Miss led 7-6 at the half, but lost out in the second half when “with the wind at their backs, the Physicians overcame our half-time lead for a narrow victory.” The game was reportedly played outdoors on a court located behind the Lyceum on the Oxford campus.
I can relate to those outdoor courts when playing basketball at Tula School.
I bet Mississippi State basketball can't go back that far in history.
JB
JB
And stokes, who do you think is making the calls to put these guys in the game? How many turnovers would you allow EP to have before you sat him down, for the rest of the night.....I'm pulling the trigger at 3 or 4.....NOT 7. We just aren't fundamentally sound on any facet of our basketball game. We are run and gun or nothing. We built a nice lead by hitting some 3's at the beginning of the game against the zone, and when those stopped falling, so did we. I just don't see what Kennedy has done to keep his job.....other than there's no other option.
You make a good point about the free throws...if they had missed a couple it would be a different story. Think of it like this though...Chris and Terrance both had their points. All we needed was four more points...that's two jump shots.
Zach Graham? Murphy Holloway? Terrico White? Eniel Polynice? How 'bout Trevor Gaskins? DeAundre?? He didn't have the first point...neither did Trevor. What about Buckner when he was in? He only had one basket.
Most notable was Eniel's 4 points and 7 turnovers.
Case in point: Give me two layups from this group of EXTREMELY capable players, and you've got a win. DESPITE Florida dominance at the free thrown line, and DESPITE Ole Miss turning it over five billion times.