Head coach Matt Insell reacts during the second half against LSU Sunday. Photo: Thomas Graning, The Daily Mississippian.
Van Chancellor. Peggie Gillom. Armintie Price.
Those are some of the names that Ole Miss women’s basketball head coach Matt Insell wants his team to remember. He also put up banners of some of the past Rebel teams that had success in the Southeastern Conference and in the NCAA tournament.
“I want the girls to look around and see the successful teams that came through our programs,” Insell said. “Teams that included Peggy Gillom and coach Van Chancellor, who made 14 NCAA tournament appearances as head coach here. I want our girls to have the mindset that it is our turn to create something special.”
Although 10-11 and 1-6 in the SEC may not seem like an improvement, the one win in the SEC column surely means a lot.
That sweet victory came against in-state rival Mississippi State last Thursday off a Kenyotta Jenkins tip-in buzzer beater. The Rebels prevailed 87-85 in arguably their best performance of the season. After the game, we all saw a very emotional Insell.
“This is the hardest I ever have had to work for a win,” Insell said. “I didn’t know this win would ever come. I’m working my tail off for these girls, and they’re playing their tail off for me. I’m going to give them everything I got during the game.”
In fact, that statement is accurate. Insell took his coat off and put it back on multiple times throughout the game. He got on all fours and crawled his way to this victory.
“One of the referees told me I was the craziest assistant in the league,” Insell said. “After the game, she told me I took over as the craziest head coach in the league.”
To make this win even sweeter for the Lady Rebels, it was the first win for seniors Diara Moore, Valencia McFarland and Jenkins against archrival Mississippi State.
“I’m proud of every kid that played in this game,” Insell said. “I’m proud of everyone on the bench. I’m proud of all of them. They stayed together, and they all wanted to win, and that’s what a team has to do to win.”
So where does Ole Miss go from here? I say, nowhere but up. With close losses to Baylor, LSU, Vanderbilt and Arkansas, optimism remains high for the Rebels. Even though the wins may not be there now, at least the Rebels are competitive.
“We’re going to stay the course, and we’re going to keep working every day and get better every day,” Insell said. “One of these days we’re going to look back on these days and laugh a little bit.”
Insell dreams and preaches that he will one day bring a national championship to Ole Miss. With his first SEC win in the books, we can all agree that his team is headed in the right direction.
For continuing coverage of Ole Miss women’s basketball, follow @browningstubbs and @thedm_sports on Twitter.
— Browning Stubbs
bbstubbs@go.olemiss.edu
