Ole Miss basketball fans don’t have it easy. After an up-and-down season filled with dramatic wins and heartbreaking losses, the Rebels’ season drew to a close after losing to Georgia Tech in the National Invitational Tournament. Yet all is not lost in Rebel nation; fans and players alike have plenty to be excited for next year. Here are a few places to start:
Terence Davis reacts after drawing a foul during a game earlier against Baylor this season. (Photo by: Cameron Brooks)
The young guns are maturing
For underclassmen, save the NBA-ready prospects of schools like Duke and Kentucky, a year of experience makes all the difference. There might not be a better example of this phenomenon in action than Terence Davis. The talented sophomore added 13 points to his points per game total from the 2015-2016 season, up to 14.9 from 1.9. And while foul trouble continues to plague Davis, his on-court maturity has visibly improved, and his decision making improved tenfold. Head coach Andy Kennedy is surely hoping Davis’ transformation rubs off on freshman ball handler Breein Tyree.
One of three freshmen on the Ole Miss team last season, Tyree certainly could become a household name in Oxford over the next few years. The point guard from Somerset, New Jersey, came alive during last season’s final stretch, posting 20 points against No. 5 Baylor and a 24-point game against Mississippi State. With that said, he also struggled at times with composure and made a habit of giving the ball away during high-pressure situations. Tyree possesses all the tools necessary to succeed in the SEC and NCAA. He simply needs to slow down and put it all together.
Speaking of freshmen …
When Ole Miss built The Pavilion two years ago, Kennedy spoke highly of the impact it would have on future recruiting. It turns out the longest tenured men’s basketball coach in the SEC was right. Leading the freshman class charge is 6-foot-3 shooting guard Devontae Shuler from Oak Hill Academy in Columbia, South Carolina. An ESPN top 100 prospect with interest from USC, South Carolina and NC State, Ole Miss fans should count on him to contribute early and often. With elite quickness and unparalleled energy, Shuler should threaten at both ends of the court.
Rounding out the class are Jamarko Pickett and Parker Stewart, a pair of three star recruits with talent to spare. Pickett, a 6-foot-7 small forward from Woodstock, Virginia, will challenge Justas Furmanavicius for minutes at the post, and Stewart, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard from Union City, Tennessee, could be the second coming of Terence Davis. Only time will tell, but the heavy contribution from freshmen next year is certainly within the realm of possibility.
The big 7-footer
There’s an elephant in the room, and it needs to be addressed. Sebastian Saiz is leaving the University of Mississippi. Ole Miss fans fell in love with the 6-foot-9-inch Spaniard over his four years in Oxford, and for good reason, Saiz was named an All-SEC selection after posting 23 double-doubles during his senior year. His absence will leave a huge hole in the Rebels’ lineup. Who will provide the size?
Enter 7-foot Polish center Dominik Olejniczak. A rising junior, Olejniczak began his career a Drake Bulldog, averaging more than 10 points per game during the final nine games of his freshman year. After transferring to Ole Miss for the 2014-15 season, NCAA transfer regulations kept him on the sidelines as a sophomore. It’s time to release the big 7-footer. Olejniczak should slot nicely into center, a position Saiz converted to after projecting as a power forward. Kennedy will finally have true size to work with, and if Olejniczak, who weighs in at 255 pounds, comes as advertised, he should own the paint next year.
