Mississippi guard Stefan Moody dribbles the ball in a game last week. (File Photo | Ariel Cobbert)
With the junior guard from Florida winning SEC Player of the Week two weeks ago— averaging 17.0 points, 4.5 assists, two rebounds and two steals — it’s safe to say that Stefan Moody has found a new home in Oxford.
The Kissimmee native continues to surprise many with his small 5-foot-10, 179 pound frame. Moody leads the Rebels in scoring at 15.6 points per game and has been the most consistent player all season. His efforts also won him the MVP award during the Emerald Coast Classic against Cincinnati and Creighton back in November. Needless to say, Moody is anchoring an Ole Miss offense that’s tied for second in the SEC at 7-3.
“I think I’m adjusting pretty well,” Moody said. “We’ve had a little bit of an up-and-down season, but, overall, I feel like I’m fitting in well with the squad.”
The recent performance from the junior has elevated the Rebels to a NCAA Tournament team and standing at third in the SEC standings.
He didn’t take many shots against Florida last Thursday, but Moody went 5-10 from the field with 18 points, including a game-winning three-pointer with just under three seconds left to seal the win on the road. Moody was a real threat from the three-point line, going 4-7 from beyond the arc.
Moody became a high-volume shooter against Arkansas Saturday, going 7-18 from the field with 16 points. The Rebels rely on Moody to make timely shots, but didn’t get those opportunities in the battle for 2nd in the SEC against Arkansas.
Many fans and media members are already comparing Moody to former Rebel guard Marshall Henderson, and the comparison makes Moody smile.
“It’s kind of funny, but I don’t really think about it,” Moody said. “I just kind of play my game, and if it happens to be compared to Marshall Henderson, then let it be that.”
Henderson even took to Twitter to support Moody following his huge tip-slam dunk vs. Missouri, tweeting: “O.M.G. Has anyone else noticed how Moody’s vertical has gone from 43-49 over the year from the announcers? Lol.”
The similarities between Moody and Henderson are shown primarily on the baseline, where both players run off baseline screens to make open threes.
“I feel like I’m adjusting pretty well in those shots,” Moody said. “If that’s where Coach Kennedy would like to get my shots up, then that’s where I’ll get them.”
According to ESPN “Bracketologist” Joe Lunardi, the Rebels are currently a safe 8-seed in the NCAA Tournament. As of right now, the Rebels would match up with Iowa in a battle between eight and nine seeds. Moody certainly believes that his team is capable of dancing in March as he pleads for himself and his team to play consistent down the stretch.
“We just have to play harder than the other team and focus on what we have to focus on, and we can accomplish that goal,” Moody said. “Hopefully, we’ll keep stacking up the wins.”
Moody looks to continue his strong play this week as Ole Miss plays critical games at Mississippi State Thursday and home against Tennessee Saturday.
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