Head coach Matt Insell talks to a referee during a game earlier this season.
Thomas Graning I The Daily Mississippian
Judging by the standings, you might think a team that is 10-15 overall and 1-10 in the Southeastern Conference is a laughing stock. Think again.
In a recent interview with Hotty Toddy Hotline, Ole Miss women’s basketball head coach Matt Insell expressed his hopes for SEC success.
“My vision for this program from the day I took this job was to get to the point where each year we are competing for SEC championships,” Insell said. “Every day, we’re working hard to get to that point, and that’s something will reach real soon.”
Insell preaches hard work and 100 percent effort at every game and practice. Now, where did he come up with these principles? Insell’s inspiration came from working under current Kentucky head coach Matthew Mitchell.
For the first time since Insell began working at Ole Miss, he will make his return to Lexington on Thursday to play his former team as a visiting opponent.
“When I was an assistant at Kentucky, I felt like I had the best job in America,” Insell said. “I did not want to leave Kentucky just for any head coaching job. When Ole Miss came around, it was a no-brainer. The biggest sell was playing in this league. It drives me night in and night out to play in the best conference in the country.”
As a team, he wants the game to be about the players, and not him.
“Is it a little bit special to go back and see some friends? Yeah, but we’ll approach this game the same way we would any other game,” Insell said. “I told the girls. This isn’t about me. It’s about you. All I’m trying to figure out is how we beat Kentucky.”
Coincidentally, Insell arrived at Kentucky with a situation very similar to the one the Rebels are in right now. Insell’s first year with the Wildcats resulted in just a .500 season. At Ole Miss, Insell is striving to get up to that .500 mark, and eventually to the top of the SEC.
“I’m not looking to struggle any more than we are right now,” Insell said. “It is a process. You have to stay the course. I’ll tell the girls I’m not quitting. ‘I’m going to attack this Kentucky game like we’re leading the SEC. I expect you to do the same. I expect you to play like that.’”
For continuing coverage of Ole Miss women’s basketball, follow @browningstubbs and @thedm_sports on Twitter.
