Valencia McFarland dances during Square Jam Oct. 25.
Photo by Tyler Jackson I The Daily Mississippian
The Ole Miss women’s basketball team is set to tip off the 2013-14 season Sunday with an exhibition game against Christian Brothers Academy. The season is a fresh start for the Rebels, as the coaching staff received a complete overhaul in the offseason, mainly with new head coach Matt Insell.
Insell comes to Ole Miss after spending five years as an assistant coach with Kentucky and is the youngest coach in the Southeastern Conference at age 31. Insell is set with the task of turning around a Rebel team that has not won more than three conference games in a season since 2010.
“Going to Kentucky and being able to work at the highest level there and being a part of a turnaround in a program that goes from being the worst program in the SEC to one of the best, if not the best, at this point was an experience that allowed me to learn on the fly and to learn what (coaching) is all about,” Insell said.
Insell believes he is inheriting a very similar situation at Ole Miss.
“(There is) more talent (at Ole Miss) than we inherited when we got to Kentucky five years ago,” Insell said. “This is a more talented team here, and I’m very excited about this team and what this team can become.”
The Rebels return all of their top six scorers from last year, including junior forward Tia Faleru, who tied with senior point guard Valencia McFarland as the team’s leading scorer, despite only starting two games.
“When I started those two games, I really felt like I couldn’t get into rhythm,” Faleru said. “I really thought I could help my team out so I became the sixth player off the bench. I brought a lot more energy and I just had a mindset that I was going to help my team coming off the bench.”
However, Faleru may see an expanded role this season.
“My coaches really expect a lot out of me this year,” Faleru said. “(They expect a lot) from me, my team, and I feel like I can bring a lot to the table towards the style of play that we’re playing and our coaches believe in a lot of me this year. So I really just got to take it and do something with it.”
The Rebels feature three seniors in guards Diara Moore and McFarland and forward Kenyotta Jenkins. Moore believes all seniors are expected to have major roles.
“Coach Matt (Insell) wanted me and (Valencia) and (Kenyotta) stepping up,” Moore said. “This is our last year and he just wants us to lead the team and have a great year,” Moore said.
Moore also has a few personal goals.
“(I) just (want to) leave a mark for myself at this point,” Moore said. “You know, try to make All-SEC. Really, just try to get my name out there and to help my team get to the NCAA tournament.”
Insell gave one reason for Ole Miss fans to come out to Tad Smith Coliseum to see the Rebels play.
“You’re going to see a team that is very passionate that’s very representative of this great university with great pride,” he said. “When you leave the arena, you’re going to be very proud of the team you are watching.”
-Matt Barnthouse
mlbarnth@go.olemiss.edu
