Ole Miss guard Jarvis White (32) guards a USC-Aiken player during an NCAA college basketball game on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2013, in Oxford, MS. (The Daily Mississippian, Austin McAfee)
Women’s Exhibition Opener
Ole Miss vs. Christian Brothers University
Tonight at 5 p.m. CT
TV: None
Tad Smith Coliseum
Earlier this week, Ole Miss women’s basketball head coach Matt Insell said he would treat this exhibition game like an NBA preseason game by letting everyone play. Insell wants to throw different lineups out there to see who can play best with each other. With eight newcomers, this exhibition is the perfect opportunity to do just that. Former Oxford High School star and sophomore Erica Sisk returns to Oxford after spending her first year at Murray State. This game provides a bit of a homecoming for Sisk, who may be a favorite to land the starting shooting guard position. Point guard play will be the most crucial position this year, and the point guard battle will be between freshmen Toree Thompson and A’Queen Hayes. On the other hand, Division II Christian Brothers University out of the Gulf South Conference comes into this matchup looking to upset the Rebels after losing last season’s exhibition matchup 74-59.
Impact Player- Ole Miss
Senior forward Tia Faleru earned a spot on the All-SEC second team by a vote of the leagues’ coaches earlier this week. Faleru enters this season as the SEC’s top returning scoring and rebounding and is primed to improve on those numbers this campaign. Expect the offense to run through Faleru this season, as there will be no Valencia McFarland on the court this year. With the whole team expected to play, it will be good to have Faleru out on the court developing some chemistry with her eight new teammates.
Impact Player- Christian Brothers University
Senior guard Breanna Ridgell returns as the Bucs’ leading scorer from a season ago after averaging 16.7 points per game. Throughout their tenure in the Gulf South Conference, CBU holds the reputation for being a scrappy team on the defensive side of the ball. Ridgell averaged two steals per game and could be dangerous especially with a very young Ole Miss backcourt.
Men’s Exhibition Opener
Ole Miss vs. Delta State
Tonight at 7 p.m. CT
TV: SEC Network +
Tad Smith Coliseum
This may be an exhibition matchup, but it’s a very important game for many of the players who don’t have guaranteed playing time on the team yet. Earlier this week, Ole Miss men’s basketball head coach Andy Kennedy said he expects to play all 12 healthy scholarship players against Delta State. Kennedy wants to find the right unit of players to develop a 9-10 man rotation by the season opener against Charles Southern Nov. 14. The only penciled in starter is point guard and senior All-SEC Preseason 1st team member Jarvis Summers. The other four spots are up for grabs, and tonight’s exhibition will give us a good look at who those starters may be for the season opener. While Summers missed most of the last three weeks with a high-ankle sprain, an opportunity opened up for junior JUCO transfer Stefan Moody. With wing-scoring being a priority for this season, Moody is going to have to come in and help Summers out as opposing defenses will key on Summers throughout each game.
Impact Player-Ole Miss
Freshman forward Marcanvis Hymon may not get a lot of playing-time this season since he is a freshman. Tonight’s exhibition will be his one hope to showcase his skills if he wants to earn some playing time this season. Wing-scoring and rebounding most certainly will be the two areas where the Rebels need to improve this season, and Hymon can provide just that. With everyone expected to play, this is Hymon’s golden opportunity to showcase what he can do with this veteran and deep roster.
Impact Player- Delta State
Sophomore sharpshooter Devin Schmidt returns as Delta State’s second leading scorer from a season ago after averaging 15.1 points per game. In a game the Rebels should win, Schmidt should be the main guy Ole Miss should focus on as he proved to be dangerous last season.
