Ole Miss Women’s and Men’s Basketball opened their seasons with big wins over Alcorn State on Monday, Nov. 2 at The Sandy and John Black Pavilion. Although one game is far too small a sample size to make any definitive conclusions about either team, here are three exaggerated takes for both Rebel basketball teams’ season openers.
Women
Ole Miss Women’s Basketball cannot shoot
Despite scoring 80 points, the Lady Rebels’ shooting performance left much to be desired. Ole Miss started the game 0-of-7 from beyond the arc and did not make its first 3-pointer until guard Talaysia Cooper connected three minutes into the second quarter. The Lady Rebels finished the game shooting an abysmal 5-of-23 from 3-point range, good for just 21.7%.
What makes this even more concerning is that Alcorn State was not necessarily forcing difficult shots. The Lady Braves frequently left Ole Miss players wide open along the perimeter, yet they repeatedly failed to capitalize.
This could become a much larger problem against SEC opponents who have the personnel to defend the paint without sacrificing perimeter coverage. However, head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin was not particularly concerned with the team’s shooting percentages. Instead, she emphasized shot selection.
“Maybe it’s anxiety. As long as they take good shots, I don’t really get caught up on how many they make or miss,” McPhee-McCuin said.
She also acknowledged that roughly eight of the team’s 23 3-point attempts were shots she would not have advised taking.
While the Rebels’ shooting should improve as the season progresses, their inability to consistently threaten opponents from beyond the arc could become a significant offensive limitation.
The Lady Rebels’ defense is elite
While Ole Miss struggled offensively, its defensive performance was nothing short of dominant.
The Lady Rebels held Alcorn State to just six points in the first quarter and 19 in the first half. Their relentless full-court pressure forced the Lady Braves into mistakes, disrupted their offensive rhythm and created transition opportunities throughout the contest.
No player better exemplified this defensive dominance than forward Doneelah Washington. Washington recorded seven blocks, including six halfway through the second quarter, which established herself as a formidable presence around the rim.
Her ability to contest shots, combined with the Lady Rebels’ aggressive perimeter defense, made scoring increasingly difficult for Alcorn State.
By the fourth quarter, the Lady Braves appeared exhausted from the constant pressure. Ole Miss capitalized by creating turnovers and converting them into easy fast-break opportunities.
The Lady Rebels finished 16-of-22 on layups, demonstrating how their defensive success could translate into offensive production.
Of course, Alcorn State is hardly representative of the competition Ole Miss will face in conference play. Nevertheless, the defensive identity McPhee-McCuin has established appears to be alive and well.
If the Lady Rebels can maintain this intensity against stronger opponents, their defense could be among the SEC’s best.
Team chemistry will only continue to blossom for McPhee-McCuin’s squad
Perhaps the most encouraging takeaway from Monday’s victory was how much more comfortable the Lady Rebels appeared as the game progressed.
Ole Miss initially struggled to establish any consistent offensive rhythm. Players frequently relied on individual cuts and seemingly improvised passing. However, that began to change during the second quarter.
Cooper and guard Jada Richard helped the Lady Rebels string together successful possessions, while Jaida Civil and Rachael Okokoh contributed to increasingly productive sequences in the second half.
One third quarter possession illustrated the team’s developing chemistry. Civil disrupted an Alcorn State pass, allowing Richard to secure a steal. Okokoh eventually converted a second-chance opportunity into an and-one. The sequence was hardly flawless, but it demonstrated the Lady Rebels’ ability to work together and overcome individual mistakes.
By the fourth quarter, Ole Miss looked considerably more confident than the team that had struggled through the opening 10 minutes. With a roster still developing its identity, that progression is encouraging. As players become more familiar with one another’s tendencies, the offensive execution should improve.
Men
The Rebel defense will allow the fewest points in the SEC
In the season opener against Alcorn State, the Rebel defense was outstanding. Ole Miss held the Braves offense to 36% shooting from the field and just 10 points in the paint. Perhaps the most impressive stat from the night was the 26 forced turnovers and 14 steals that Ole Miss generated.
Behind the quickness of guards Budd Clark and Ilias Kamardine, along with the overall backcourt depth of the Rebels, this unit should be able to consistently pressure the ball throughout the season.
Forwards Corey Stephenson and Santiago Trouet also provide athleticism and length to affect shots around the rim and versatility to stay in front of guards.
The stellar rim protection from game one will only improve, depending on the eligibility of Florida transfer Micah Handlogten. Handlogten is a 7-foot-1-inch center who could be an anchor in the interior.
Head coach Chris Beard has historically been a great defensive coach. In 2019, when he won AP National Coach of the Year, Beard led Texas Tech to a National Championship runner-up finish behind a stellar defense that was No. 1 nationally in defensive rating and allowed just 59 points per game, and this Ole Miss team has the chance to replicate that defensive success.
Budd Clark will receive All-SEC honors
The biggest addition to the Ole Miss Men’s Basketball team could be acquiring the Seton Hall transfer Clark, whom Beard has great expectations for in the upcoming season.
From the exhibition games to the season opener, the Ole Miss offense has run through Clark, and he has been extremely productive. Clark had a strong outing against Alcorn State, pouring on 17 points and seven assists on 7-of-12 shooting in 25 minutes.
With a high usage rate and increased playing time in tougher matchups, Clark is in a great position to produce in a revamped Rebel offense that lost its two leading scorers from the previous season, AJ Storr and Malik Dia. For an Ole Miss roster that looks to be more competitive, expect Clark to be the head of the snake.
His stellar play will continue and earn him All-SEC honors at the end of the year.
Patton Pinkins will lead the SEC in 3-point percentage
On a cold shooting night from 3-point territory for the Rebels (6-of-18), Pinkins was the glaring bright spot. He buried three triples on just four attempts, accounting for 50% of Ole Miss’ 3-pointers, carrying on his consistent shooting from his freshman season into his sophomore year.
A season ago, Pinkins made 43 3-point field goals, shooting at an impressive 42% rate from downtown. With the addition of Clark, Ben Henshall and Trouet and the return of Kamardine, Pinkins is surrounded by playmakers who will generate more open looks for him from distance.
Pairing increased open looks with Pinkins’ smart shot selection and improved shooting ability positions him well to shoot at an even higher percentage. This could propel him to be the SEC lead in 3-point percentage.
