The University of Mississippi Athletics
Women's Basketball Preseason Notebook (Oct. 10)
10/10/2014 | Women's Basketball
Countdown to Tipoff!
The Rebels open the 2014-15 season on Nov. 14 vs. Grambling in the 12th annual Kids Day game. The Rebels and Tigers will tipoff at 11 a.m. at the Tad Smith Coliseum.
Practice Officially Underway to Prep for 2014-15 Season
Ole Miss officially took to the hardwood to kickoff the 2014-15 season on Sunday, Oct. 5. The squad practiced for two hours and had a very spirited, competitive practice, indicative of the character and mindset of the team and coaching staff heading into the 2014-15 season.
Quoting Head Coach Matt Insell
Second year head coach Matt Insell and his staff are gearing up for an exciting season and coach Insell shared some of his thoughts on the season and where the team is entering year two.
"It was the first day with a lot of new players on our roster. Lot of teaching and getting a lot of drills in, so it goes a little slower than you like the first day, but the big thing that was there the whole time was tempo. We've got to take our tempo to another level. We have to push the basketball and play fast for us to be successful this year. We have to play fast not only offensively but defensively. Getting that tempo right is going to be a work in progress, but I feel good about where we're at with it today."
"It's 100 percent a different feel. Now we have a lot more options at different positions. There is a lot of competition on the court, where as last year we didn't have the numbers so the competition wasn't there, so practice is definitely a different feel from last year."
"The big thing we have to do right now is develop some mental toughness and we've done a lot of that this summer and fall in our workouts, but now you're at a different level so you've got to bring even more mental toughness. That's the big thing we're trying to develop this season, we want to become a more mentally tough basketball team.
"As we move into year two of our process here at Ole Miss I am excited about where we are as a program and as a team. The addition of eight newcomers to go along with our six returnees gives us a good balance of youth and experience. Being so close in many games last season has motived our returning players even more, which in turn, has given our new players a bigger sense of urgency. I'm looking forward to seeing what we can accomplish as a team and program this season."
"With the athleticism and depth this team has, we will be able to continue to play fast offensively, but now be able to play more on the defensive end the way I like -- in the full court, trapping for 40 minute. We will have to play older than our age, and if we do that, this team has the potential to have a special season."
Third Annual Square Jam on Tap for Oct. 17
The third annual Square Jam is set for Friday Oct. 17 on the Oxford Square. The Rebels will showcase their skills in this annual kickoff to the basketball season. The festivities start at 6 p.m. Make sure you're on the Oxford Square! The Rebel basketball teams will also be signing autographs at Rebel fanfare before Saturday's Homecoming game vs. Tennessee and will be recognized on the field.
Welcome to the Family
This Ole Miss women's basketball family welcomed two new (and tiny) additions to the family this summer and early fall. Assistant coach Alex Simmons and her husband Christian welcomed daughter, Carsyn in August, while assistant coach Todd Schaefer and his wife Lisa welcomed son Jake in late September. Jake joins big brothers, Landon and Will. Welcome to the Rebel family!
Nine Chances to See The Rebels on TV in 2014-15
With the launch of the SEC Network the Ole Miss women's basketball team will be on national television nine times in 2014-15, including a showdown on ESPNU with likely preseason top 5 selection, South Carolina, on Feb. 1 in Oxford. In total, Ole Miss will make five appearances on the SEC Network, three appearances on Fox Sports Net and on the ESPN family of networks. Additionally, Ole Miss will make 16 appearances on SECN+ the online streaming platform.
All of the games included in the ESPN package (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU) and the SEC Network will be available through WatchESPN, accessible online at WatchESPN.com, on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app, and streamed on televisions through Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Xbox 360 or Xbox One to fans who receive their video subscription from an affiliated provider. Fox Sports Net events will be available via these avenues outside the SEC Footprint only.
AT&T U-verse® TV, Bright House Networks, Charter, Comcast Xfinity TV, Cox Communications, DIRECTV, DISH, Google Fiber, LUS Fiber, PTC Communications, Suddenlink, Time Warner Cable, NCTC, NRTC, NTTC, Verizon FiOS and Wilkes Telephone will carry the SEC Network nationwide. Hundreds of additional live events from various sports will be offered exclusively as SEC Network+ events on WatchESPN and SECNetwork.com through AT&T U-verse, Charter, Comcast, Cox, DISH, Google Fiber, Suddenlink, NCTC, NRTC, NTTC and Verizon FiOS authentication.
Complete 2014-15 Women's Basketball Schedule
Season Tickets on Sale
If you haven't gotten your season tickets for the 2013-14 season, it's not too late. Season tickets are on sale and can be purchased for $50. For additional ticket information go to OleMissTix.com or call the Ole Miss Ticket Office at 1-888-REB-TKTS (732-8587). You can also order tickets online here!
SEC Tournament Tickets On Sale
Make sure you get your SEC Tournament tickets to support the Rebels! Tickets for the 2015 Southeastern Conference Women's Basketball Tournament are now on sale. The 2015 SEC Women's Tournament will be held at the Verizon Center in Little Rock, Arkansas on March 4-8, 2015. Tickets for the tournament are $100 for a reserved book. A ticket book contains seven tickets, one for each session, which allows one person to attend all 13 games. Tickets can be purchased here. Additional information regarding special ticket promotions, including advanced single session ticket sales, will be announced at a later date.
Follow Ole Miss Women's Basketball on The Web and Social Media
For all Ole Miss women's basketball news and information, go to OleMissSports.com, and follow the Rebels on Twitter at @OleMissWBB, Facebook at Ole Miss WBB and on Instagram at Ole Miss_WBB. Fans can also follow Ole Miss women's basketball head coach Matt Insell on Twitter at @minsell. The Ole Miss assistant coaches are also on Twitter. Assistant Coach Brittany Hudson @Coach_BH), Assistant Coach Alex Simmons (@APSimms2) and Assistant Coach Todd Schaefer (@OLEMISSCoach)
Basketball Practice Facility Renamed Tuohy Basketball Center
Thanks to the extraordinary contributions of Sean Tuohy and his family to the Ole Miss Athletics Foundation's Forward Together campaign, Ole Miss Athletics has renamed the Basketball Practice Facility the Tuohy Basketball Center. Read all about the renaming HERE. There will be a formal dedication of the building on Nov. 1 at 10 a.m. prior to the Ole Miss vs. Auburn football game.
Not To Early For Tickets!
It's not too early to start thinking about the 2014-15 Ole Miss women's basketball season; it will be here before you know it! Fans can purchase season tickets for $50 and renew their season tickets now. For ticket information go to OleMissTix.com or call the Ole Miss Ticket Office at 1-888-REB-TKTS (732-8587).
