The University of Mississippi Athletics
Preseason Notebook: October 20
10/20/2016 | Women's Basketball
Countdown To Tipoff
The Rebels are just 21 days away from opening the 2016-17 season, the fourth season under the direction of head coach Matt Insell. The Rebels have posted a 41-54 record in each of the last three years and were back in the postseason for the first time since 2010 in 2014. Ole Miss hosts Southeastern Louisiana on Nov. 11 in the second game of a tripleheader at The Pavilion at Ole Miss. Tipoff is set for 2:30 pm.
Countdown Clock
Head coach Matt Insell was joined by senior Shequila Joseph (London, England), and junior Shandricka Sessom (Byhalia, Miss.) at the 2016 SEC Media Day in Nashville on Thursday Oct. 20. The Rebels spent the morning talking about the 2016-17 squad and also did some on-camera and sitdown interviews with SEC Network and ESPN personalities.
Come get a look at the 2016-17 Squad at Dunk or Treat
The Ole Miss Athletics Department invites you to Dunk or Treat on Oct. 28 from 5:45-7:15 pm at The Pavilion at Ole Miss. Fans will be able to get autographs from both the men's and women's basketball teams as well as participate in a myriad of Halloween themed activities including a haunted house, face painting and more.
#ItsTime
The Ole Miss women's basketball team picks a theme each year and this year the them is #ItsTime. This theme signifies that its time for the team to band together to show the rest of the SEC and women's basketball community that Ole Miss is here. Take a look at this video and see why #ItsTime
The Squad Says …
Senior forward Bretta Hart
On the start of her last season at Ole Miss
"It's bittersweet and I'm really not ready to think about this season being the last season I put on my Ole Miss uniform. I'm looking forward to our team playing well this season and the opportunity that is ahead of us. I'm trying to make this our best year yet."
Freshman forward/center Shelby Gibson
On her first collegiate preseason
"College basketball is a lot harder and especially faster than high school basketball but I think as freshman we are adjusting well. We're getting along with our teammates well so I think that's a huge plus. We have a lot of energy in practice so practice has been fun.
We're in class now so it's been hard to manage my time but I'm getting the hang of it and having our weekly schedule has been super helpful. Everything is going well and we're all excited to play some games."
Out And About In the Community
The Ole Miss women's basketball team is always out and about in the Oxford community and last week, they hung out at the Chick-fil-A in Oxford at one of their game nights. The team mingled with the families in attendance, handed out 2016-17 schedule cards and even handed out meals though the drive thru. Check it out here:
Talkin' Bout Practice
The Rebels opened up practice for the first time on Sunday, Oct. 2. The team went for about two and a half hours and had a spirited first day of practice at the Tuohy Basketball Center. In the words of Ole Miss head coach "It's a good of a first practice as we have had since we've been here."
Welcome to the Family!
The Rebels added several new staff members over the summer. New to the Ole Miss women's basketball family are assistant Coach George Porcha, Strength and Conditioning Coach Ryan Grubbs and Video Coordinator Joe Pat Cope. Porcha comes to Oxford after serving as a successful high school coach and was in the college ranks as associate head coach for the West Virginia women's team. Cope also comes to Oxford from the high school ranks serving as an assistant coach at Riverdale High School in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Grubbs joins the staff after spending some time with the Ole Miss football team.
Fab Frosh
The Rebels also welcomed three true freshmen to the team in Shelby Gibson (Murfreesboro, Tenn.), Bree Glover (Glasgow, Ky.) and Kate Rodgers (Birmingham, Ala.) The trio combined to give Ole Miss a top-25 class and the No. 2 class in the SEC.
Impact Transfers
This season Ole Miss will also gain the services of Chrishae Rowe (Riverside, Calif.) and Taylor Manuel (St. Louis, Mo.) both transfers. Rowe, the 2013-14 Pac 12 Freshman of the Year at Oregon, comes to Ole Miss from Kentucky and Manuel is a graduate transfer from Loyola Chicago.
Mint Is Back!
Head coach Matt Insell brought back a Rebel great this summer as Armintie Price Herrington joined the staff as Coordinator of Player Engagement. Herrington played at Ole Miss form 2004-07 and led the Rebels to the Elite Eight in 2007. She also had a 10-year career in the WNBA with stints with the Chicago Sky, Atlanta Dream, LA Sparks and Washington Mystics. #WelcomeHomeMint
Rebels with a LOADED Schedule
Ole Miss has put together an impressive non-conference schedule to go along with the ever-challenging SEC slate. Ole Miss will take on 13 non-conference opponents and will face 10 of those in the friendly confines of The Pavilion at Ole Miss. The Rebels will open the season with four consecutive home games before traveling to Las Vegas, Nev., for the UNLV Thanksgiving Tournament where they will take on Wisconsin in opening round action and either UNLV or Tennessee State in the second game. Ole Miss will travel to West Virginia as a part of the SEC/Big 12 Challenge and will host Oregon and VCU. In SEC action, Ole Miss will play Alabama, Auburn and Mississippi State twice and will host Tennessee and Texas A&M and LSU.
Full 2016-17 Ole Miss Schedule
Pura Vida!
This summer the Ole Miss squad got a head start on team practices when they took a 10-day trip to Costa Rica. Since they went on a foreign tour, Ole Miss was allowed 10 full team practices in preparation. The Rebels went 3-0 against the competition in Costa Rica and were able to take in many of the sights and sounds of the South American country.
Balliin' With Brett
Graduate manager, Brett Ball, is back with her Ballin' With Brett series this year. Ball gives us an inside look at the Ole Miss women's basketball program. Check out some of her episodes below:
Post Preview with Coach Simmons
Guard Preview with Coach Porcha
Meet Coach Grubbs
It's not too late to purchase season tickets for the 2016-17 season. Season tickets are just $50. For further ticket information go to OleMissTix.com or call the Ole Miss Ticket Office at 1-888-REB-TKTS (732-8587).
Important Dates On The Horizon
Dunk or Treat at The Pavilion at Ole Miss - Friday, Oct. 28, 5:45-7:15 pm (The Pavilion at Ole Miss)
Exhibition Game vs. Mississippi College - Friday, Nov. 4, 7 p.m., (The Pavilion at Ole Miss)
Season Opener vs. Southeastern Louisiana - Friday, Nov. 11, 2:30 pm (The Pavilion at Ole Miss)
Follow the Rebels
OleMissSports.comTwitter - @OleMissWBB
Facebook
Instagram - @OleMissWBB
Snapchat - @OleMissWBB
