The University of Mississippi Athletics
Rebels Gearing Up For Season Opener
11/7/2017 | Men's Basketball
By Brian Scott Rippee, OleMissSports.com
Andy Kennedy was pleasantly surprised when he sat down to watch the film of Ole Miss' 94-53 exhibition win over North Alabama. The usual growing pains of a new team that stain early-season film sessions wasn't what stood out to the 12th-year head coach.
"I was pleased with a lot of the things I saw, which is usually not the case as you guys know," Kennedy said. "I watched the film and was even more pleased. I thought we did some really good things. It was a pretty vanilla scout. It was basic basketball out of basic sets. I thought we were really good without scoring report, which was surprising with so many new guys."
The player who gleaned the brightest was undoubtedly freshman guard Devontae Shuler who Kennedy has already called the best on-ball defender he has ever coached. But it was the five three pointers the Oak Hill Academy product buried that had Kennedy raving. Beyond that, it is the energy on the court and personality Shuler brings to the table that will be invaluable to this team going forward. It prompted Kennedy to recall a story from October that left him surprised.
"Our first intrasquad game, first one Shuler has been involved in," Kennedy recalled. "We bring officials in and do our referee clinic and then scrimmage. Two of the three officials came up to me after and say `Man, I really like that zero kid. He's a great kid.' I haven't had that happen a lot."
Shuler's infectious personality is a stark contrast to the way he plays on the court.
"He is a kind kid," Kennedy said. "He has a great heart. But he plays like a cold-blooded killer. He puts it in the basket. He takes your ball. He is not very nice to you if he is on the other team. But he does it in a way you admire."
Shuler joins a crowded back court along with the likes of sophomore point guard Breein Tyree, senior Deandre Burnett and Terence Davis. Davis and Burnett were the two most dynamic scorers on the team a season ago. Throw in Memphis transfer Markel Crawford, and the Rebels boast a lot of firepower on the perimeter.
Burnett was not surprised with his freshman teammate's scoring ability.
"He had a scrimmage where he hit 7-of-8 from three," Burnett said. "We had seen it before so it was a surprise to nobody on the team."
They're all experienced players with the exception of Shuler, and their roles already seem more concrete early in the season.
"I would say we know our roles pretty well so far," Tyree said. "That is something that can change as the season goes on. Roles can change and can get bigger. We saw Devontae go off and have a good game so his role will probably get bigger. We have a long road ahead."
The depth at guard allows Kennedy to play a lot of different ways. Both Crawford and Burnett can play point guard when Tyree is out of the game.
"Do whatever the team needs, whether that is play point guard, score the ball, guard," Burnett said. "I am a senior. I need to lead by example. I am more comfortable with it because I have been doing it all of my life, scoring the ball and playing point. I need to be able to play point guard too."
The versatile Crawford can play three positions, and really even four if Kennedy elects to go small. He was one of the top players in the country and allows this team to be flexible in its scheme.
"It makes my job a lot easier," Tyree said. "He can play the point, the two and the three. Playing with an experienced guy like that shows me a lot, and I learn a lot from him."
Louisiana, the Rebels opponent in Friday's season opener, is a sneakily strong team. They have compiled a trio of transfers from high-major schools and are predicted to finish high in the Sun Belt Conference.
"They are all high-major players," Kennedy said. "(Coach) Bob Marlin, we have great respect for him. We scheduled the game because we knew they would do very well in their league. We will have to be prepared."
There will surely be growing pains with this group as they use the month of November to solidify their rotation and get into a rhythm. But Ole Miss will need to be efficient out of the gate if they wish to put away the Ragin' Cajuns.
"AK even says in the locker room that we are going to get everyone minutes," Tyree said. "Friday, the main objective is to win the game. Whatever group of guys is playing the best will stay in there and play to win the game."
Tipoff on Friday is at 7 p.m.
Andy Kennedy was pleasantly surprised when he sat down to watch the film of Ole Miss' 94-53 exhibition win over North Alabama. The usual growing pains of a new team that stain early-season film sessions wasn't what stood out to the 12th-year head coach.
"I was pleased with a lot of the things I saw, which is usually not the case as you guys know," Kennedy said. "I watched the film and was even more pleased. I thought we did some really good things. It was a pretty vanilla scout. It was basic basketball out of basic sets. I thought we were really good without scoring report, which was surprising with so many new guys."
The player who gleaned the brightest was undoubtedly freshman guard Devontae Shuler who Kennedy has already called the best on-ball defender he has ever coached. But it was the five three pointers the Oak Hill Academy product buried that had Kennedy raving. Beyond that, it is the energy on the court and personality Shuler brings to the table that will be invaluable to this team going forward. It prompted Kennedy to recall a story from October that left him surprised.
"Our first intrasquad game, first one Shuler has been involved in," Kennedy recalled. "We bring officials in and do our referee clinic and then scrimmage. Two of the three officials came up to me after and say `Man, I really like that zero kid. He's a great kid.' I haven't had that happen a lot."
Shuler's infectious personality is a stark contrast to the way he plays on the court.
"He is a kind kid," Kennedy said. "He has a great heart. But he plays like a cold-blooded killer. He puts it in the basket. He takes your ball. He is not very nice to you if he is on the other team. But he does it in a way you admire."
Shuler joins a crowded back court along with the likes of sophomore point guard Breein Tyree, senior Deandre Burnett and Terence Davis. Davis and Burnett were the two most dynamic scorers on the team a season ago. Throw in Memphis transfer Markel Crawford, and the Rebels boast a lot of firepower on the perimeter.
Burnett was not surprised with his freshman teammate's scoring ability.
"He had a scrimmage where he hit 7-of-8 from three," Burnett said. "We had seen it before so it was a surprise to nobody on the team."
They're all experienced players with the exception of Shuler, and their roles already seem more concrete early in the season.
"I would say we know our roles pretty well so far," Tyree said. "That is something that can change as the season goes on. Roles can change and can get bigger. We saw Devontae go off and have a good game so his role will probably get bigger. We have a long road ahead."
The depth at guard allows Kennedy to play a lot of different ways. Both Crawford and Burnett can play point guard when Tyree is out of the game.
"Do whatever the team needs, whether that is play point guard, score the ball, guard," Burnett said. "I am a senior. I need to lead by example. I am more comfortable with it because I have been doing it all of my life, scoring the ball and playing point. I need to be able to play point guard too."
The versatile Crawford can play three positions, and really even four if Kennedy elects to go small. He was one of the top players in the country and allows this team to be flexible in its scheme.
"It makes my job a lot easier," Tyree said. "He can play the point, the two and the three. Playing with an experienced guy like that shows me a lot, and I learn a lot from him."
Louisiana, the Rebels opponent in Friday's season opener, is a sneakily strong team. They have compiled a trio of transfers from high-major schools and are predicted to finish high in the Sun Belt Conference.
"They are all high-major players," Kennedy said. "(Coach) Bob Marlin, we have great respect for him. We scheduled the game because we knew they would do very well in their league. We will have to be prepared."
There will surely be growing pains with this group as they use the month of November to solidify their rotation and get into a rhythm. But Ole Miss will need to be efficient out of the gate if they wish to put away the Ragin' Cajuns.
"AK even says in the locker room that we are going to get everyone minutes," Tyree said. "Friday, the main objective is to win the game. Whatever group of guys is playing the best will stay in there and play to win the game."
Tipoff on Friday is at 7 p.m.
Players Mentioned
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