The University of Mississippi Athletics
2018-19 Season Preview: A New Era of Ole Miss Basketball
10/30/2018 | Men's Basketball
Rebels Ready Under New Head Coach Kermit Davis
By Adam Kuffner, Ole Miss Athletics Communications
The 2018-19 season is the dawn of a new era for Ole Miss Basketball. A new head coach took the reins of the program when Kermit Davis was hired on March 15, 2018. Davis, the winningest coach in Middle Tennessee history, returns to his home state with years of success. For him to leave the mid-major powerhouse that he built over 16 years, it had to be the right fit. The Leakesville, Mississippi, native realized Oxford was that place.
"Coming back to my home state of Mississippi to build a national brand is absolutely a dream come true for us," said Davis at his public introduction as the Rebels' new head coach. "I am Mississippi Made and cannot wait to join the rest of the Ole Miss family."
In his first months on the job, he hit the road recruiting right away while also getting to know his new team. Before his 100th day as the Rebels' head coach hit, Davis signed five recruits to help bolster the Ole Miss roster. Not only that, but no returning Rebel that saw significant minutes last season left the program. With the veterans back and a plethora of newcomers, Ole Miss is poised to make some noise in the SEC.
Ole Miss returns three of its top four scorers from a season ago in Terence Davis (13.8 ppg), Bruce Stevens (10.8 ppg) and Breein Tyree (10.8). The last time the Rebels had three returners that averaged double figures the season prior was the 2012-13 campaign; that season resulted in a 27-9 record, the SEC Tournament title and advancement to the third round of the NCAA Tournament. If history repeats itself, Ole Miss will have one of the nation's biggest turnarounds and be dancing come March.
Following the 2017-18 season, Terence Davis tested the NBA Draft waters before deciding to return for his senior campaign. The Southaven, Mississippi, native burst onto the scene as a sophomore (2015-16) by averaging 14.5 points per game, a significant increase from his 1.8 output as a freshman. Davis already has more than 1,000 points for his career, becoming the 39th Rebel in history to accomplish that feat. Last year, he led the Rebels in scoring as well as rebounding (6.2 per game) and blocks (28). While Terence Davis has shown his athletic ability on both sides of the floor, Kermit Davis holds high expectations for the senior Rebel.
"He's got to become a guy that just doesn't rely on athletic ability to make plays. He's got to be an elite defender, not a guy that steals the ball just because he's faster than the other guy. He's had some good moments in Oxford these last three years, but I think that's the biggest thing, can he be an elite defender, and if he does, it will really set the tone for the rest of our team."
For the Rebels to get off on the right foot under a new head coach, they'll need to rely on their returners to set an example and lead the way. Coach Davis has liked the leadership displayed by Terence Davis and the rest of the veterans.
"Your best players are the guys that will be the easiest to coach, and with all the new players on our team, it really helps and he's been really good so far," noted Davis. "We'll see (the leadership) with TD, Breein (Tyree), Devontae (Shuler) and those guys during the grind of practice."
Tyree, a junior from Somerset, New Jersey, is a key veteran to the Ole Miss backcourt. Just like his freshman season, his scoring production increased during SEC play as a sophomore (12.3 ppg). With the graduation of Deandre Burnett, Tyree will only see his role grow more when it comes to running the offense.
"He's an offensive talent," said Kermit Davis. "The ball's got to get out of his hands, and he has to play well without the ball. He needs to become a better rebounder, but he's very athletic. As far as it's been to coach Breein, he's been terrific. You coach him, he just sits and listens. He's very receptive to coaching."
Joining Tyree in the backcourt is sophomore Devontae Shuler. As a freshman, Shuler appeared in all 32 games and primarily came off the bench. On the court, Shuler was one the Rebels' best defenders by using his quick feet and active hands to disrupt opposing guards. His energy will provide a spark to this year's Ole Miss squad.
"He's built for us," said Coach Davis. "He's very competitive and has a great motor. He doesn't flinch at being coached and can be a really elite defender in our league."
Returning to the frontcourt is senior forward Bruce Stevens and junior center Dominik Olejniczak. Both Rebels played in every game a season ago, making a combined 30 starts. Without four-year letterman Marcanvis Hymon, who ended his career ranked in the top 10 of the school's career blocks list, expect to see Olejniczak's minutes increase as the team's main rim protector.
Transitioning from junior college to the highest level of Division I basketball, Stevens got off to a slow start before a 27-point outburst versus Illinois State in December. He turned in a trio of 20-point games throughout the season and closed his junior year by reaching double figures in nine of the final 10 games. The Louin, Mississippi, native is working to spend his final season as a stretch four by working on his shooting and defense.
Eight newcomers join the team. Along with two junior college transfers, six freshmen will look to make an impact in their first year on campus. Zach Naylor, a two-time all-region player at Weatherford College, and NJCAA All-America honoree Brian Halums have two years of eligibility remaining to help the Rebels on the hardwood.
Two freshmen that have stood out throughout the summer are KJ Buffen and Blake Hinson. The duo led all newcomers in minutes during the Rebels' preseason trip to Canada. Each earned a pair of starts over the four-game stretch. Buffen finished second on the team in rebounding (6.0 per game), while Hinson averaged 9.0 points per game north of the border.
"Both of those guys are going to be terrific players at Ole Miss," said Coach Davis. "They're easy to coach, both skilled, both can make threes. They're exactly the forwards that I had played together at Middle Tennessee. They're going to play a lot together this year, some at the four, some at three."
Speaking of Canada, the Rebels' preseason tour came at a perfect time. It allowed Ole Miss to get more practices under its belt and compete against other teams before the actual season begins. The Rebels finished the trip with a 3-1 record, making stops in Montreal and Ottawa. The valuable experience brought the team closer together off the court as well, while also helping Davis and his coaching staff see where the team is at and what they need to improve upon heading into the season. One thing is for sure, the Rebels' new head coach has a vision for Ole Miss Basketball.
"What I hope our team looks like is a team that has great toughness, a team that when Ole Miss people come watch, they'll see a team that has really willing passers and that ball doesn't stick. There's a motion offense that creates spacing, not as much dribbling, and driving with a purpose. When you see our team play, you'll see tempo, physicality, toughness, and a team that can rebound. We want to be a guard team where the guards are ready to rebound. That's really the stamp when people come and watch our teams play over the years, that's what they see year in and year out."
The 2018-19 season is highlighted by 16 home games as well as some exciting matchups away from The Pavilion. Ole Miss opens the regular season at home against Western Michigan (Nov. 10) before traveling to historic Hinkle Fieldhouse to face Butler (Nov. 16). The Rebels will also participate in the Emerald Coast Classic in Destin, Florida, battling Baylor (Nov. 23) before a matchup against either Cincinnati or Georgia Mason (Nov. 24). Other notable non-conference contests include a trip to the state capital, Jackson, Mississippi (Dec. 12) against SELA as well as a home game versus Iowa State (Jan. 26) as part of the SEC/Big 12 Challenge.
The 2018-19 season is the dawn of a new era for Ole Miss Basketball. A new head coach took the reins of the program when Kermit Davis was hired on March 15, 2018. Davis, the winningest coach in Middle Tennessee history, returns to his home state with years of success. For him to leave the mid-major powerhouse that he built over 16 years, it had to be the right fit. The Leakesville, Mississippi, native realized Oxford was that place.
"Coming back to my home state of Mississippi to build a national brand is absolutely a dream come true for us," said Davis at his public introduction as the Rebels' new head coach. "I am Mississippi Made and cannot wait to join the rest of the Ole Miss family."
In his first months on the job, he hit the road recruiting right away while also getting to know his new team. Before his 100th day as the Rebels' head coach hit, Davis signed five recruits to help bolster the Ole Miss roster. Not only that, but no returning Rebel that saw significant minutes last season left the program. With the veterans back and a plethora of newcomers, Ole Miss is poised to make some noise in the SEC.
Ole Miss returns three of its top four scorers from a season ago in Terence Davis (13.8 ppg), Bruce Stevens (10.8 ppg) and Breein Tyree (10.8). The last time the Rebels had three returners that averaged double figures the season prior was the 2012-13 campaign; that season resulted in a 27-9 record, the SEC Tournament title and advancement to the third round of the NCAA Tournament. If history repeats itself, Ole Miss will have one of the nation's biggest turnarounds and be dancing come March.
Following the 2017-18 season, Terence Davis tested the NBA Draft waters before deciding to return for his senior campaign. The Southaven, Mississippi, native burst onto the scene as a sophomore (2015-16) by averaging 14.5 points per game, a significant increase from his 1.8 output as a freshman. Davis already has more than 1,000 points for his career, becoming the 39th Rebel in history to accomplish that feat. Last year, he led the Rebels in scoring as well as rebounding (6.2 per game) and blocks (28). While Terence Davis has shown his athletic ability on both sides of the floor, Kermit Davis holds high expectations for the senior Rebel.
"He's got to become a guy that just doesn't rely on athletic ability to make plays. He's got to be an elite defender, not a guy that steals the ball just because he's faster than the other guy. He's had some good moments in Oxford these last three years, but I think that's the biggest thing, can he be an elite defender, and if he does, it will really set the tone for the rest of our team."
For the Rebels to get off on the right foot under a new head coach, they'll need to rely on their returners to set an example and lead the way. Coach Davis has liked the leadership displayed by Terence Davis and the rest of the veterans.
"Your best players are the guys that will be the easiest to coach, and with all the new players on our team, it really helps and he's been really good so far," noted Davis. "We'll see (the leadership) with TD, Breein (Tyree), Devontae (Shuler) and those guys during the grind of practice."
Tyree, a junior from Somerset, New Jersey, is a key veteran to the Ole Miss backcourt. Just like his freshman season, his scoring production increased during SEC play as a sophomore (12.3 ppg). With the graduation of Deandre Burnett, Tyree will only see his role grow more when it comes to running the offense.
"He's an offensive talent," said Kermit Davis. "The ball's got to get out of his hands, and he has to play well without the ball. He needs to become a better rebounder, but he's very athletic. As far as it's been to coach Breein, he's been terrific. You coach him, he just sits and listens. He's very receptive to coaching."
Joining Tyree in the backcourt is sophomore Devontae Shuler. As a freshman, Shuler appeared in all 32 games and primarily came off the bench. On the court, Shuler was one the Rebels' best defenders by using his quick feet and active hands to disrupt opposing guards. His energy will provide a spark to this year's Ole Miss squad.
"He's built for us," said Coach Davis. "He's very competitive and has a great motor. He doesn't flinch at being coached and can be a really elite defender in our league."
Returning to the frontcourt is senior forward Bruce Stevens and junior center Dominik Olejniczak. Both Rebels played in every game a season ago, making a combined 30 starts. Without four-year letterman Marcanvis Hymon, who ended his career ranked in the top 10 of the school's career blocks list, expect to see Olejniczak's minutes increase as the team's main rim protector.
Transitioning from junior college to the highest level of Division I basketball, Stevens got off to a slow start before a 27-point outburst versus Illinois State in December. He turned in a trio of 20-point games throughout the season and closed his junior year by reaching double figures in nine of the final 10 games. The Louin, Mississippi, native is working to spend his final season as a stretch four by working on his shooting and defense.
Eight newcomers join the team. Along with two junior college transfers, six freshmen will look to make an impact in their first year on campus. Zach Naylor, a two-time all-region player at Weatherford College, and NJCAA All-America honoree Brian Halums have two years of eligibility remaining to help the Rebels on the hardwood.
Two freshmen that have stood out throughout the summer are KJ Buffen and Blake Hinson. The duo led all newcomers in minutes during the Rebels' preseason trip to Canada. Each earned a pair of starts over the four-game stretch. Buffen finished second on the team in rebounding (6.0 per game), while Hinson averaged 9.0 points per game north of the border.
"Both of those guys are going to be terrific players at Ole Miss," said Coach Davis. "They're easy to coach, both skilled, both can make threes. They're exactly the forwards that I had played together at Middle Tennessee. They're going to play a lot together this year, some at the four, some at three."
Speaking of Canada, the Rebels' preseason tour came at a perfect time. It allowed Ole Miss to get more practices under its belt and compete against other teams before the actual season begins. The Rebels finished the trip with a 3-1 record, making stops in Montreal and Ottawa. The valuable experience brought the team closer together off the court as well, while also helping Davis and his coaching staff see where the team is at and what they need to improve upon heading into the season. One thing is for sure, the Rebels' new head coach has a vision for Ole Miss Basketball.
"What I hope our team looks like is a team that has great toughness, a team that when Ole Miss people come watch, they'll see a team that has really willing passers and that ball doesn't stick. There's a motion offense that creates spacing, not as much dribbling, and driving with a purpose. When you see our team play, you'll see tempo, physicality, toughness, and a team that can rebound. We want to be a guard team where the guards are ready to rebound. That's really the stamp when people come and watch our teams play over the years, that's what they see year in and year out."
The 2018-19 season is highlighted by 16 home games as well as some exciting matchups away from The Pavilion. Ole Miss opens the regular season at home against Western Michigan (Nov. 10) before traveling to historic Hinkle Fieldhouse to face Butler (Nov. 16). The Rebels will also participate in the Emerald Coast Classic in Destin, Florida, battling Baylor (Nov. 23) before a matchup against either Cincinnati or Georgia Mason (Nov. 24). Other notable non-conference contests include a trip to the state capital, Jackson, Mississippi (Dec. 12) against SELA as well as a home game versus Iowa State (Jan. 26) as part of the SEC/Big 12 Challenge.
Players Mentioned
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Guard/Forward
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Forward
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Center
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/ Men's Basketball
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