The University of Mississippi Athletics
Photo by: Joshua McCoy / Ole Miss Athletic
Ole Miss Men's Basketball Press Conference
10/15/2020 | Men's Basketball
<i class="icon-video"></i> Kermit Davis Press Conference<i class="icon-video"></i> Devontae Shuler Press Conference<i class="icon-video"></i> KJ Buffen Press Conference
Coach and Players Speak to Media Ahead of First Official Practice
Ole Miss Men's Basketball Head Coach Kermit Davis met with the media Thursday, via Zoom, on the team's first official day of practice. Senior guard Devontae Shuler and junior forward KJ Buffen also answered questions from media members. The full transcripts can be found below.
Head coach Kermit Davis
Opening Statement…
"Appreciate you guys, number one, being with us today. I think this is, as a head coach, maybe my 26th opening day of practice. We've talked about it before on here, it's changed through the years. Used to be October 15 was the first time you could touch your guys, and so it's a little different feeling. We've been going for a little while now, but it's still always a great feeling to know you're officially going. That your hours are longer, the 20 hours a week, that you're going now five to six times a week, depending on some days off. I like coming to the gym with our team. Our team is competitive, friendly competitive though. We've had some really good 4-on-4, 5-on-5 competitive games. I like the depth of our team and the two guys that will be visiting with you after me, Devontae (Shuler) and KJ (Buffen), are off to really good starts and doing some really good things from a leadership standpoint."
On playing a tournament at the beginning of the season…
"The tournament that was at the Cayman (Islands) with a great field, a CBS tournament, eventually got moved to Destin. Then just with the start on the 25th (of November), I think our tournament started on the 21st or 22nd, so it was canceled. We're going to start our own MTE (multiple team event). Right now, we're still awaiting contracts, but we think it's pretty well set for the 25th, 26th, and 27th of November. Right now, it's Jackson State, Central Arkansas and Arkansas State. So those first three days, that Wednesday, Thursday and Friday."
On improving rebounding…
"Devontae, KJ and I were talking about that yesterday, just the look of our team. We have a more athletic, more physical-looking SEC roster, to where we have 10-12 guys we can put in an SEC game. Romello White, obviously second in the Pac-12 in rebounding last year, kind of a proven rebounder. I think he had 17 rebounds at UCLA last year, 19 (points) and 17 (rebounds) against Georgia. Khadim Sy is really a much-improved player. Sammy Hunter, KJ. We talked about with KJ the other day, he came in like a lot of young freshmen, thin, and now he's holding his body weight around 230-231. He's become a lot better rebounder. Add Shon Robinson, so yeah, we feel like our depth and our length to be able to play in these high-level SEC games has sure improved."
On the non-conference schedule…
"I'm not trying to step out front, I think we're pretty secure. I'm not saying that some things couldn't happen. Really our schedule after that MTE (multiple team even) is really staying true to form. Rider won't happen. I think we're going to move Rider back to next year. Besides Rider, I think those games will kind of come in good sequence. Either the 29th or 30th, depending on what date we get for that first SEC date of December, but it seems like the Wichita State game is still going to be on that January 2. There was some talk of maybe moving that, but I think we're pretty firm with that. Then just starting the SEC after that. So right now, we're kind of set with our schedule. Nothing has been released officially. We're kind of waiting on the SEC."
On leadership from Devontae Shuler and KJ Buffen…
"You look at Devontae, and he's maybe the most experienced guard in the SEC. He's been a two-year starter and played a great amount as a freshman. He's been in a lot of big big games and great minutes. Devontae, it's just really fun for me to watch him mature at all levels from academically, to leadership roles, to everything as a player. KJ Buffen also, he's been here, this is his third year with us. You see KJ, this maturation. Both guys need to play like All-SEC players this year, and I think that's their expectation. I think what they will tell you more than anything is just the competitiveness in practice. Our depth is better. Better depth makes for more competitive practices which will just get all teams better as long as you can stay healthy."
On adjusting because of COVID-19…
"I think we do miss some of those team meals after practices that guys used to kind of sit down (together). Now it's kind of grab-and-go. We used to spend a lot of time, I'm sure like a lot of teams did, at the head coach's house just getting together for team meals and doing those types of things. Because we're always talking six feet apart for 15 straight minutes and all those things about social tracing. I'll tell you what, I've coached a lot of teams and just in the early part of this, we've been together now for a while, but I love the way this group competes on the floor. They seem like they have great bonding on the floor. They work really hard and compete against each other, but it's very friendly afterwards. So, with our team, we do miss some of the other parts of it, but I really like where our team is at from a togetherness standpoint."
On Jarkel Joiner…
"Jarkel, he obviously loves the gym more than anybody else I've coached. He loves being in it, loves competing in it. He's just so excited, he's always dreamed about playing at Ole Miss. His two years at Bakersfield, playing for a great Ole Miss player and coach in Rod Barnes, it gave him a great jumpstart. He's chomping at the bit to put on the Ole Miss uniform and compete in The Pavilion and in our games. He's doing great. He and Luis (Rodriguez) are kind of leading us right now in our point system that we keep every day with competitive things that we do. He'll be a big part of our team."
On Pavilion capacity…
"Just in conversation, I hear 25 percent. That's probably about it because that's what football does. There's been conversations about how we're going to do season tickets, or a similar approach as football with single games and two games at a time. Obviously, we sit here, like the SEC did in football, we'll wait and wait and wait and make some decisions in time for the fans. Hopefully in time we have seen some different trends of the virus. A lot of it is going to be on our governor and what his restrictions are and then just our city of Oxford about indoor venues and how many people are going to be allowed (to attend)."
On the scout team…
"We watched some film this morning as a team, and we talked about the teams being flexible. teams being versatile. We talked about our walk-ons today, being able for some things to hit you at a certain moment. Maybe not for games necessarily but for practices and being able to know. It's probably like what some football teams are doing right now. KJ Buffen's been here three years, and I think KJ could play, one, two, three, four, or five. Devontae Shuler playing the one, two or the three and guys being more interchangeable. I think basketball IQs and film and all the different things and being flexible as staffs, especially when those games hit. Even now guys, even in practices, sometimes you wake up and say I'm not going to practice until after we get the COVID test to make sure that everybody is going to be there and available."
On the extra year of eligibility…
"Number one, I thought it was one thousand percent the right thing to do. I think these guys, even from last year, we're fortunate as men's basketball that we got to play all of our games except for those teams that had qualified for the NCAA Tournament. I think it's the right thing to do, and everybody on our team has an extra year of eligibility. All seniors could come back if they see fit. You run the risk of the season not getting the 27 games, maybe it's a lower number. I just think what it does, it gives players like Devontae (Shuler) and KJ (Buffen) or maybe Khadim Sy and Romello White, Dimencio Vaughn as seniors, it just gives them the option depending on what goes on right now with the virus. I thought it was the exact right thing to do, and again, we're going to be flexible and just kind of see what's going to be the best options going forward after the year."
On fans affecting atmosphere at games…
"I think it can work both ways. The great players that we've all coached, at least the ones I've coached, it seems like they play better on the road than they do at home. You get a great environment like you do at Lexington, and there's a definite home court advantage. When our place is full and rocking, it's one of the very best home court advantages. Will we miss the fans being there? Sure, we will. I don't care if you're the coach or players, but I do think, I was so impressed with the NBA players at how hard they competed. Not just in the finals, but in those early games. I can remember last year, we played Texas in a closed scrimmage at a small college in New Orleans with nobody there, and it was like our guys were playing for a championship. They went at each other, and so I think those competitive juices come out in those big games. The greatest thing about it, especially with our SEC Network and our tv package, there's going to be a ton of people watching those games all the time. So, will it be different? No doubt. I do think you'll see a great quality of play, especially in the SEC."
On team chemistry…
"I really like it. Are we a finished product? By no means, but I do see now the ball starting to move a lot better. I do know they enjoy coming to the gym with each other and competing against each other. I know that for a fact, I like that part of it. I see chemistry developing. We're kind of even on different teams and playing competitive kinds of games in 4-on-4 and 5-on-5. It starts to remind me more, not talking about players or talent, but kind of the chemistry and culture that we had developed at Middle Tennessee. Coming in the gym every day, and those practices were really competitive."
On Luis Rodriguez…
"Luis has worked so hard coming back. He's been one of our best players, most productive players in practices so far. You just forgot how much we missed his toughness and physicalness and how much he affected our team last year. He's been great, he's in shape. Knock on wood, he feels nothing with his foot. He's been full go completely."
On Matthew Murrell…
"I think Matthew goes through what a lot of young guys do. I don't care where you're ranked, where you are, it's just tempo, physicalness and just the competition every single day of who you're going up against. Guys who have played in the SEC who are competitive. Matthew, I can see, he's starting to figure out tempo, speed of play, taking care of the ball more. One thing, and I told him in front of our team the other day, he's the most receptive young player to coaching that I've ever coached. When you have that kind of talent and he listens and he doesn't mind being coached this early in the process, that's a great trait for a young guy."
On filling Breein Tyree's role…
"We probably depended too much on Breein down the stretch to score. I just think we have a lot of very capable scorers, the two guys in this room (Devontae Shuler and KJ Buffen) are. I can go and name seven or eight guys. I think you're going to have a lot of different guys lead Ole Miss in scoring. The very best teams we always see are the most balanced teams. TD (Terence Davis) who was an All-NBA Rookie, was our second leading scorer and averaged 14 (points) a game. Balance, impacting winning is the most important thing, trying to compete for an SEC Championship. As long as those are the goals, we'll even out. I do think you'll see a lot more balanced team."
On having a position-less roster…
"We've coached some good players here in my first two years. Nothing against talent, we've got more depth, more length, we're stronger. I think, just early on, we've got more guys we're going to be able to put into these games. The biggest things, I'm sure with Alabama football throughout the years, I've always talked about it, I know they have a lot of NFL players, but I can only imagine how good their practices are. How they hold themselves accountable based on the competition and trying to have minutes in the game. Competition is the best tool a coach can possibly have, with competitive guys trying to win, and trying to get on the floor for quality minutes."
Senior guard Devontae Shuler
On the depth of the team…
We've got a couple new guys, a couple transfers, of course Jarkel (Joiner) has been here. I feel like we're deeper with more guys coming off the bench, players coming in the game. Like Coach (Davis) said, we're going to be more balanced this year. There's going to be a couple games where different guys have high scoring nights and guys making the right plays down the stretch. We put a lot of pressure on Breein (Tyree) at the end of games, so I feel like this year we're just going to try and balance it out to push to the end."
On what he's added to his game this offseason…
"Just being more of a leader. Of course I have been the point guard the majority of the year, so just coming off ball screens at the top of the key with me, Khadim (Sy) and Romello (White). Just playing with those guys and getting a better feel on the offensive end. On defense, that just comes with how we play. This year on the defensive end, we should be stronger."
On the opportunity to play off the ball sometimes this season…
"I feel like I've already shown that I can play point guard. I feel like I'm better at shooting the ball and just playing off ball, trying to get my team, whoever's the point guard, trying to get him more assists or just the little things. Being more of a two guard, I'm fine with that. I don't feel like it's going to be much pressure for me because I did it before in high school."
On the possibility of returning with the NCAA's rule of granting an extra year of eligibility for this season…
"I really haven't even thought about it. I just found about it today, but if I did have a chance to come back, my opinion is I wouldn't come back just based off my mindset on what I'm going to do this year and what the team is going to do. I feel like it's going to be undeniable for me to go to the NBA."
On if the team has improved rebounding the basketball…
"Definitely, we have more length and guys that are more aggressive, more competitive in practice. Guys really want it, not thinking about just scoring the ball the time. Guys like Romello (White), he was second in the Pac-12 in rebounds last year. I feel like he's going to be a big piece for us, and Khadim (Sy) got more experience in the SEC. We've got rebounding guards. We've got Luis (Rodriguez) back. I feel like he was a big missing piece for us last year. I don't think a lot of people knew about his injury, but Luis is going to be a main key for us this year."
On team chemistry…
"The guys are just trying to get used to the plays and Kermit's system and how he plays. They're moving the ball pretty well. No one is trying to be selfish; I think everyone is trying to make each other better."
On Luis Rodriguez…
"I feel like Luis can guard anyone from the one to the four. He's that competitive to where he will cause trouble on anyone who has the ball in their hands. Rebounding is definitely the strength of his game, and he's also working on his jump shot. He can shoot the ball well when he has his confidence."
On COVID-19…
"We're not having many team meetings, team breakfast after we get done with certain practices or weights. That's a main part of who we were last year, just us being together a lot and just talking, trying to figure out what we're going to do as a team to win. Our procedures right now, we've been staying pretty separate and not eating close to each other. Just the little things that really matter to us right now and for us to be eligible to play."
On seeing former teammates like Terence Davis, Zion Williamson and Ja Morant in the NBA…
"It just shows that I have the opportunity too, it's right in front of my face. Especially playing with TD (Terence Davis), seeing what he did in college and only averaged 14 (points per game). Him being more available on the court and doing the little things to show it's an opportunity for me to be there too."
On Matthew Murrell…
"I feel like Matt right now is just all about him going through the motions, just physically and mentally. A lot of freshmen come in with the mindset of wanting to score the ball and not really paying attention to what Coach Kermit really likes. Like his certain techniques and how he likes you to come off a ball screen or the way you come up and play defense with your hands up. Matt is going to be a good player for us this year and for him to be a freshman, I feel like he'll have the chance to make the SEC All-Freshman Team."
Junior forward KJ Buffen
On working as a leader and if there are any changes with official practice starting…
"The work will amp up a little bit. We still have been doing a lot of stuff, but we're still going to keep going hard like we have been in the past."
On what it's like to be an African-American man in 2020…
"It's rough for some African-American men, but I'm blessed to be here at Ole Miss to where you know the community is great, the officers are great. I haven't experienced really any bad situations as an African-American man here."
On the depth on the frontcourt with the additions of Romello White and Dimencio Vaughn…
"It definitely adds a lot more competition in the frontcourt because he (Romello White) was second in the Pac-12 in rebounding, so that's something that I like going against him every day in practice. Dimencio, he's also a tough worker and rebounder, so it'll be good for us."
On his versatility for the 1-5 positions and how he thinks he's be as a point guard…
"I don't know yet, but I would just try to take it slow so it wouldn't be bad."
On growing and learning to control his emotions on the court to not pick up cheap fouls…
"I'm still working on that. It's just because I feel like I hold myself to a really high standard. If I do something wrong, then I'm upset with myself, but I have been working on going to the next play.
Head coach Kermit Davis
Opening Statement…
"Appreciate you guys, number one, being with us today. I think this is, as a head coach, maybe my 26th opening day of practice. We've talked about it before on here, it's changed through the years. Used to be October 15 was the first time you could touch your guys, and so it's a little different feeling. We've been going for a little while now, but it's still always a great feeling to know you're officially going. That your hours are longer, the 20 hours a week, that you're going now five to six times a week, depending on some days off. I like coming to the gym with our team. Our team is competitive, friendly competitive though. We've had some really good 4-on-4, 5-on-5 competitive games. I like the depth of our team and the two guys that will be visiting with you after me, Devontae (Shuler) and KJ (Buffen), are off to really good starts and doing some really good things from a leadership standpoint."
On playing a tournament at the beginning of the season…
"The tournament that was at the Cayman (Islands) with a great field, a CBS tournament, eventually got moved to Destin. Then just with the start on the 25th (of November), I think our tournament started on the 21st or 22nd, so it was canceled. We're going to start our own MTE (multiple team event). Right now, we're still awaiting contracts, but we think it's pretty well set for the 25th, 26th, and 27th of November. Right now, it's Jackson State, Central Arkansas and Arkansas State. So those first three days, that Wednesday, Thursday and Friday."
On improving rebounding…
"Devontae, KJ and I were talking about that yesterday, just the look of our team. We have a more athletic, more physical-looking SEC roster, to where we have 10-12 guys we can put in an SEC game. Romello White, obviously second in the Pac-12 in rebounding last year, kind of a proven rebounder. I think he had 17 rebounds at UCLA last year, 19 (points) and 17 (rebounds) against Georgia. Khadim Sy is really a much-improved player. Sammy Hunter, KJ. We talked about with KJ the other day, he came in like a lot of young freshmen, thin, and now he's holding his body weight around 230-231. He's become a lot better rebounder. Add Shon Robinson, so yeah, we feel like our depth and our length to be able to play in these high-level SEC games has sure improved."
On the non-conference schedule…
"I'm not trying to step out front, I think we're pretty secure. I'm not saying that some things couldn't happen. Really our schedule after that MTE (multiple team even) is really staying true to form. Rider won't happen. I think we're going to move Rider back to next year. Besides Rider, I think those games will kind of come in good sequence. Either the 29th or 30th, depending on what date we get for that first SEC date of December, but it seems like the Wichita State game is still going to be on that January 2. There was some talk of maybe moving that, but I think we're pretty firm with that. Then just starting the SEC after that. So right now, we're kind of set with our schedule. Nothing has been released officially. We're kind of waiting on the SEC."
On leadership from Devontae Shuler and KJ Buffen…
"You look at Devontae, and he's maybe the most experienced guard in the SEC. He's been a two-year starter and played a great amount as a freshman. He's been in a lot of big big games and great minutes. Devontae, it's just really fun for me to watch him mature at all levels from academically, to leadership roles, to everything as a player. KJ Buffen also, he's been here, this is his third year with us. You see KJ, this maturation. Both guys need to play like All-SEC players this year, and I think that's their expectation. I think what they will tell you more than anything is just the competitiveness in practice. Our depth is better. Better depth makes for more competitive practices which will just get all teams better as long as you can stay healthy."
On adjusting because of COVID-19…
"I think we do miss some of those team meals after practices that guys used to kind of sit down (together). Now it's kind of grab-and-go. We used to spend a lot of time, I'm sure like a lot of teams did, at the head coach's house just getting together for team meals and doing those types of things. Because we're always talking six feet apart for 15 straight minutes and all those things about social tracing. I'll tell you what, I've coached a lot of teams and just in the early part of this, we've been together now for a while, but I love the way this group competes on the floor. They seem like they have great bonding on the floor. They work really hard and compete against each other, but it's very friendly afterwards. So, with our team, we do miss some of the other parts of it, but I really like where our team is at from a togetherness standpoint."
On Jarkel Joiner…
"Jarkel, he obviously loves the gym more than anybody else I've coached. He loves being in it, loves competing in it. He's just so excited, he's always dreamed about playing at Ole Miss. His two years at Bakersfield, playing for a great Ole Miss player and coach in Rod Barnes, it gave him a great jumpstart. He's chomping at the bit to put on the Ole Miss uniform and compete in The Pavilion and in our games. He's doing great. He and Luis (Rodriguez) are kind of leading us right now in our point system that we keep every day with competitive things that we do. He'll be a big part of our team."
On Pavilion capacity…
"Just in conversation, I hear 25 percent. That's probably about it because that's what football does. There's been conversations about how we're going to do season tickets, or a similar approach as football with single games and two games at a time. Obviously, we sit here, like the SEC did in football, we'll wait and wait and wait and make some decisions in time for the fans. Hopefully in time we have seen some different trends of the virus. A lot of it is going to be on our governor and what his restrictions are and then just our city of Oxford about indoor venues and how many people are going to be allowed (to attend)."
On the scout team…
"We watched some film this morning as a team, and we talked about the teams being flexible. teams being versatile. We talked about our walk-ons today, being able for some things to hit you at a certain moment. Maybe not for games necessarily but for practices and being able to know. It's probably like what some football teams are doing right now. KJ Buffen's been here three years, and I think KJ could play, one, two, three, four, or five. Devontae Shuler playing the one, two or the three and guys being more interchangeable. I think basketball IQs and film and all the different things and being flexible as staffs, especially when those games hit. Even now guys, even in practices, sometimes you wake up and say I'm not going to practice until after we get the COVID test to make sure that everybody is going to be there and available."
On the extra year of eligibility…
"Number one, I thought it was one thousand percent the right thing to do. I think these guys, even from last year, we're fortunate as men's basketball that we got to play all of our games except for those teams that had qualified for the NCAA Tournament. I think it's the right thing to do, and everybody on our team has an extra year of eligibility. All seniors could come back if they see fit. You run the risk of the season not getting the 27 games, maybe it's a lower number. I just think what it does, it gives players like Devontae (Shuler) and KJ (Buffen) or maybe Khadim Sy and Romello White, Dimencio Vaughn as seniors, it just gives them the option depending on what goes on right now with the virus. I thought it was the exact right thing to do, and again, we're going to be flexible and just kind of see what's going to be the best options going forward after the year."
On fans affecting atmosphere at games…
"I think it can work both ways. The great players that we've all coached, at least the ones I've coached, it seems like they play better on the road than they do at home. You get a great environment like you do at Lexington, and there's a definite home court advantage. When our place is full and rocking, it's one of the very best home court advantages. Will we miss the fans being there? Sure, we will. I don't care if you're the coach or players, but I do think, I was so impressed with the NBA players at how hard they competed. Not just in the finals, but in those early games. I can remember last year, we played Texas in a closed scrimmage at a small college in New Orleans with nobody there, and it was like our guys were playing for a championship. They went at each other, and so I think those competitive juices come out in those big games. The greatest thing about it, especially with our SEC Network and our tv package, there's going to be a ton of people watching those games all the time. So, will it be different? No doubt. I do think you'll see a great quality of play, especially in the SEC."
On team chemistry…
"I really like it. Are we a finished product? By no means, but I do see now the ball starting to move a lot better. I do know they enjoy coming to the gym with each other and competing against each other. I know that for a fact, I like that part of it. I see chemistry developing. We're kind of even on different teams and playing competitive kinds of games in 4-on-4 and 5-on-5. It starts to remind me more, not talking about players or talent, but kind of the chemistry and culture that we had developed at Middle Tennessee. Coming in the gym every day, and those practices were really competitive."
On Luis Rodriguez…
"Luis has worked so hard coming back. He's been one of our best players, most productive players in practices so far. You just forgot how much we missed his toughness and physicalness and how much he affected our team last year. He's been great, he's in shape. Knock on wood, he feels nothing with his foot. He's been full go completely."
On Matthew Murrell…
"I think Matthew goes through what a lot of young guys do. I don't care where you're ranked, where you are, it's just tempo, physicalness and just the competition every single day of who you're going up against. Guys who have played in the SEC who are competitive. Matthew, I can see, he's starting to figure out tempo, speed of play, taking care of the ball more. One thing, and I told him in front of our team the other day, he's the most receptive young player to coaching that I've ever coached. When you have that kind of talent and he listens and he doesn't mind being coached this early in the process, that's a great trait for a young guy."
On filling Breein Tyree's role…
"We probably depended too much on Breein down the stretch to score. I just think we have a lot of very capable scorers, the two guys in this room (Devontae Shuler and KJ Buffen) are. I can go and name seven or eight guys. I think you're going to have a lot of different guys lead Ole Miss in scoring. The very best teams we always see are the most balanced teams. TD (Terence Davis) who was an All-NBA Rookie, was our second leading scorer and averaged 14 (points) a game. Balance, impacting winning is the most important thing, trying to compete for an SEC Championship. As long as those are the goals, we'll even out. I do think you'll see a lot more balanced team."
On having a position-less roster…
"We've coached some good players here in my first two years. Nothing against talent, we've got more depth, more length, we're stronger. I think, just early on, we've got more guys we're going to be able to put into these games. The biggest things, I'm sure with Alabama football throughout the years, I've always talked about it, I know they have a lot of NFL players, but I can only imagine how good their practices are. How they hold themselves accountable based on the competition and trying to have minutes in the game. Competition is the best tool a coach can possibly have, with competitive guys trying to win, and trying to get on the floor for quality minutes."
Senior guard Devontae Shuler
On the depth of the team…
We've got a couple new guys, a couple transfers, of course Jarkel (Joiner) has been here. I feel like we're deeper with more guys coming off the bench, players coming in the game. Like Coach (Davis) said, we're going to be more balanced this year. There's going to be a couple games where different guys have high scoring nights and guys making the right plays down the stretch. We put a lot of pressure on Breein (Tyree) at the end of games, so I feel like this year we're just going to try and balance it out to push to the end."
On what he's added to his game this offseason…
"Just being more of a leader. Of course I have been the point guard the majority of the year, so just coming off ball screens at the top of the key with me, Khadim (Sy) and Romello (White). Just playing with those guys and getting a better feel on the offensive end. On defense, that just comes with how we play. This year on the defensive end, we should be stronger."
On the opportunity to play off the ball sometimes this season…
"I feel like I've already shown that I can play point guard. I feel like I'm better at shooting the ball and just playing off ball, trying to get my team, whoever's the point guard, trying to get him more assists or just the little things. Being more of a two guard, I'm fine with that. I don't feel like it's going to be much pressure for me because I did it before in high school."
On the possibility of returning with the NCAA's rule of granting an extra year of eligibility for this season…
"I really haven't even thought about it. I just found about it today, but if I did have a chance to come back, my opinion is I wouldn't come back just based off my mindset on what I'm going to do this year and what the team is going to do. I feel like it's going to be undeniable for me to go to the NBA."
On if the team has improved rebounding the basketball…
"Definitely, we have more length and guys that are more aggressive, more competitive in practice. Guys really want it, not thinking about just scoring the ball the time. Guys like Romello (White), he was second in the Pac-12 in rebounds last year. I feel like he's going to be a big piece for us, and Khadim (Sy) got more experience in the SEC. We've got rebounding guards. We've got Luis (Rodriguez) back. I feel like he was a big missing piece for us last year. I don't think a lot of people knew about his injury, but Luis is going to be a main key for us this year."
On team chemistry…
"The guys are just trying to get used to the plays and Kermit's system and how he plays. They're moving the ball pretty well. No one is trying to be selfish; I think everyone is trying to make each other better."
On Luis Rodriguez…
"I feel like Luis can guard anyone from the one to the four. He's that competitive to where he will cause trouble on anyone who has the ball in their hands. Rebounding is definitely the strength of his game, and he's also working on his jump shot. He can shoot the ball well when he has his confidence."
On COVID-19…
"We're not having many team meetings, team breakfast after we get done with certain practices or weights. That's a main part of who we were last year, just us being together a lot and just talking, trying to figure out what we're going to do as a team to win. Our procedures right now, we've been staying pretty separate and not eating close to each other. Just the little things that really matter to us right now and for us to be eligible to play."
On seeing former teammates like Terence Davis, Zion Williamson and Ja Morant in the NBA…
"It just shows that I have the opportunity too, it's right in front of my face. Especially playing with TD (Terence Davis), seeing what he did in college and only averaged 14 (points per game). Him being more available on the court and doing the little things to show it's an opportunity for me to be there too."
On Matthew Murrell…
"I feel like Matt right now is just all about him going through the motions, just physically and mentally. A lot of freshmen come in with the mindset of wanting to score the ball and not really paying attention to what Coach Kermit really likes. Like his certain techniques and how he likes you to come off a ball screen or the way you come up and play defense with your hands up. Matt is going to be a good player for us this year and for him to be a freshman, I feel like he'll have the chance to make the SEC All-Freshman Team."
Junior forward KJ Buffen
On working as a leader and if there are any changes with official practice starting…
"The work will amp up a little bit. We still have been doing a lot of stuff, but we're still going to keep going hard like we have been in the past."
On what it's like to be an African-American man in 2020…
"It's rough for some African-American men, but I'm blessed to be here at Ole Miss to where you know the community is great, the officers are great. I haven't experienced really any bad situations as an African-American man here."
On the depth on the frontcourt with the additions of Romello White and Dimencio Vaughn…
"It definitely adds a lot more competition in the frontcourt because he (Romello White) was second in the Pac-12 in rebounding, so that's something that I like going against him every day in practice. Dimencio, he's also a tough worker and rebounder, so it'll be good for us."
On his versatility for the 1-5 positions and how he thinks he's be as a point guard…
"I don't know yet, but I would just try to take it slow so it wouldn't be bad."
On growing and learning to control his emotions on the court to not pick up cheap fouls…
"I'm still working on that. It's just because I feel like I hold myself to a really high standard. If I do something wrong, then I'm upset with myself, but I have been working on going to the next play.
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard/Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard/Forward
/ Men's Basketball
Forward
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