Predictions for Ole Miss basketball

[oxfordreb]

Since football is FINALLY winding down, it's time to gear up for basketball. The 2007-2008 Rebels have alot of new faces on the roster and on the court. With all that youth, how well can the Rebels do? Well, if the season goes in the direction that the Delta St. exhibition game went, it'll be pretty good. We all know that this is not a fair ruler in which to measure the talent level of our guys, but it is easy to see that we have enough talent to compete in the SEC. Although there is talent, the one thing that goes hand in hand with talent to make successful seasons is missing: experience. Not a whole lot of that to go around, but we do return plenty of big men that have been with us for a while and we also have second year guard Polynice and senior PG Brian Smith returning. Hopefully the young guys will mature quickly and help us compete for another NIT bid this season. Not that the NIT is a good goal to shoot for, but with a team this young, it would be a nice exclamation point to add to the end of their freshmen and sophmore campaigns, and hopefully give us a boost to contend for the Western Division title again next season.

That is a reality look at things, but with the way AK can turn a low level bunch of players into division winners (ie:last season), who knows where we might end up at. Hopefully we will exceed expectations and battle to win the west this year (although I kinda doubt it).

What are y'alls thoughts on the way the season will progress?

[olemsdave76]

After watching the exhibition, I am very impressed with the play of our youth. Little rough around the edges, but with a fairly easy non-conference slate, should grow into themselves. One thing i noticed was the defense drops off BIG-TIME w/o Curtis and Parnell in, so that could be a concern.
This team could finish anywhere from between just under .500 to around 20 wins again. Just depends on how fast the young players mature. Plus i highly doubt 8-8 will win the West this year.
As for the losses of our guard tri from last year, Basketball is easily the one sport where one or two new players, regardless of age, can make a big difference.
The team could easily win 11 of its 12 non-con games this year. no better than 8-8 in the conference.
So out on a limb and say 18-12 regular season.

[oxfordreb]

After watching the exhibition, I am very impressed with the play of our youth. Little rough around the edges, but with a fairly easy non-conference slate, should grow into themselves. One thing i noticed was the defense drops off BIG-TIME w/o Curtis and Parnell in, so that could be a concern.
This team could finish anywhere from between just under .500 to around 20 wins again. Just depends on how fast the young players mature. Plus i highly doubt 8-8 will win the West this year.
As for the losses of our guard tri from last year, Basketball is easily the one sport where one or two new players, regardless of age, can make a big difference.
The team could easily win 11 of its 12 non-con games this year. no better than 8-8 in the conference.
So out on a limb and say 18-12 regular season.


I think 18-12 is a good call, maybe a little more than I would guess. I was thinking somewhere around 16 wins, but that's just the pessimist coming out in me :rolleyes:

Here's a little something to take you all back and hopefully get y'all in the mood for some BBall:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=266JPXUmaCs

[NiKka]

18-12 is around what I was thinking when I seen the thread subject.
I don't expect tooo much of a drop off, 8-8 will not win the west though..

[Jay1]

I think 18-12 is a good call, maybe a little more than I would guess. I was thinking somewhere around 16 wins, but that's just the pessimist coming out in me :rolleyes:

Here's a little something to take you all back and hopefully get y'all in the mood for some BBall:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=266JPXUmaCs

I wish I knew enough about basketball to comment, but I don't. So I'll just say here's to a (good) winning season. Cheers: :beer: