Welcome to my team preview series for 2024-25. Each day between now and the start of the college basketball season, I will preview one team or conference, both on Instagram (@collegehoopsoutlet) and through an article here. The preview will go in-depth on the roster build of the team, my expectations for their upcoming season, and the state of the program under their current head coach.
Ole Miss (Projected: 8th in SEC)
Ole Miss welcomed Chris Beard back to coaching at the start of last season and he led the team to a 20-12 finish. The Rebels will be looking to improve on that mark in 2024-25, returning three double-digit scorers and adding a handful of talented transfers. A tournament appearance is very possible for the Rebels this year, and it would give Beard his sixth tournament appearance in nine seasons across four schools.
Matthew Murrell’s (16 ppg) announcement to return to Ole Miss for a fifth season amplified the hype for year two under Chris Beard. Murrell is a talented three-level scorer and solid defender, and his experience in the backcourt is a large boost to this squad. He’ll be joined in the backcourt by Jaylen Murray (14 ppg, 4 apg), another talented scorer and a pesky on-ball defender. With Murrell and Murray back, the Rebels have a very talented backcourt and one with great continuity and experience.
Jaemyn Brakefield (13 ppg, 5 rpg) returns to give the frontcourt an experienced guy. Brakefield has spent the past three seasons at Ole Miss after transferring in from Duke. Brakefield is an athletic big who can space the floor when needed and is a good defender. TJ Caldwell (6 ppg) is another returner for the Rebels, seeing 18 mpg last season as the sixth-man. Robert Cowherd (1 ppg) is the final returner, missing much of his freshman season due to injury.
Five players left the Ole Miss program this offseason, none bigger than senior wing Allen Flanigan (15 ppg, 6 rpg). Flanigan ran out of eligibility, as did senior center Jamarion Sharp (3 ppg, 4 rpg). Moussa Cisse (5 ppg, 5 rpg) transferred back to Memphis, Brandon Murray (4 ppg) transferred to McNeese State, and Austin Nunez (1 ppg) transferred back to Arizona State to conclude the departures.
Sean Pedulla (16 ppg, 4 rpg, 5 apg at Virginia Tech) headlines the incoming transfers for Chris Beard heading into year two. Pedulla is a great all-around guard with back-to-back seasons averaging 15+ ppg in the ACC. Dre Davis (15 ppg, 6 rpg at Seton Hall) provides even more experience with his addition to the backcourt. Davis has four years of experience at the high-major level across his time at Seton Hall and Louisville and is a solid player on both ends of the floor. Davon Barnes (14 ppg at Sam Houston State) makes the transfer up to the power conference level for Chris Beard’s Rebels. Barnes shot 39.1% from three last season on 151 attempts and will give the backcourt a needed boost in outside shooting.
Malik Dia (17 ppg, 6 rpg at Belmont) broke out this past season at Belmont after spending his freshman year at SEC rivals Vanderbilt. Now transferring back into the SEC to play for the Rebels, Dia provides Beard with an option as an all-around big. Mikeal Brown-Jones (19 ppg, 8 rpg at UNCG) gives a more physical presence to the Rebels’ frontcourt, a terrific rebounder last year in the SoCon and a good floor spacer on limited attempts (44.1% 3P). Ja’Von Benson (7 ppg, 5 rpg at Hampton) is the final transfer for Beard, an experienced post player with four years under his belt, including three in the SEC at South Carolina.
Three high school recruits made their way to Oxford this offseason, the most important being center John Bol (4*, NAT 54). Bol stands at seven-feet tall, and we saw last season with Cisse and Sharp that Beard loves himself a seven-footer. Bol should play right away as a freshman, at least in some scenarios. Guards Eduardo Klafke (3*, NAT 175) and John Day (Unranked) round out the recruiting class.
Chris Beard has built up a program before, taking Texas Tech to two Elite Eights and a Final Four in a five-year span. 2024-25 should mark the start of a postseason string for the Rebels, with a talented roster for Beard to work with.
Returning Murrell, Murray, and Brakefield gives the Rebels a great boost in experience and consistency heading into November. I also love what Beard was able to do in the portal, picking up Pedulla, Dia, Davis, and Brown-Jones. My X-factor for this team is Malik Dia, a guy that could have a big impact in the frontcourt, but struggled in the SEC as a freshman at Vanderbilt. If Dia plays close to the level he was at with Belmont this past season, the Rebels have a chance to compete near the top of the SEC.
With a great mix of both experience and talent, Beard has himself a roster that can reach the NCAA Tournament and be highly competitive in the SEC. I’ve got the Rebels placed 8th in the conference at the moment, but they’re growing on me by the day.