According to some, it appears that Ole Miss is back in the NCAA Tournament discussion — maybe even knocking on the door of a preseason ranking.
The 2024-25 NCAA basketball season hasn’t tipped off yet, but in some ways, it has with all the moves made over the course of the offseason nationally. Ole Miss was one of those teams that had to undergo a fairly significant building project, and on the surface, it appears that Chris Beard and staff have a team that will be an interesting team to watch come November
Beard previously anticipated a “drastically different” roster when he spoke to the media back in March. It is a different group, but there’s enough familiarity that many fans appear to be excited about, particularly getting Matthew Murrell for a fifth and final season. The improvements made from his junior season to last season are welcomed with open arms.
In the days that followed the NBA Draft withdraw deadline for early entries, Ole Miss finds itself in the mix of teams expected to make an NCAA Tournament. Joe Lunardi’s post-deadline, way-too-early bracketology has the Rebels as a No. 8 seed in the South Region.
the Rebels are sitting just barely outside a top-25 spot, but among the top-half of the conference.
“Chris Beard didn’t make the tournament in his first year at Texas Tech, but that second year was outstanding. Texas Tech finished with a No. 3 seed and advanced to the Elite Eight. Ole Miss missed the Big Dance in Beard’s first year, but a second-year surge is expected after the Rebels got Matthew Murrell back for another season. Murrell — who looks like a Norman Powell prototype — should have a much better supporting cast next winter. Virginia Tech transfer Sean Pedulla is an awesome point guard who can also be a high-volume sniper. Jaylen “JuJu” Murray can fill it up. Seton Hall transfer Dre Davis is an excellent, all-around wing. Ole Miss’ frontcourt is revamped and looks ready to be a real difference-maker. The SEC is just overflowing with loaded rosters. Ole Miss is one of ’em,” 247Sports’ Isaac Trotter said of Ole Miss.
Some like the Field of 68 have even gone as far as to put Ole Miss at No. 14 nationally in a similar ranking.
Ole Miss averaged right at 75 points per game at the end of last season, and will have quite a few different players this coming season that previously averaged 15 points or more, a couple of them being Murrell, Seton Hall transfer Dre Davis and Virginia Tech point guard Sean Pedulla, all of which should make a pretty compelling case to start next season. Instead of having a pair of 7-footer centers, the Rebels will have just one in the form of John Bol, who’s one of the highest rated high school signees in the basketball program’s history as a McDonald’s All-American. How Bol contributes right away will be determined. Malik Dia makes a significant case to contribute right away down low with his unique skillset alongside guys like Mikeal Brown-Jones.
With Murrell’s decision to put his pro career on pause and to run it back, the Rebels have six returning players from last season, the others being Jaemyn Brakefield, Jaylen Murray, TJ Caldwell, Robert Cowherd and Cam Brent.
Ole Miss transfer portal class currently ranks No. 14 nationally, the sixth best haul among SEC programs. Those transfers include UNCG power forward Mikeal Brown-Jones, Belmont power forward Malik Dia, Seton Hall wing Dre Davis, Sam Houston State wing Davon Barnes and Virginia Tech point guard Sean Pedulla.
