Ole Miss defeated Tusculum, 85-44, Monday night in an exhibition game at The Pavilion.
It was the final tune-up before next Monday’s season opener at 7 p.m. against Alabama State.
Stats were not provided to media, but here were a few we sort of accumulated:
Matthew Murrell had 19 points. Jaemyn Brakefield had 13. Allen Flanigan had 12 and Jamarion Sharp had 10. Ole Miss made 34 of 64 field goals but just two of 19 shots from the 3-point line. The Rebels were 15-for-21 from the free throw line. Ole Miss had 19 assists to 12 turnovers and out-rebounded Tusculum, 39-31.
Tusculum committed 24 turnovers and shot just 17-for-54 from the floor.
A few observations and notes:
— The first thing that sticks out is effort. No shade at the previous staff intended, but Beard has this team very dialed-in. It’s very obvious on the defensive end. One thing is obvious: If you don’t hustle on defense and you’re not assignment-aware, you won’t play.
— The plan, clearly, is to be elite on defense and create offense off defense. There was an eagerness to get into transition and Ole Miss fans will likely enjoy the faster pace this team appears to want to play at compared to previous seasons.
— Beard was playing a deeper bench than he’ll likely play in a game that counts. It looked like he was comfortable with an eight-man rotation, one shorted obviously by the absence of Moussa Cisse and Brandon Murray, who have not been cleared by the NCAA.
— TJ Caldwell, Jamarion Sharp, Jaemyn Brakefield, Jaylen Murray and Matthew Murrell started Monday. Robert Cowherd and Rashaud Marshall were the first two players off the bench. Allen Flanigan, who will obviously play a big role, was next. Jacob Gazzo played sparingly late in the first half and then played a large chunk of the second.
— Beard coaches hard, but guys aren’t playing apprehensively. In the second half, for example, Beard had a teaching moment with Caldwell and he was having a spirited discussion with him during a timeout. However, it ended with a pat on the chest.
— The Rebels had some highlight reel dunks in the second half. Sharp went high over everyone to finish an alley-oop. Caldwell had a high-flying finish as well.
— Ole Miss didn’t shoot it all that well from deep, but Beard was pleased with the looks his team got.
“We talk about shot selection a lot more than we talk about shot-making,” Beard said. “If you’re going to be a championship team, you have to figure out how to win a game when the basket is closed up a little bit.”
— Freshman Cameron Barnes will likely redshirt, Beard said.
— Beard said Marshall has a chance to play a role early in his career due to his physicality. Beard said they need Marshall to rebound better.
— Beard said Ole Miss really needs Flanigan to “do so many things,” adding he’s going to be needed on both ends of the floor.
— Beard said he was disappointed with Murray’s ball security Monday, adding it’s just one step in the process.
— Beard was asked about his team’s defense. He said, “In some ways, we’re kind of on track. In some ways, we’re not.” He said ball-screen defense must improve, noting that the purpose of these games is to get exposed on some things. He said Ole Miss must block out better as well. Transition defense improved Monday, Beard said.
— Beard said Caldwell has to become more consistent. At times, he was one of the best players on the floor and at times, he looked like a freshman. Beard said he believes Caldwell should be one of the best defenders in the SEC.
— Beard had high praise for Cowherd’s effort.
I spoke with Keith Carter briefly. He said Ole Miss is further down the road in the NCAA process with Cisse than it is Murray but he didn't know of a timetable, necessarily, for a ruling on either player.
It was the final tune-up before next Monday’s season opener at 7 p.m. against Alabama State.
Stats were not provided to media, but here were a few we sort of accumulated:
Matthew Murrell had 19 points. Jaemyn Brakefield had 13. Allen Flanigan had 12 and Jamarion Sharp had 10. Ole Miss made 34 of 64 field goals but just two of 19 shots from the 3-point line. The Rebels were 15-for-21 from the free throw line. Ole Miss had 19 assists to 12 turnovers and out-rebounded Tusculum, 39-31.
Tusculum committed 24 turnovers and shot just 17-for-54 from the floor.
A few observations and notes:
— The first thing that sticks out is effort. No shade at the previous staff intended, but Beard has this team very dialed-in. It’s very obvious on the defensive end. One thing is obvious: If you don’t hustle on defense and you’re not assignment-aware, you won’t play.
— The plan, clearly, is to be elite on defense and create offense off defense. There was an eagerness to get into transition and Ole Miss fans will likely enjoy the faster pace this team appears to want to play at compared to previous seasons.
— Beard was playing a deeper bench than he’ll likely play in a game that counts. It looked like he was comfortable with an eight-man rotation, one shorted obviously by the absence of Moussa Cisse and Brandon Murray, who have not been cleared by the NCAA.
— TJ Caldwell, Jamarion Sharp, Jaemyn Brakefield, Jaylen Murray and Matthew Murrell started Monday. Robert Cowherd and Rashaud Marshall were the first two players off the bench. Allen Flanigan, who will obviously play a big role, was next. Jacob Gazzo played sparingly late in the first half and then played a large chunk of the second.
— Beard coaches hard, but guys aren’t playing apprehensively. In the second half, for example, Beard had a teaching moment with Caldwell and he was having a spirited discussion with him during a timeout. However, it ended with a pat on the chest.
— The Rebels had some highlight reel dunks in the second half. Sharp went high over everyone to finish an alley-oop. Caldwell had a high-flying finish as well.
— Ole Miss didn’t shoot it all that well from deep, but Beard was pleased with the looks his team got.
“We talk about shot selection a lot more than we talk about shot-making,” Beard said. “If you’re going to be a championship team, you have to figure out how to win a game when the basket is closed up a little bit.”
— Freshman Cameron Barnes will likely redshirt, Beard said.
— Beard said Marshall has a chance to play a role early in his career due to his physicality. Beard said they need Marshall to rebound better.
— Beard said Ole Miss really needs Flanigan to “do so many things,” adding he’s going to be needed on both ends of the floor.
— Beard said he was disappointed with Murray’s ball security Monday, adding it’s just one step in the process.
— Beard was asked about his team’s defense. He said, “In some ways, we’re kind of on track. In some ways, we’re not.” He said ball-screen defense must improve, noting that the purpose of these games is to get exposed on some things. He said Ole Miss must block out better as well. Transition defense improved Monday, Beard said.
— Beard said Caldwell has to become more consistent. At times, he was one of the best players on the floor and at times, he looked like a freshman. Beard said he believes Caldwell should be one of the best defenders in the SEC.
— Beard had high praise for Cowherd’s effort.
I spoke with Keith Carter briefly. He said Ole Miss is further down the road in the NCAA process with Cisse than it is Murray but he didn't know of a timetable, necessarily, for a ruling on either player.
