Ole Miss Basketball

Despite producing five 20-plus win seasons and NIT appearances in his first six seasons at the helm in Oxford, head coach Andy Kennedy has not yet earned the Rebels a bid to the Big Dance.

Given a seventh season, and opportunity, by Ole Miss Athletics Director Ross Bjork in 2012-13, Kennedy now has his best shot ever to finally quiet his critics.

With a defining win against a then-No. 10-ranked Missouri Tiger team last week followed up with a dramatic come-from-behind win against a scrappy Vanderbilt team on the road this week, Kennedy’s Rebels now control their own March Madness destiny.

Led by the National Junior College Player of the Year in 2011-12 and currently the SEC’s leading scorer at 19.1 points per game, gritty point guard Marshall Henderson, the Rebels are on the fast track to success.

Currently at 14-2 overall and 3-0 in league play (RPI: 45, SOS: 170), fifteen conference games now stand between the upstart Rebels and a ticket to the NCAA Tournament.

While Ole Miss (14-2, 3-0), Florida (12-2, 2-0) and new additions Texas A&M (12-3, 2-0) and Missouri (12-3, 1-1) all sport records well above .500, usually successful programs like Kentucky (11-5, 2-1), Mississippi State (7-7, 2-0), and Vanderbilt (6-9, 0-3) are off to sluggish starts.

However, the conference season is still young, with 15 games remaining for each of the 14 programs between now and the start of the SEC Tournament in Nashville beginning March 13.

The way I see it, there are two things that need to happen to truly secure Kennedy and his Rebels their first NCAA bid since former coach Rod Barnes led Ole Miss to the promised land in 2002.

First, keep winning.

Specifically, win the ones you’re supposed to, and gain another couple of quality-level wins against teams with decent RPI’s. That would mean winning against either Kentucky (at home, Jan 29th), Florida (on the road, Feb 2nd) or Texas A&M (on the road, Feb 13th or at home, Feb 27th). It’s quite possible to win two or three of these four games.

As I see it, the Rebels need to win at least 10 of their final 15 conference games to absolutely “punch” their ticket to the big dance.

By winning 10 of their final 15 games in the expanded conference slate, the Rebels would finish the regular season with a record of 24 - 7 (13-5 in conference play) even before the SEC Tournament. That would set them up as probably a No. 7 or No. 8 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Second, Kennedy needs some of his SEC coaching counterparts to begin picking up the slack for fellow teams fighting for postseason bids. Teams like Ole Miss need to see opponents' RPIs rise as the season goes on to bolster their tournament resumes.

There’s no doubt about it, the SEC is having the type of “down year” in men’s basketball it hasn’t seen in a while. That being said, the importance of fellow conference members’ records as the season progresses simply can’t be stressed enough.

It will only help the Rebels’ chances of earning an NCAA bid, if a few other league members can get on the winning track and find themselves in position for at least an NIT bid themselves.

So, what will happen for the Rebels as the season shakes out between now and the end of the regular season March 9th on the road against rival, LSU?

The fact is this 2012-13 Rebel squad has more talent than any has had since the 2001 Rebels marched their way to the Sweet Sixteen before falling to eventual NCAA Champion, Arizona.  

Further, the men’s basketball team hasn’t won an SEC Conference Tournament since 1981. It’s been a long time coming, but Kennedy has this year’s team poised to make a real run not only in the SEC Tournament, but also the NCAA Tournament.

Prediction: Ole Miss Rebels (24-7, 13-5) - Regular Season

SEC Tournament: 2 wins, 1 loss (Championship Game)

Final Tournament Resume: 26-8

No. 8 seed in NCAA Tournament (advancing to the Sweet 16)

Follow @SephTheRebel for Ole Miss news from an Ole Miss guy …  

Dwight Coleby, a 6'9" center from Piney Woods, Mississippi, announced he is committing to Ole Miss via Twitter Sunday night.

Coleby was expected to announce between Memphis, Georgia, Mississippi State and Ole Miss last Thursday, but decided to wait a couple more days before making his decision. He also had offers from Southern Mississippi, Arkansas, Georgetown, Nebraska and UTEP.

Coleby was considered a Memphis lean before he visited Ole Miss late last month.

The 3-star recruit is considered the 23rd best center by Scout.com and the146th best player in the 2013 class by Rivals.com.

ESPN.com says of Coleby:

Coleby is an extra long and very athletic center that is mobile and active. He runs the floor extremely well and on a consistent basis. He finishes drop off passers above the rim and powers through defenders to finish.

Coleby, a native of the Bahamas, averaged  18 points and 12 rebounds per game in his junior season at The Piney Woods School. The talented big man was forced to play on the junior varsity team last year after transferring.

The Rebels are hoping Colby will be a great replacement for senior Reginald Buckner, especially on the defensive end. Colby still needs to work on his offensive skills, but his length and athleticism will be a great asset in Mississippi's tough SEC conference play.

This is head coach Andy Kennedy first commitment for the 2013 class. Look for Kennedy to go after a wing and maybe a couple junior college transfers to close out the class.

Mississippi Rebels guard and leading scorer Dundrecous Nelson has been dismissed from the team following an arrest for charges of possessing drug paraphernalia, according to Hugh Kellenberger of the Clarion Ledger.

At 1:24 a.m. early Wednesday morning, after Ole Miss’ win against SMU, an officer responded to a smell of marijuana coming from Nelson’s apartment, according to an Oxford Police Department incident report.

The report goes on to say Nelson and his friends, including Jamal Jones, who was also dismissed from the team, didn't answer the door when an officer arrived. But when Nelson left the apartment to claim a pizza delivery, the officer was waiting.

He found marijuana and other paraphernalia to use the drug. Unfortunately, the officer who reported it was making his second visit to the apartment, with the previous encounter ending with a warning that didn't end up being heeded by Nelson.

Ole Miss head coach Andy Kennedy gave the following statement about the incident (via AP):

'We’re all disappointed that this had to happen,” Kennedy told The Associated Press. 'But there’s a standard that has to be met to stay in this program. The fact that we had to take our most harsh disciplinary step speaks to the seriousness of the situation.'

Nelson, a Mississippi native, had seen his role on the team increase this season and was taking full advantage of the extra playing time. He averaged 12 points per game and was the team's top perimeter threat playing alongside Jarvis Summers.

That said, Kennedy was smart to take quick action before it appeared the school was sweeping the situation under the rug. Keeping a clean image is more important than ever in college athletics and that usually means decisions need to be made rapidly to diffuse potential problems.

Since he was reportedly given a pass the first time around, Nelson has nobody to blame but himself for losing his spot on the team. Hopefully it serves as a learning experience for him and he can land on his feet somewhere.

The Rebels begin SEC play with a road game against LSU on Saturday.

At A Glance:

Ole Miss:  10-1.  AP: 15  ESPN: 21  BP: 33  RPI: 22  BPI: 19

West Virginia  8-0.  AP: 6  ESPN: 6  BP: 6  RPI: 6  BPI: 25

Backcourts:

Considering the Rebels like to run up and down the court with the enthusiasm of students bolting to the Grove during football games it’s no surprise that their strength is at the guard position.  They are led by Chris Warren at over eighteen points a game but he gets plenty of help from Terrico White (16.6 ppg and over four rebounds a game) and Eniel Polynice (four and a half dishes a game to go with his ten points).  If any of the starters get tired Zach Graham brings double-figure support off the pine and Trevor Gaskins gives defensive support.

The Mountaineers have an uncertain situation with their guards.  Darryl Bryant is a given but beyond that Casey Mitchell and Joe Mazzulla may not play much or even see the floor.  Considering how much trouble they had with the press it’s essential that Bryant get some help in that area.

Advantage:  Ole Miss.  Expect some help from West Virginia’s forwards against this triumvirate.

Frontcourts:

Murphy Holloway is the third-leading scorer for the Rebs and also leads the team in rebounding at seven a game.  Reginald Buckner is another rebounder who is also the team’s leading shot-blocker at two and a half a game.  While these starters are certainly game they will have their hands full with the Mountaineers’ endless supply of long, strong forwards. Therefore, reserves DeAundre Cranston, Terrance Henry and possibly DeAngelo Riley need to provide quality minutes.

Like last night’s LSU-Washington State matchup each opponent has contrasting strengths.  Da’Sean Butler and Kevin Jones combine for 32 points and 13 rebounds a game.  Butler bailed out the Mountaineers against Cleveland State with his last-second shot.  Devin Ebanks is getting back into form after missing the first four games while John Flowers and Wellington Smith offer defensive support.  This is certainly one of the best forward units in the nation.

Advantage:  West Virginia.  That last sentence sums it up.

Coaching:

Andy Kennedy promised Rebel fans that his team was going to run at every opportunity and they have not disappointed.  They have scored over eighty points in eight of their ten wins this year.  Defensively they have been decent (67.9 ppg) but maybe not as intense in that area as his mentor Bob Huggins would prefer.

Huggins was less than pleased following West Virginia’s narrow win over Cleveland State and considering they gave away layups like they were going out of style his feelings were completely understandable.  It was the first time this season that the Mountaineers had given up more than 66 points in a game.  Don’t expect a Huggins-led squad to make that a habit.

Advantage:  West Virginia.  Kennedy has Ole Miss back on the national scene but he’s still the student in this relationship.

Prediction:

I know that Ole Miss has never beaten a Top-10 nonconference opponent.  I know that their frontcourt is seriously undermanned.  I know that Bob Huggins taught Andy Kennedy everything he knows and is going for a milestone win (one more to pass Gene Bartow for 23^rd all time). 

You know what?  I’m not going to follow logic this time (well, maybe a little).  Ole Miss’s guards run the Mountaineers ragged and pull off the upset.

Ole Miss 85, West Virginia 80.

Considering the Rebels' limited success under Andy Kennedy, the team seems to be facing a relatively high amount of expectations heading into 2009-10.

The Rebels have overachieved under Kennedy, this much is true. After struggling for years at the bottom of the SEC West, Kennedy took the team in his first year at the helm to 21 wins and its first postseason appearance in five years.

This, however, was in a downturn in the conference's strength. In fact, Kennedy has yet to finish above .500 in the league, or make the NCAA Tournament.

Most agree Kennedy has coaching talent, but off-the-court issues and injuries are holding his teams back, and Ole Miss fans are beginning to wonder when excuses won't be enough to explain the poor performance.

Last year handed the Rebels one of the worst cases of bad luck of any team in the nation.

Sophomore Trevor Gaskins dropped to a knee injury before the season began. Versatile wing Eniel Polynice had to have surgery after playing one game. Eleven games into the season, the Rebels' most important player in Chris Warren also fell to a knee injury and was done for the season.

After the season, Zack Graham underwent surgery after playing most of the season with a patella tendon tear.

And then there was the Cincinnatti incident.

Depending on whose story you believe, the details differ. The facts are that Kennedy was out late, past his team's curfew in fact. He had been drinking, and ordered a cab. Words were exchanged between the cabbie and Kennedy, the police were called. Kennedy was arrested, and is currently on probation.

The cabbie claims Kennedy verbally and physically assaulted him, Kennedy denies this.

The problems didn't end there. Not long after, the head coach's wife filed a lawsuit against the cabbie, claiming the whole fiasco was hurting, among other things, their love-life.

Imagine the jokes he heard after that one.

Regardless, it's easy to see why the Rebels struggled to a 16-15 overall record, 7-9 in the SEC.

With several Rebels returning from injury, suddenly the team is receiving votes for the Top 25 and expectations are growing.

If the team can avoid injury and the injured players can return to their former selves (and that's a big "if"), the Rebels might actually make a push for the postseason.

The Rebels' top scorer, David Huertas, opted to travel back home and play in Puerto Rico's professional league. Malcolm White, who would have been the team's anchor under the basket this season, also decided to leave and transferred to LSU.

Here's a look at the two newcomers for the Rebels.

Reggie Buckner
(No. 25 PF—Four stars—6'9"—205lbs)

Buckner was Tennessee's Mr. Basketball, and set the state's high-school career blocking record. That says enough.

Buckner is a very talented player and is highly athletic for his size. He's quick, handles the ball well, and rebounds tremendously.

On the flip side, his offense needs a lot of refining to be competitive in the SEC. Should start due to the team's lack of talent/depth up front.

DeAngelo Riley
(PF—Two stars— 6'9"—235lbs)

Riley also comes in with a reputation for blocking shots, though his career began at the junior college level.

Like Buckner, Riley is a work in progress offensively, but has further to go. Will provide depth.

While the Rebels may be lacking in experienced, talented depth under the basket, the same can not be said for their backcourt. Ranked by many outlets as the best in the league, it will need to carry the squad this year.

Chris Warren : 5'10", 168lb Junior PG
(19.6ppg—1.5rpg—1.63 A/TO—85.5% FT)

Warren has more potential than almost any player in the league. His masterfulness with the basketball sets him apart, and his leadership skills were second last year only to now-departed Florida starter Nick Calathes..

While during his freshman campaign he shot almost 39 percent from behind the arc, that percentage dropped nine percent last season. He only played barely a third of the season last year, but his offensive efficiency should improve to maximize his impact on the floor.

Warren was chosen Second-Team All-SEC by the media pre-season and will start for the Rebels at the point.

Terrico White : 6'5", 213lb Sophomore SG
(13.7ppg—3.4rpg—1.31 A/TO—35.4%)

White was the single most over-hyped player in the league in 2008-09. White had big scoring nights and stepped up in the league, but finished the season with a below-par mark from behind the arc and has yet to prove he can be a reliable threat from deep.

He was forced into the limelight with the team's massive injuries, but simply attempted too many shots at too low a percentage.

All eyes will be on White this coming season, as he was chosen First-Team All-SEC this preseason. He is a force and has the potential to be a great player, but consistency will be a must this season.

Zach Graham : 6'6", 218lb Junior SG
(8.5ppg—3.1rpg—38.2% 3PT—80.0% FT)

Graham is an unheralded shooter who could start at the small forward position this season. He is athletic, a solid rebounder for his position and has an outstanding touch from all areas of the floor.

Murphy Holloway : 6'7", 230lb Sophomore PF
(8.4ppg—6.6rpg—54.8% FG—1.00 A/TO)

Holloway ranked second in the league amongst freshmen last season in double-doubles, with six. His field-goal percentage led all freshmen.

His ball-handling is excellent for a big-man, and even more so for a freshman.

Holloway will need to continue his impressive performances this season, as the Rebels will be relying upon him heavily under the basket.

Eniel Polynice : 6'5", 222lb Junior SF
(6.0ppg—5.0rpg—28.6% FG—66.7% FT)

Polynice is one of the most intrinsic ball-handlers in the league, even better than teammate Chris Warren. He's physical and dynamic, energetic, and a mismatch-creating rebounder.

What he is not, however, is a shooter. In 2007-08, Polynice shot just 27.0 percent from three and 50.5 percent from the charity stripe.

His defense is also outstanding, and he will certainly start.

Terrance Henry : 6'9", 202lb Sophomore SF
(4.2ppg—3.6rpg—39.3% FG—71.7% FT)

Henry is yet another large guard/small forward in the stable Kennedy has created. His speed in the open floor is his strength, though his range is limited. If he can find some range from the three-point line, he could turn into a solid contributor.

DeAundre Cranston : 6'9", 260lb Senior PF
(3.1ppg—4.2rpg—45.1% FG—18 ast)

Cranston is Ole Miss' most efficient rebounder, and is useful if not for that very reason. He also has a decent stroke from most anywhere on the floor except the charity stripe oddly enough, where he shot just 50.0 percent last season.

Will Bogan : 6'1", 172lb Sophomore SG
(2.3ppg—0.8rpg—34.1% 3PT—1.22 A/TO)

Bogan is a serviceable guard with a good handle on the basketball. His shooting is poor, but is a capable three-shooter when he's not closely guarded. Started seven games a year ago, but shouldn't see nearly as much playing time with his team healthy.

Kevin Cantinol : 6'10", 255lb Sophomore C
(0.8ppg—0.7rpg—70.0% FG—1.5 A/TO)

Cantinol is one of the meekest and most understated players in the league, ranking amongst the league's worst in minutes per field-goals attempted. If he were to be more assertive, he could give some meaningful minutes to the team.

Trevor Gaskins wasn't included because he didn't play a year ago, though he is a very capable shooter that could, and should, have a big impact for Ole Miss this season.

As is obvious, the play of Holloway will be the X-factor for the Rebels this season. The team should naturally struggle with rebounding, and Holloway absolutely must play consistently, and with energy for the Rebels to pose a danger to opposing teams.

Schedule Breakdown

Cupcakes : Arkansas-Little Rock (H), Alabama St. (H), TAMCC (H), Arkansas St. (A), Southern Miss (H), McNeese St. (H), Centenary (H), Jacksonville St. (H), UCF (H)

Real Games : Indiana (N), UTEP (N)

Marquee Matchups : West Virginia (A)

Opposite Division : Georgia (A), Tennessee (A), South Carolina (H), Kentucky (A), Vanderbilt (H), Florida (H)

Predicted Result : (18-10, 8-8), NIT

Analysis : The Rebels will suffer because of this schedule for two reasons. First of all, the team's RPI will be greatly harmed because of the lack of decent opponents. Secondly, Ole Miss' draw against the opposing division is not favorable, as they will play two of the division's top three teams on the road.

What's Returning

Points : 66.93 percent (7th—SEC Avg: 73.81 percent)

Rebounds : 69.40 percent (8th—SEC Avg: 75.80 percent) 

While expectations are increasing in Oxford, the reality isn't friendly. The team is uni-dimensional and has no depth under the basket. The non-conference schedule is weak. The conference schedule isn't friendly.

If Holloway turns into an All-SEC caliber player and the Rebels avoid injuries, the NIT is a good goal for the Rebels and an NCAA bid isn't out of the question.

If you like what you read here, check out my blog Ballin' is a Habit or follow me on twitter @ballinisahabit. For the complete list of the BIAH 2009-2010 season preview, click here.

2008-2009 Record: 16-15, 7-9 SEC (t-ninth)

Key Losses: David Huertas (18.1 ppg, 4.5 rpg), Malcolm White (7.2 ppg, 5.7 rpg)

Key Returners: Chris Warren (19.1 ppg, 4.0 apg), Terrico White (13.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg), Zach Graham (8.5 ppg)

Newcomers: Reginald Buckner, DeAngelo Riley

Mississippi had what you might call a hard luck season in 2008-2009.

They lost three players, including star sophomore Chris Warren, to season-ending knee injuries; had their coach involved in a potential hate crime after he allegedly beat up a cabbie in Cincinnati; and then leading scorer David Huertas bolted for pro ball in his native Puerto Rico.

But it wasn't all bad for the Rebels.

If Warren, Eniel Polynice, and Trevor Gaskins hadn't gone down with their injuries, odds are good that Ole Miss never would have found out how talented sophomore Terrico White is.

White has shown a ton of promise, both in being named SEC Freshman of the Year and during his performance with Team USA this summer. Standing 6'5" and 211 lb, White is a terrific all-around athlete - quick and strong, with some bounce. While he is still a bit toolsy, he knows how to score.

If he can improve his understanding of the game—don't settle for as many three's, stop over dribbling, learn off-the-ball defense—White can be a special player at this level.

What is going to help White the most during his sophomore season is the return of point guard Chris Warren, which will allow White to move back to his more natural off-guard spot.

Warren was in the midst of a huge sophomore campaign, averaging 19.6 ppg, when he landed awkwardly on a drive to the rim in the last minute of a loss to Louisville. Warren is small (5'11") but quick and crafty with his dribble, knowing how to get his defender off-balance. He can get into the paint and score but, like White, he has a tendency to settle for tough, deep three's too often.

It will also help to get back Eniel Polynice and Trevor Gaskins.

In '07-'08, Polynice was arguably the Rebels' most versatile player, averaging 10.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg, and 4.1 apg. A tough defender and good play maker, Polynice should be an excellent complement to White and Warren in the Rebels' back court.

Gaskins was an all-SEC freshman pick in '07-'08, averaging 5.9 ppg. He can shoot the ball pretty well, and will probably be counted on for an offensive spark off the bench.

Also expected to see time in the back court is 6'6" wing Zach Graham. Graham is the Rebels' best perimeter defender, and during conference play last year he boosted his scoring average from 8.5 ppg to 10.8 ppg.

The inside is where the question marks will be for this team. The Rebels will basically be working with a five man rotation.

The best of the bunch is probably 6'7" Murphy Holloway. A 225 lb bruiser, Holloway is mostly athleticism right now, but he plays with energy to burn and has shown a developing touch on the interior.

I would expect freshman Reginald Buckner to start alongside Holloway. Standing 6'9", Buckner is a phenomenal athlete who was known for his shot-blocking ability in high school. A lefty, Buckner can run the floor like a deer and should provide us with a couple YouTube-worthy moments this season.

Sophomore Terrance Henry and senior DeAundre Cranston should be the first two bigs off the bench for Ole Miss, while JuCo transfer DeAngelo Riley and sophomore Kevin Cantinol should also make a push for minutes.

Outlook

Ole Miss is probably the second-most talented team in the SEC West, behind Mississippi State. The Rebels have a very good back court, led by Warren and White.

The issue is up front. Holloway is tough, and Buckner could end up being a star at this level, but they really do not go all that deep.

The key to the season is going to be how well Warren, Polynice, and Gaskins recovered from their injuries, and whether or not they can work effectively on the court with White and Graham.

I think these guys have an outside shot at making the NCAA Tournament, but they are going to need to have an impressive resume as they play in the SEC West.

As a public service, The Rant would like to suggest a few ways that Ole Miss basketball coach Andy Kennedy can work off the 40 hours of community service.

1.Volunteer his time to host the cable show “Cash Cab.”

2. Appear in a dunking booth for the Cincinnati Unemployed Cabs Union.

3. Stand next to his former boss at Cincy, Bob Huggins, and sound an air horn every time huggy bear cusses at one of his West Virginia players.

4. Be a taxi dispatcher for a day at LaGuardia Airport.

5. Tape a public service spot on the danger of creating “international incidents” or as A.K. said on the police tape, “In-ter-na-tio-nal in-ci-dent.”

6. Sell his phrase “international incident” as a ringtone and donate the money to charity.

7. Spend time thinking what is worse - a loss at LSU or a loss of consortium.

8. Sell all the knives he has tried to stick in Ole Miss athletic director Pete Boone’s back the last couple of years.

9. Construct a sign for the new practice facility that says, “Mohamed Moctar Ould Jiddou Arena” in honor of the Cincy cab driver that Kennedy abused.

10. Count speaking at Rebel Club meetings as community service.

11. Promise to change the oil of every cab in Oxford, Miss. Wait a minute! There are NO cabs in Oxford, Miss.

12. Sell T-shirts for charity that say, “My meter is running and so are the Rebels.”

13. Call Mohamed Moctar Ould Jiddou to make offer to him to be honorary coach for Midnight Madness. Jiddou hangs up when he hears the phrase, “Midnight Madness.”

14. Actually try to schedule someone other than the junior college teams he plays in non-conference.

15. In a feeble attempt to re-recruit David Huertas, go to Puerto Rico to perform circumcisions to those who can’t afford medical help. A.K.’s effort is thwarted because Tim Tebow has already been there.

16. Petition SEC commissioner Mike Slive to never play a Big East-SEC challenge on the road ever again.

17. Agree with Cincy cab company to pay for sponsorship in each Ole Miss game broadcast for a “Yellow Cab Drive of the Game.”

18. Finally agree to this “Hair Club For Men” thing to prove he’s a changed guy turning over a new leaf.

19. Say that next time he’s about to get arrested for a blowup with a cabbie, will call Bob Weltlich to take his place.

20. Decide his biggest mistake was not saying to the cop, “Do you know who I am? I’m Johnny Bench.”

For more Andy Kennedy news and other Rants, check out SECLiveNews.com

All the rumors surrounding David Huertas came to fruition today as he's officially left Ole Miss, joining the Quebradillas Pirates.

It's yet another blow to the most snake-bitten team I've ever seen.

Coupled with Malcolm White's unexpected departure, this is a real hit to the depth of the team as Huertas was going to be a real candidate for SEC Sixth Man of the Year Award, playing behind Terrico White and Chris Warren next season.

I really don't know what to say about Huertas' departure. We have proven depth at the guard position, so he's not as a big a loss for us as someone like White was.

Huertas was certainly an enigma, putting together some of the best and worst games I've seen in my 15 years of attending Ole Miss basketball games. He's one of the most openly emotional players we've had in recent years and honestly believes he's fouled on every shot he takes.

His size along the perimeter will be missed.

While I'm certainly not attempting to state this as fact, I wonder if he left the team because he knew he'd be coming off the bench next year.

He and coach Andy Kennedy (pictured at the top) have always had something of a tense relationship, which was obvious to anyone sitting on the east side of Tad Smith.

While each party downplays it in the media, you have to wonder how strained it was.

Another side of me wants to believe him when he says that he just wants to play basketball and be near his family. Huerta's been in school four years and already won a National Championship.

Next year's team would certainly be the most talented he would've been on, but another Ole Miss National Title is no longer in his future.

Regardless, I wish him well. Like so much of Ole Miss athletics, he was beautiful at times and remarkably frustrating at others.