2023–24 Ole Miss Rebels men's basketball team

2023–24 Ole Miss Rebels men's basketball
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
Record20–12 (7–11 SEC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaSJB Pavilion
Seasons
2023–24 Southeastern Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
No. 5 Tennessee 14 – 4   .778 27 – 9   .750
No. 20 Kentucky 13 – 5   .722 23 – 10   .697
No. 3т Alabama 13 – 5   .722 25 – 12   .676
No. 18 Auburn † 13 – 5   .722 27 – 8   .771
No. 24 South Carolina 13 – 5   .722 26 – 8   .765
Florida 11 – 7   .611 24 – 12   .667
Texas A&M 9 – 9   .500 21 – 15   .583
LSU 9 – 9   .500 17 – 16   .515
Mississippi State 8 – 10   .444 21 – 14   .600
Ole Miss 7 – 11   .389 20 – 12   .625
Georgia 6 – 12   .333 20 – 17   .541
Arkansas 6 – 12   .333 16 – 17   .485
Vanderbilt 4 – 14   .222 9 – 23   .281
Missouri 0 – 18   .000 8 – 24   .250
† 2024 SEC tournament winner
Rankings from AP poll

The 2023–24 Ole Miss Rebels men's basketball team represented the University of Mississippi during the 2023–24 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Rebels were led by first-year head coach, Chris Beard. The Rebels played their home games at The Sandy and John Black Pavilion at Ole Miss in University, Mississippi, just outside Oxford, as members of the Southeastern Conference. The team posted their first 20-win season in five years but did not participate in any postseason tournaments, failing to qualify for the NCAA Tournament and subsequently declining an invitation to compete in the National Invitation Tournament.

Previous season

The Rebels finished the 2022–23 season 12–21, 3–15 in SEC play to finish in 13th place. They lost in the second round of the SEC tournament to Tennessee after defeating South Carolina in the first round. Head coach Kermit Davis was fired with five games remaining on the schedule after a 74–79 record in five seasons at Ole Miss. Win Case served as interim for the remaining five games. Former Texas head coach Chris Beard was hired on March 13, 2023.[1] Beard was placed on leave by Texas following his December 12, 2022 arrest for assault against a family member for strangulation after an alleged altercation with his fiancée.[2][3] He was later fired on January 5, 2023. Charges were dropped on February 15 by the district attorney due to case evidence and the wishes of his fiancée not to prosecute.[4]

Offseason

Departures

Ole Miss Departures
Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes Ref.
Jayveous McKinnis 00 F 6'7" 225 Senior Brandon, MS Graduated
Amaree Abram 1 G 6'4" 190 Freshman Port Arthur, TX Transferred to Georgia Tech [5]
Myles Burns 3 F 6'6" 210 Senior Houston, TX Graduated
James White 5 G 6'5" 190 Sophomore Conyers, GA Transferred to UAB [6]
Theo Akwuba 10 F 6'11" 225 Senior Montgomery, AL Graduated
Malique Ewin 12 F 6'10" 220 Freshman Lawrenceville, GA Transferred to South Plains College [7]
Tye Fagan 14 G 6'3" 198 Senior Logtown, GA Graduated
Robert Allen 21 F 6'8" 230 Senior Orlando, FL Transferred to North Texas
Daeshun Ruffin 24 G 5'9" 160 Sophomore Jackson, MS Transferred to Jackson State [8]
Josh Mballa 33 F 6'7" 220 Senior Bordeaux, France Graduated

Incoming transfers

Incoming transfers
Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Previous School Ref.
Brandon Murray 0 G 6'5" 225 Junior Germantown, MD Georgetown [9]
Austin Nunez 1 G 6'2" 170 Sophomore Garden Ridge, TX Arizona State [10]
Jamarion Sharp 3 C 7'5" 235 Senior Hopkinsville, KY Western Kentucky [11]
Jaylen Murray 5 G 5'11" 175 Junior Bronx, NY Saint Peter's [12]
Allen Flanigan 7 G 6'6" 220 Senior Little Rock, AR Auburn [13]
Moussa Cissé 33 F 7'1" 216 Senior Conakry, Guinea Oklahoma State [14]

2023 recruiting class

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Rashaud Marshall
C 		Blytheville, AR Blytheville High School 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) May 1, 2023 
Recruiting star ratings: Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 82
Cameron Barnes
PF 		Duncanville, TX Duncanville High School 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 210 lb (95 kg) May 1, 2023 
Recruiting star ratings: Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:3/5 stars    ESPN:3/5 stars   ESPN grade: 79
Jacob Gazzo
PF 		McComb, MS Parklane Academy 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Mar 31, 2021 
Recruiting star ratings: Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports: N/A    ESPN:3/5 stars   ESPN grade: 77
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "Ole Miss 2023 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  • "2023 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved May 1, 2022.

Roster

2023–24 Ole Miss Rebels men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown
G 0 Brandon Murray 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Jr IMG Academy
Georgetown 		Germantown, MD United States Maryland
G 1 Austin Nunez 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 170 lb (77 kg) So Wagner HS
Arizona State 		Garden Ridge, TX United States Texas
G 2 TJ Caldwell 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 190 lb (86 kg) So Faith Family Academy Dallas, TX United States Texas
C 3 Jamarion Sharp 7 ft 5 in (2.26 m) 235 lb (107 kg) Sr Hopkinsville HS
Western Kentucky 		Hopkinsville, KY United States Kentucky
F 4 Jaemyn Brakefield 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Sr Huntington Prep School
Duke 		Jackson, MS United States Mississippi
G 5 Jaylen Murray 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Jr Putnam Science Academy
Saint Peter's 		The Bronx, NY United States New York (state)
G 7 Allen Flanigan 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Sr Parkview Magnet HS
Auburn 		Little Rock, AR United States Arkansas
G 11 Matthew Murrell 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Sr IMG Academy Memphis, TN United States Tennessee
G 13 Robert Cowherd 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) So Southern California Academy Grayson, GA United States Georgia (U.S. state)
F 23 Cameron Barnes 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Fr Duncanville HS Duncanville, TX United States Texas
F 24 Jacob Gazzo 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Fr Parklane Academy McComb, MS United States Mississippi
F 25 Rashaud Marshall 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Fr Blytheville HS Blytheville, AR United States Arkansas
F 33 Moussa Cissé 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 216 lb (98 kg) Sr Lausanne Collegiate School
Oklahoma State 		Conakry, Guinea Guinea
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster

Schedule and results

Date
time, TV 		Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
October 30, 2023*
7:00 p.m. 		Tusculum W 85–44 
  –      –      –    SJB Pavilion 
Oxford, MS
Non-conference regular season
November 6, 2023*
7:00 p.m., SECN+/ESPN+ 		Alabama State W 69–59  1–0
  16 – Murrell   12 – Flanigan   4 – J. Murray  SJB Pavilion (6,141)
Oxford, MS
November 10, 2023*
7:00 p.m., SECN+/ESPN+ 		Eastern Washington W 75–64  2–0
  29 – Flanigan   5 – Flanigan   4 – Caldwell  SJB Pavilion (6,665)
Oxford, MS
November 14, 2023*
7:00 p.m., SECN+/ESPN+ 		Detroit Mercy W 70–69  3–0
  22 – J. Murray   10 – Sharp   7 – J. Murray  SJB Pavilion (6,331)
Oxford, MS
November 17, 2023*
8:00 p.m., SECN+/ESPN+ 		Sam Houston
Rob Evans Tad Pad game 		W 70–67  4–0
  23 – Flanigan   7 – Flanigan   4 – J. Murray  Tad Smith Coliseum (4,445)
Oxford, MS
November 22, 2023*
2:30 p.m., ESPN+ 		at Temple W 77–76  5–0
  26 – Flanigan   8 – Flanigan   7 – Flanigan  Liacouras Center (2,334)
Philadelphia, PA
November 28, 2023*
8:00 p.m., ESPN2 		NC State
ACC–SEC Challenge 		W 72–52  6–0
  25 – Brakefield   10 – Flanigan   4 – J. Murray  SJB Pavilion (7,465)
Oxford, MS
December 2, 2023*
1:00 p.m., ESPN2 		Memphis W 80–77  7–0
  22 – J. Murray   6 – Tied   9 – J. Murray  SJB Pavilion (9,416)
Oxford, MS
December 5, 2023*
7:00 p.m., SECN+/ESPN+ 		Mount St. Mary's W 77–68  8–0
  26 – J. Murray   13 – Brakefield   6 – J. Murray  SJB Pavilion (6,950)
Oxford, MS
December 10, 2023*
3:00 p.m., ESPN+ 		at UCF W 70–68  9–0
  18 – Flanigan   7 – Tied   4 – Nunez  Addition Financial Arena (6,067)
Orlando, FL
December 16, 2023*
6:30 p.m., SECN 		vs. California
Hall of Fame Series San Antonio 		W 88–78  10–0
  27 – Brakefield   8 – Flanigan   6 – Flanigan  Frost Bank Center (2,279)
San Antonio, TX
December 19, 2023*
6:00 p.m., SECN+/ESPN+ 		No. 25 Troy W 74–53  11–0
  18 – Murrell   7 – Tied   9 – Flanigan  SJB Pavilion (7,981)
Oxford, MS
December 23, 2023*
1:00 p.m. 		No. 25 vs. Southern Miss W 89–72  12–0
  26 – Murrell   11 – Flanigan   5 – Murrell  Mississippi Coast Coliseum 
Biloxi, MS
December 31, 2023*
3:00 p.m., SECN 		No. 24 Bryant W 95–78  13–0
  20 – Flanigan   10 – Sharp   4 – Tied  SJB Pavilion (7,934)
Oxford, MS
SEC regular season
January 6, 2024
5:00 p.m., SECN 		No. 22 at No. 5 Tennessee L 64–90  13–1
(0–1) 		 22 – Brakefield   8 – J. Murray   4 – Flanigan  Thompson–Boling Arena (21,932)
Knoxville, TN
January 10, 2024
8:00 p.m., SECN 		Florida W 103–85  14–1
(1–1) 		 28 – Brakefield   6 – Cisse   8 – J. Murray  SJB Pavilion (7,570)
Oxford, MS
January 13, 2024
12:00 p.m., SECN 		Vanderbilt W 69–56  15–1
(2–1) 		 24 – Murrell   8 – Sharp   8 – Flanigan  SJB Pavilion (8,404)
Oxford, MS
January 17, 2024
6:00 p.m., SECN 		No. 22 at LSU L 80–89  15–2
(2–2) 		 23 – J. Murray   9 – Brakefield   3 – Brakefield  Pete Maravich Assembly Center (8,777)
Baton Rouge, LA
January 20, 2024
7:30 p.m., SECN 		No. 22 at No. 13 Auburn L 59–82  15–3
(2–3) 		 10 – Flanigan   8 – Sharp   3 – J. Murray  Neville Arena (9,121)
Auburn, AL
January 24, 2024
8:00 p.m., ESPNU 		Arkansas W 77–51  16–3
(3–3) 		 21 – J. Murray   11 – Flanigan   3 – J. Murray  SJB Pavilion (8,207)
Oxford, MS
January 27, 2024
7:30 p.m., SECN 		at Texas A&M W 71–68  17–3
(4–3) 		 16 – J. Murray   8 – B. Murray   5 – J. Murray  Reed Arena (12,610)
College Station, TX
January 30, 2024
7:30 p.m., SECN 		Mississippi State W 86–82  18–3
(5–3) 		 21 – J. Murray   5 – Cisse   11 – J. Murray  SJB Pavilion (10,630)
Oxford, MS
February 3, 2024
5:00 p.m., SECN 		No. 16 Auburn L 77–91  18–4
(5–4) 		 20 – Flanigan   6 – B. Murray   6 – J. Murray  SJB Pavilion (9,631)
Oxford, MS
February 6, 2024
5:30 p.m., SECN 		at No. 15 South Carolina L 65–68  18–5
(5–5) 		 26 – Flanigan   9 – Murrell   5 – B. Murray  Colonial Life Arena (18,000)
Columbia, SC
February 13, 2024
8:00 p.m., ESPN 		at No. 22 Kentucky L 63–75  18–6
(5–6) 		 16 – Tied   6 – Murrell   6 – Flanigan  Rupp Arena (20,064)
Lexington, KY
February 17, 2024
7:30 p.m., SECN 		Missouri W 79–76  19–6
(6–6) 		 26 – Murrell   10 – Flanigan   5 – Brakefield  SJB Pavilion (8,598)
Oxford, MS
February 21, 2024
8:00 p.m., ESPN2 		at Mississippi State L 71–83  19–7
(6–7) 		 23 – Murrell   10 – Sharp   5 – J. Murray  Humphrey Coliseum (9,381)
Starkville, MS
February 24, 2024
2:30 p.m., SECN 		No. 20 South Carolina L 59–72  19–8
(6–8) 		 13 – Cisse   7 – Brakefield   6 – J. Murray  SJB Pavilion (8,486)
Oxford, MS
February 28, 2024
8:00 p.m., ESPN2 		No. 14 Alabama L 88–103  19–9
(6–9) 		 28 – Flanigan   6 – Flanigan   7 – J. Murray  SJB Pavilion (7,722)
Oxford, MS
March 2, 2024
7:30 p.m., SECN 		at Missouri W 84–78  20–9
(7–9) 		 21 – Murrell   7 – Sharp   3 – Murrell  Mizzou Arena (11,021)
Columbia, MO
March 5, 2024
6:00 p.m., SECN 		at Georgia L 66–69  20–10
(7–10) 		 19 – J. Murray   6 – J. Murray   3 – J. Murray  Stegeman Coliseum (6,219)
Athens, GA
March 9, 2024
1:00 p.m., CBS 		Texas A&M L 60–86  20–11
(7–11) 		 21 – J. Murray   4 – Brakefield   3 – J. Murray  SJB Pavilion (7,819)
Oxford, MS
SEC tournament
March 14, 2024
6:00 p.m., SECN 		(10) vs. (7) Texas A&M
Second round 		L 71–80  20–12
  23 – Brakefield   7 – Tied   5 – Tied  Bridgestone Arena (13,771)
Nashville, TN
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Central Time.
[15]

Rankings

See also: 2023–24 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes т = Tied with team above or below
Week
PollPre12345678910111213141516171819Final
AP————RVRV252422RV22RVRVRVRV—————
Coaches————RV2525221923т21RVRVRV——————

See also

References

  1. ^ "Chris Beard Named Head Men's Basketball Coach". olemisssports.com. March 13, 2023. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  2. ^ Norlander, Matt (December 12, 2022). "Texas coach Chris Beard arrested on third-degree assault charge against family member". CBSSports.com. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
  3. ^ Autullo, Ryan (December 23, 2022). "Chris Beard's accuser says the Texas basketball coach may have acted in self-defense". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
  4. ^ "Why did DA drop felony charge against ex-Texas basketball coach Chris Beard?". The Associated Press. February 16, 2023.
  5. ^ @AllNOneSports1 (April 27, 2023). "🔥 COMMITTED🔥▪️Amaree Abram▪️ Port Arthur, TX product & Ole Miss Transfer, @amareeabram has committed to @GTMBB and new Head Coach Damon Stoudamire. @espn @ChronSports @4YFilms @AA_RecruitScoop @GASOMass @djones8301 @HoustonHoops17U @SECNetwork @GeorgiaTech @portarthurisd" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  6. ^ @jwdub05 (April 11, 2023). "Watch what I do with this one 💯🐉 #committed @CoachAK13" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  7. ^ @ThePortalReport (August 10, 2023). "Ole Miss/USF (D1) transfer Malique Ewin has committed to South Plains College (JUCO)! Massive pickup for @SPCTexanMBB. Ewin should be one of the best bigs in the JUCO ranks this season" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  8. ^ @GoJSUTigersMBB (April 22, 2023). "TIGER-NATION, please help us welcome former McDonalds All American and Jackson, MS Native Daeshun Ruffin to THEEFAMILY!! Let's get it to it!! Love! 💙 "One thing for sure, you never forget where you come from!" 💪🏾💪🏾 #TheeFamily💙 #Mindset #TheeILove" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  9. ^ "Ole Miss basketball lands commitment from Georgetown transfer Brandon Murray". clarionledger.com. April 10, 2023. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  10. ^ @theaustinunez (April 24, 2023). "2 steppin to the sip 🔴🔵#committed #hottytoddy #cometothesip #olemiss" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  11. ^ @Jaammaarion (April 27, 2023). "After taking time and thinking, I have considered to play my last year at Ole Miss #gorebels" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  12. ^ @Zach_Berry (June 1, 2023). "Ole Miss and Chris Beard add yet another portal commit. This time it's Saint Peter's point guard Jaylen Murray. The explosive guard from The Bronx made it official on Wednesday" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  13. ^ @TiptonEdits (May 30, 2023). "News: Auburn transfer Allen Flanigan has committed to Ole Miss, per source. His father, Wes Flanigan, recently joined Chris Beard's staff in Oxford after five seasons at Auburn" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  14. ^ @moussacisse224 (May 14, 2023). "Next chapter ✅ Hotty Toddy" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  15. ^ "The D1 Docket". d1docket.blogspot.com. Retrieved April 11, 2023.