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    Rebels win in NCAA Tournament
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    Rebels win in NCAA Tournament

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    OXFORD – After an offseason that saw Ole Miss Basketball ranked in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll for the first time, the Rebels' season is now set to begin.

    No. 25 Ole Miss hosts LIU on Monday (7:30 p.m., SEC Network+).

    Here are three bold predictions for the 2024-25 season:

    Chris Beard's Rebels will make another big jump in year two

    At both large schools and small institutions, Beard has developed an impressive pattern in his coaching career.

    Beard's teams have traditionally taken a leap in his second year as coach. The two most recent examples come from Angelo State and Texas Tech.

    When Beard took over at Angelo State in 2013, he led the Rams to a 19-9 (8-6 Lone Star Conference). In his second year, the Rams finished 28-6 (11-3) and reached the third round of the NCAA Division II Tournament.

    There was a similar jump at Texas Tech. In 2016-17, Beard's first season, the Red Raiders went 18-14 (6-12 Big 12). In the 2017-18 season, Texas Tech went 27-10 (11-7 Big 12) and made it to the Elite Eight.

    “I don’t say this in a personal, boastful way, but I’m proud of it (sophomore success),” Beard said. “All the coaches we had on our team, the players we had that came back for their second year, the players that came to us where their first year was our second year. There is no doubt about that.”

    Sean Pedulla will lead the SEC in assists

    Ole Miss landed a strong point guard in the transfer portal.

    Senior Sean Pedulla transferred to Ole Miss from Virginia Tech in the offseason. Pedulla played well in his three-year career with the Hokies. He averaged 16.4 points and 4.6 assists last season.

    Leading the SEC in assists will be difficult. Tennessee guard Zakai Zeigler set a high bar with 218 last season. Zeigler returns for the Volunteers this season. Pedulla racked up 148 assists last season and is surrounded by playmakers at Oxford.

    Pedulla had a team-high eight assists in Ole Miss' outstanding win over Illinois.

    “The job that (Pedulla) has here, what we need to do, I think also fits well with his future plans, which is to never lose his fearless scoring ability, similar to (guard Jaylen Murray), but also embracing the playmaking .” “Part of the point guard spot,” Beard said.

    Ole Miss will win an NCAA tournament game for the first time since 2015

    After missing the NCAA Tournament last season, Ole Miss declined an invitation to the NIT. It was a glimpse into Beard's vision for the program, following on from his introductory press conference. Beard wants Ole Miss to “win a game on Monday” — a reference to the NCAA championship.

    The Rebels are well-positioned to reach the NCAA Tournament. Transfers Pedulla, forward Mikeal Brown-Jones, forward Malik Dia, guard Dre Davis and guard Davon Barnes all scored in double figures last season. They join key returners Jaemyn Brakefield, who scored 15 points in the exhibition, and Murray.

    Senior guard Matthew Murrell was named to the Naismith National Player of the Year preseason watch list. He will lead a veteran-studded team hoping for Ole Miss' first NCAA Tournament victory of the decade.

    Sam Hutchens covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at [email protected] or reach him on X @Sam_Hutchens_

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