Mississippi Rebels
Coach: ixolabrat (583-300 .660)
Offense: Motion
Defense: Zone
Season 66
Starting Five
PG: Tommy Soltis (Fr)
SG: Adam Brown (So)
SF: Brandon Dillingham (Fr)
PF: Timothy Bays (Fr)
PF: Benjamin Snyder (Fr)
*Returning Starters
Key Bench
PG: Scott Laguna (Fr)
SF: Wilbert Williams (Fr)
SF: Jeffrey Russell (Sr)
PF: Edward Williams (Sr)
C: Francis Michels (Sr)
Recruits/Key Additions
Tommy Soltis (Fr/PG – unranked)
Scott Laguna (Fr/PG - #96PG)
Adam Brown (So/PG - #56PG)
Brandon Dillingham (Fr/SF – unranked)
Wilbert Williams (Fr/SF - #76SF)
Timothy Bays (Fr/C - #141C)
Benjamin Snyder (Fr/C - #54C)
Team Outlook
Coming off a winless season, Mississippi welcomed ixolabrat as its new basketball coach. Coach ixo built Boston U into a very competitive Ivy League team enjoying consistent NT/PIT bids, and is looking forward to the monumental task of competing in a BCS conference.
With not much talent or potential on the roster and only one scholarship open, coach ixo cut 6 current players in a quest to upgrade the caliber of recruit and start building bench strength. The goal was to secure 6 under appreciated freshmen who would leap at the chance to start and play right off the bat, and find one or two transfers who could add depth. Not an easy tasks with only $31k available.
The seven newcomers will all see significant playing time as four frosh and one soph will start with the other two frosh coming off the bench. The returning players will see minor time on the court, but are committed to helping the squad in whatever way they can.
The team is changing its offense and defensive schemes to a Motion Offense and Zone Defense, which are the staples of coach ixo.
Recruits
|
NAME
|
Pos.
|
GPA
|
FG%
|
FT%
|
A
|
SPD
|
REB
|
DE
|
BLK
|
LP
|
PE
|
BH
|
P
|
WE
|
ST
|
DU
|
TOT
|
|
FR - Timothy Bays
|
C
|
2.98
|
30
|
62.5
|
38
|
26
|
77
|
32
|
59
|
41
|
17
|
40
|
22
|
58
|
68
|
26
|
504
|
|
FR - Brandon Dillingham
|
SF
|
2.83
|
68.6
|
71.6
|
41
|
28
|
31
|
40
|
22
|
60
|
48
|
29
|
11
|
56
|
73
|
30
|
469
|
|
FR - Benjamin Snyder
|
C
|
3.72
|
70
|
64.2
|
53
|
31
|
56
|
41
|
50
|
67
|
25
|
27
|
12
|
62
|
69
|
47
|
540
|
|
SO - Adam Brown
|
PG
|
2
|
45.3
|
71.7
|
61
|
85
|
14
|
54
|
12
|
17
|
84
|
73
|
38
|
81
|
87
|
27
|
633
|
|
FR - Scott Laguna
|
PG
|
2.53
|
38.8
|
66
|
43
|
67
|
8
|
52
|
14
|
9
|
26
|
67
|
49
|
99
|
77
|
58
|
569
|
|
FR - Tommy Soltis
|
PG
|
3.06
|
60.2
|
66.5
|
37
|
68
|
7
|
30
|
10
|
13
|
57
|
65
|
37
|
44
|
64
|
48
|
480
|
|
FR - Wilbert Williams
|
SF
|
3.3
|
70
|
63.2
|
38
|
43
|
34
|
20
|
28
|
71
|
51
|
49
|
41
|
56
|
75
|
58
|
564
|
Coach ixo gave himself a grade of B for the initial recruiting class. Players identified were lower rated players with good work ethic and decent upside that would hopefully not attract the attention of schools that Mississippi couldn't compete with. The incomers will experience pretty good growth and all of the players should be near or above 775 as Juniors & Seniors, which should provide a somewhat more competitive squad.
Season Goals
The Rebels will be bringing a knife to a gunfight night in and out. Major playing time, learning new schemes, creating team chemistry and maximizing player potential is this season’s goal. Coach ixo has set a record of 1-26 as the immediate goal, and the administration is on board with the expectations.
Season Recap
Competitive only against the spread, the Rebels finished the season with the expected record of 1-26. The freshman all saw major growth of at least 74pts overall, with plenty of upside left. IQ's for the new offense and defense finished in the B ranges for most players, so that will help the squad perform slightly better next season also. A non-conference slate of all sim MAC teams should provide the bulk of the wins in the upcoming season as the squad expects a 10-0 non-conference record and a 1-15 conference record for a total mark of 11-16 and maybe a last four in the PIT.
11/28/2013 2:21 PM (edited)