2020–21 Ole Miss Rebels men's basketball team

The 2020–21 Ole Miss Rebels men's basketball team represented the University of Mississippi in the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, their 111th basketball season. The Rebels were led by third-year head coach, Kermit Davis. The Rebels played their games at The Pavilion at Ole Miss in Oxford, Mississippi as members of the Southeastern Conference. They finished the season 16-12, 10-8 to finish in 6th place. They defeated South Carolina in the second round in the SEC Tournament before losing in the quarterfinals to LSU. They received an invitation to the NIT where they lost in the first round to Louisiana Tech.

2020–21 Ole Miss Rebels men's basketball
NIT, First Round
Conference	Southeastern Conference
Record	16–12 (10–8 SEC)
Head coach	Kermit Davis (3rd season)
Assistant coaches	Win Case Ronnie Hamilton Levi Watkins
Home arena	The Pavilion at Ole Miss
Seasons ← 2019–20 2021–22 →

2020–21 Southeastern Conference men's basketball standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		PCT			W		L		PCT
No. 5 Alabama†	16	–	2		.889			26	–	7		.788
No. 10 Arkansas	13	–	4		.765			25	–	7		.781
LSU	11	–	6		.647			19	–	10		.655
Tennessee	10	–	7		.588			18	–	9		.667
Florida	9	–	7		.563			15	–	10		.600
Ole Miss	10	–	8		.556			16	–	12		.571
Missouri	8	–	8		.500			16	–	10		.615
Kentucky	8	–	9		.471			9	–	16		.360
Mississippi State	8	–	10		.444			18	–	15		.545
Georgia	7	–	11		.389			14	–	12		.538
Auburn*	7	–	11		.389			13	–	14		.481
South Carolina	4	–	12		.250			6	–	15		.286
Texas A&M	2	–	8		.200			8	–	10		.444
Vanderbilt	3	–	13		.188			9	–	16		.360
† 2021 SEC tournament winner * Ineligible for postseason due to self-imposed postseason ban.

Previous season

The Rebels finished the 2019–20 season 15–17, 6–12 in SEC play to finish in twelfth place. They lost in the first round of the SEC tournament to Georgia.

Offseason

Departures

Ole Miss Departures

Name	Number	Pos.	Height	Weight	Year	Hometown	Notes
Blake Hinson	0	G/F	6'7"	229	Sophomore	Deltona, FL	Transferred to Iowa State
Breein Tyree	4	G	6'2"	195	Senior	Somerset, NJ	Graduated
Carlos Curry	10	F	6'11"	235	RS Freshman	Albany, GA	Transferred to Northwest Mississippi CC
Franco Miller Jr.	11	G	6'2"	202	RS Freshman	Freeport, Bahamas	Transferred to Florida Gulf Coast
Bryce Williams	13	G	6'2"	178	Junior	Tampa, FL	Transferred to Oklahoma State

2020 recruiting class

College recruiting information

Name	Hometown	High school / college	Height	Weight	Commit date
Matthew Murrell #8 SG	Memphis, TN	IMG Academy	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	190 lb (86 kg)	Nov 9, 2019
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports:    ESPN:   ESPN grade: 87
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 2020 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved June 20, 2019. "2020 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved June 20, 2019.

Incoming transfers

Incoming transfers

Name	Number	Pos.	Height	Weight	Year	Hometown	Previous School	Ref.
Romello White	0	F	6'8"	235	RS Senior	Atlanta, GA	Arizona State	[1]
Dimencio Vaughn	14	G/F	6'5"	215	RS Senior	New York, NY	Rider	[2]
Robert Allen	21	F	6'8"	230	Junior	Orlando, FL	Samford	[3]

Preseason

SEC media poll

The SEC media poll was released on November 12, 2020.

Media poll
Predicted finish	Team
1	Tennessee
2	Kentucky
3	LSU
4	Florida
5	Alabama
6	Arkansas
7	Auburn
8	South Carolina
9	Ole Miss
10	Missouri
11	Texas A&M
12	Mississippi State
13	Georgia
14	Vanderbilt

Roster

2020–21 Ole Miss Rebels men's basketball team
Players	Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown F 0 Romello White 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 235 lb (107 kg) RS Sr Wheeler HS Arizona State Atlanta, GA G 1 Austin Crowley 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) So Sunrise Christian Academy West Point, MS G 2 Devontae Shuler 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Sr Oak Hill Academy Irmo, SC F 3 Khadim Sy 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 238 lb (108 kg) Sr Oak Hill Academy Daytona State College Dakar, Senegal F 4 Antavion Collum 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 230 lb (104 kg) So Bartlett HS Memphis, TN F 5 KJ Buffen 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Jr Gainesville HS Gainesville, GA G 11 Matthew Murrell 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Fr IMG Academy Memphis, TN F 12 Shon Robinson 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 220 lb (100 kg) RS Fr Eduprize (Ariz.) Chicago, IL G/F 14 Dimencio Vaughn 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 215 lb (98 kg) RS Sr Callaway HS (MS) Rider New York, NY G/F 15 Luis Rodriguez 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) RS So Woodstock Academy Los Angeles, CA F 21 Robert Allen 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Jr Edgewater HS Samford Orlando, FL F 23 Sammy Hunter 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 225 lb (102 kg) So British Columbia Christian Academy Nassau, Bahamas G 24 Jarkel Joiner 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 180 lb (82 kg) RS Jr Oxford HS Cal State Bakersfield Oxford, MS G 33 John McBride (W) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 214 lb (97 kg) RS So Memphis University School Memphis, TN	Head coach Kermit Davis (Mississippi State) Assistant coach(es) Win Case (Oklahoma City) Ronnie Hamilton (UNC Pembroke) Levi Watkins (NC State) Marshall Henderson (graduate manager) (Mississippi) Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible (W) Walk-on Injured Current redshirt Roster

Schedule and results

Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the start of the season was pushed back from the scheduled start of November 10.^[4] On September 16, 2020, the NCAA announced that November 25 would be the new start date.^[5]

On November 17, the school announced that head coach Kermit Davis had tested positive for coronavirus.^[6] On November 23, the school announced that the first four scheduled games would be canceled.^[7]

Date time, TV	Rank#	Opponent#	Result	Record	High points	High rebounds	High assists	Site (attendance) city, state
Regular season
November 27, 2020*		Arkansas State Justin Reed Ole Miss Classic	Canceled					The Pavilion at Ole Miss  Oxford, MS
December 5, 2020*		Memphis	Canceled					The Pavilion at Ole Miss  Oxford, MS
December 10, 2020* 7:00 pm, SECN		Jackson State	W 80–45	1–0	23 – Shuler	6 – White	4 – Rodriguez	The Pavilion at Ole Miss (1,804) Oxford, MS
December 12, 2020* 4:00 pm, SECN Alt.		UNC Wilmington	W 78–58	2–0	20 – White	12 – Rodriguez	6 – Shuler	The Pavilion at Ole Miss (895) Oxford, MS
December 14, 2020* 7:00 pm, SECN		Central Arkansas	W 68–54	3–0	20 – Shuler	9 – White	4 – Tied	The Pavilion at Ole Miss (895) Oxford, MS
December 16, 2020* 7:00 pm, CBSSN		at Middle Tennessee	W 70–51	4–0	16 – White	7 – Buffen	2 – Tied	Murphy Center (100) Murfreesboro, TN
December 19, 2020* 1:30 pm, NBCSN		at Dayton	L 62–65	4–1	12 – Tied	14 – Rodriguez	3 – White	UD Arena (300) Dayton, OH
December 22, 2020* 4:00 pm, SECN+		UT Martin	W 90–43	5–1	16 – Tied	9 – Rodriguez	8 – Shuler	The Pavilion at Ole Miss (875) Oxford, MS
December 29, 2020 8:00 pm, SECN		at Alabama	L 64–82	5–2 (0–1)	20 – White	11 – White	3 – Rodriguez	Coleman Coliseum (2,055) Tuscaloosa, AL
January 2, 2021* 5:00 pm, ESPNU		Wichita State American/SEC Alliance	L 79–83	5–3	20 – Shuler	7 – White	4 – Tied	The Pavilion at Ole Miss (860) Oxford, MS
January 6, 2021 8:00 pm, SECN		Auburn	W 72–61	6–3 (1–1)	13 – Sy	10 – Crowley	10 – Shuler	The Pavilion at Ole Miss (853) Oxford, MS
January 9, 2021 5:00 pm, SECN		South Carolina	Canceled					The Pavilion at Ole Miss  Oxford, MS
January 9, 2021 8:30 pm, SECN		LSU	L 61–75	6–4 (1–2)	10 – Crowley	5 – Rodriguez	4 – Shuler	The Pavilion at Ole Miss (895) Oxford, MS
January 12, 2021 6:00 pm, SECN		at Florida	L 63–72	6–5 (1–3)	19 – Shuler	5 – Buffen	3 – Shuler	O'Connell Center (2,254) Gainesville, FL
January 16, 2021 11:00 am, ESPN2		Georgia	L 74–78	6–6 (1–4)	24 – Shuler	6 – Buffen	8 – Shuler	The Pavilion at Ole Miss (870) Oxford, MS
January 19, 2021 8:00 pm, SECN		at Mississippi State	W 64–46	7–6 (2–4)	22 – Shuler	8 – Rodriguez	5 – Buffen	Humphrey Coliseum (1,000) Starkville, MS
January 23, 2021 2:30 pm, SECN		Texas A&M	W 61–50	8–6 (3–4)	21 – Joiner	7 – Joiner	4 – Shuler	The Pavilion at Ole Miss (895) Oxford, MS
January 27, 2021 7:30 pm, SECN		at Arkansas	L 59–74	8–7 (3–5)	19 – Shuler	8 – White	2 – Tied	Bud Walton Arena (4,400) Fayetteville, AR
January 30, 2021 5:00 pm, SECN		at Georgia	L 61–71	8–8 (3–6)	14 – Joiner	6 – Allen	2 – Tied	Stegeman Coliseum (1,638) Athens, GA
February 2, 2021 6:00 pm, ESPN2		No. 11 Tennessee	W 52–50	9–8 (4–6)	15 – Shuler	7 – Shuler	4 – Rodriguez	The Pavilion at Ole Miss (895) Oxford, MS
February 6, 2021 3:00 pm, ESPN2		at Auburn	W 86–84 OT	10–8 (5–6)	30 – White	10 – White	4 – Shuler	Auburn Arena (1,824) Auburn, AL
February 10, 2021 8:00 pm, SECN		No. 10 Missouri	W 80–59	11–8 (6–6)	21 – Joiner	6 – Tied	4 – Tied	The Pavilion at Ole Miss (895) Oxford, MS
February 13, 2021 5:00 pm, SECN		at South Carolina	W 81–74	12–8 (7–6)	31 – Shuler	7 – Shuler	4 – Shuler	Colonial Life Arena (3,250) Columbia, SC
February 18, 2021 4:00 pm, SECN		LSU	Canceled due to weather concerns.					The Pavilion at Ole Miss  Oxford, MS
February 20, 2021 5:00 pm, SECN		Mississippi State	L 56–66	12–9 (7–7)	13 – Buffen	6 – Buffen	3 – Buffen	The Pavilion at Ole Miss (895) Oxford, MS
February 23, 2021 8:00 pm, SECN		at No. 24 Missouri	W 60–53	13–9 (8–7)	14 – Shuler	8 – White	3 – Tied	Mizzou Arena (2,995) Columbia, MO
February 27, 2021 2:30 pm, SECN		at Vanderbilt	L 70–75	13–10 (8–8)	25 – Shuler	8 – White	2 – Tied	Memorial Gymnasium (253) Nashville, TN
March 2, 2021 8:00 pm, ESPN		Kentucky	W 70–62	14–10 (9–8)	17 – Shuler	10 – Tied	7 – Shuler	The Pavilion at Ole Miss (895) Oxford, MS
March 6, 2021 6:00 pm, SECN		Vanderbilt	W 56–46	15–10 (10–8)	15 – Joiner	8 – Rodriguez	3 – Joiner	The Pavilion at Ole Miss (2,017) Oxford, MS
SEC tournament
March 11, 2021 8:30 pm, SECN	(6)	vs. (11) South Carolina Second round	W 76–59	16–10	18 – Joiner	9 – Buffen	5 – Shuler	Bridgestone Arena (1,809) Nashville, TN
March 12, 2021 8:30 pm, SECN	(6)	vs. (3) LSU Quarterfinals	L 73–76	16–11	26 – Joiner	12 – White	3 – Shuler	Bridgestone Arena (2,155) Nashville, TN
NIT
March 19, 2021 8:00 pm, ESPN2	(1)	vs. (4) Louisiana Tech First round – Ole Miss bracket	L 61–70	16–12	22 – Joiner	10 – Rodriguez	5 – Joiner	Comerica Center (543) Frisco, TX
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. All times are in Central Time.

See also

• 2020–21 Ole Miss Rebels women's basketball team

References

1. "Romello White Joins Ole Miss Basketball". Ole Miss Athletics. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
2. "Men's Basketball Adds Top Grad Transfer Dimencio Vaughn". Ole Miss Athletics. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
3. "Robert Allen Transfers to Ole Miss". Ole Miss Athletics. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
4. "NCAA committees pushing for Nov. 25 as the start date for the 2020-21 college basketball season". CBSSports.com. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
5. "NCAA: Men's, women's hoops can start Nov. 25". ESPN.com. September 16, 2020. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
6. "Ole Miss coach Davis tests positive for COVID-19". ESPN.com. November 17, 2020. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
7. "Ole Miss cancels 1st 4 games, pauses until Dec. 7". ESPN.com. November 23, 2020. Retrieved November 23, 2020.