Busting Brackets
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SEC Basketball: Preseason power rankings for 2020-21 season

By Caleb Hightower

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 12: The arena sits unused after the announcement of the cancellation of the SEC Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 12, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. The tournament has been cancelled due to the growing concern about the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 12: The arena sits unused after the announcement of the cancellation of the SEC Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 12, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. The tournament has been cancelled due to the growing concern about the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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WICHITA, KS – JANUARY 04: Devontae Shuler #2 talks wtih Breein Tyree #4 of the Mississippi Rebels (Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images)
WICHITA, KS – JANUARY 04: Devontae Shuler #2 talks wtih Breein Tyree #4 of the Mississippi Rebels (Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images) /

. . . Rebels . 12. team. 532

2019-20 SEC Record: 6-12 

I’m just going to get straight to the point with the Rebels; this team will only go as far as Devontae Shuler takes them, and I’m not sure how far that will be. I think that this year Ole Miss will begin to miss Breein Tyree’s presence, especially in late-game situations.

The 2020 graduate could single-handedly take over games, and help put the Rebels in position to steal wins. When he was out of games for long periods of time, Ole Miss found that they had to work ten times harder to get off the shots they wanted. (Because the guys that were in the game expected someone else to step up, instead of simply doing it themselves)

Adding Arizona State graduate transfer Romello White and 5-star freshman Matthew Murrell was huge, as it will give them a prominent force inside, and another guard who may compliment Shuler well in the backcourt.

Still, I believe that if the Rebels want to finish higher than 12th, Shuler will have to activate takeover mode frequently and make big plays down the stretch, which will result in key conference victories. Shuler did have chances last season to come up big when the Rebels needed him the most (like against Auburn and Kentucky) and didn’t deliver, which honestly worries me now that Tyree won’t be there to help pick up the slack.

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