Busting Brackets
Fansided

SEC Basketball: Way-too-early power rankings for 2022-23 season

By Joey Loose

Mar 12, 2022; Tampa, FL, USA; Tennessee Volunteers forward Uros Plavsic (33) defends Kentucky Wildcats forward Oscar Tshiebwe (34) during the second half at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 12, 2022; Tampa, FL, USA; Tennessee Volunteers forward Uros Plavsic (33) defends Kentucky Wildcats forward Oscar Tshiebwe (34) during the second half at Amalie Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 14
Next
Mississippi Rebels guard Austin Crowley SEC Basketball Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Mississippi Rebels guard Austin Crowley SEC Basketball Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

9. Mississippi

It was the worst year for the Rebels since Kermit Davis took over in 2018, but he’s not letting a 13-19 season get him or this program down. A fantastic defense was mediocre and the program won just four conference games in a tough SEC. Fortunately, two of their best young players from last season return and they might just have enough to take a step forward in the conference.

The Rebels return leading scorer Matthew Murrell (12.1 ppg last year) and hope to get a full season out of now sophomore guard Daeshun Ruffin, who showed great sparks before a season-ending injury in February. Former Duke forward Jaemyn Brakefield gets a second year in Davis’s system, while the rotation features a few new faces, including former Buffalo forward Josh Mballa and former Louisiana center Theo Akwuba.

Two young guards on the rise are surrounded by established talent in the backcourt. This Rebels team has a chance to come together and pull off something special, though the SEC will be as tough and talented as ever this season. The Rebels have gotten better in the offseason and should fare better than last year’s 13-win affair; Davis is certainly counting on that.

Home/SEC