NCAA Basketball: Arizona, Indiana, and Ole Miss rise in updated 2024-25 WTE power rankings

24. Ole Miss Rebels

The Rebels were close to making the NCAA Tournament in Coach Chris Beard’s first season but came up short. After flirting with the then-open Arkansas job, Beard stuck around and landed some big pieces. Among those are who gone are mostly role players, including centers, Moussa Cisse and Jamarion Sharp.

Replacing them are a pair of high-scoring forwards, Mikeal Brown-Jones and Malik Dia, two of the top forwards from the portal. John Bol is a 7’1 center prospect and ranked in the top-40 of the 2024 class. Plus, starting forward Jaemyn Brakefield (12.9 ppg and 4.9 rpg) is coming back as well.

The most important pickup for the Rebels is Sean Pedulla, who led Virginia Tech with 16.4 ppg and 4.6 apg this past season. He and Jaylen Murray will make for a good starting backcourt in the SEC, joined by 15 ppg transfer guard Dre Davis from Seton Hall. 

Ole Miss should have one of the top starting lineups to watch next season but likely will want more depth to round out the roster. Right now, they’re better off than the likes of Arkansas and Kentucky. But will that hold up by the end of the offseason?