University, Miss. (TLV) - Believe you can win.
That is the main statement first year head coach Andy Kennedy has drilled into his players minds this season. And despite a lackluster performance on the road at Arkansas, it seems to be working.
Ole Miss finds itself in a position no one thought them to be close too with just two weeks of SEC play left in 2007. They are playing for a Western Division Championship and a long awaited return to the NCAA Tournament. Can the Rebs make it? Depends on what you believe.
If you believe that the play of Clarence Sanders, Todd Abernathy and Bam Doyne will ultimately lift the Rebels to the post season then you may be in the majority. Sanders and Doyne both average just over 16 points per game and have been a big reason Ole Miss is fun to watch again this year. Whether your wager is on Sanders’ unconventional and off balance shots that always seem to find the bottom of the net or Doyne’s ability to make a big play to ignite the Rebels down the stretch, your bet is solid.
The three-pointer has become a large asset for this team as of late. Sanders shoots 39 percent from behind the arc while Doyne makes 34 percent of his attempts. In short, their play is a big reason Ole Miss will finish the season with its first winning record in four years.
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Don’t forget about the shaggy headed white guy. Senior Todd Abernathy has grown to become recognized as the SEC’s best point guard in 2007 and his numbers back up that argument in more ways than one.
The Indiana native is averaging nearly 12 points per game and leads the SEC in assists so far this season. Abernathy seems to be playing with more confidence than he has at any other time in his career at Ole Miss and remains a leader on and off the court. Just recently, Kennedy expressed his approval of the senior by stating that he would let Abernathy marry one of his daughters. Shortly thereafter, Abernathy quieted any speculation by proposing to his girlfriend.
There is no doubt that these three seniors are a big reason Ole Miss is winning in 2007. None of them had seen an above .500 record in their tenure at Ole Miss until this year. I guess it took a little believing to get them there. The next two weeks will tell how far the belief factor will go for Ole Miss basketball. I know I’m sold.
