The Rebels are 3-0 with wins over Arkansas-Little Rock, Alabama State and over Indiana in the O'Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tip-Off yesterday and return 3 starters from a squad that posted a 16-15 overall record, including a 7-9 mark in league play, in 2008-09. The Rebels are projected to compete with Mississippi State and Alabama for the SEC West title. The Rebels would have competed for the division championship last season but were decimated by injuries.
The Rebels are lead by F's Murphy Holloway and DeAundre Cranston and G's Terrico White, Chris Warren, Eniel Polynice, and Zach Graham. Holloway is averaging 17 points/game (leads the team), 9 rebounds/game (leads the team) and 1 assist/game. He had 6 double doubles last season (7th in the SEC and 2nd among freshmen). Cranston averages 10 points/game, 3 rebounds/game and 1 assist/game. He has the ability to shoot the three while his breakout game last season was a 7 point, 8 rebound and 2 block game in a win over Kentucky. White averages 15 points/game, 3 rebounds/game and 1 assist/game. White is another player that got unexpected playing time due to injuries a year ago. Warren averages 12 points/game, 2 rebounds/game and 3 assists/game. Warren is a scoring machine. He had games of 29 (vs. New Orleans), 28 (vs. Marshall) and 25 (vs. Morgan State) points before injury sidelined him last season. He would have been a unanimous pick for all conference as a freshmen had that not happened. Polynice averages 12 points/game, 4 rebounds/game and 6 assists/game (leads the team). Polynice is capable of getting a triple double at any time. His career high in points is 28, his career high in rebounds is 13 and his career high in assists is 9. Graham averages 10 points/game, 4 rebounds/game and 1 assist/game. Graham is a great shooter who reached double figures in points 12 times last season (including 10 in conference play when he was playing with a torn tendon).
As I said earlier, the Rebels are no joke and need to be taken seriously. If they have any weaknesses it would be their frontcourt but you have to look very carefully to even make that statement. This was a team that would have won the SEC West last season if not for all of the injuries and if they can avoid those injuries this season they'll compete with Mississippi State and Alabama for the division title this season.
