GETTING INSIDE

Few teams in the country, maybe ever, have gone through the injuries like the ones that hit Ole Miss last season.

One by one, starting before the season even began, the Rebels lost three key backcourt players to knee injuries, including starters Chris Warren and Eniel Polynice.

Valued backup Trevor Gaskins was out before the season even began.

The Rebels paid a price for that when their 16 victories weren’t enough to get them into the postseason, but they are rewarded this season with one of the deepest backcourts around.

Sophomore Terrico White eventually took over Warren’s job of running the team and providing scoring punch from the outside, earning SEC Freshman of the Year honors in the process.

He and junior Zach Graham, who also moved into a starting role, are back along with the three returning injured players.

It wouldn’t be inconceivable to see the Rebels use four of them at one time considering that 6-7 sophomore Murphy Holloway is the only returning starter up front.

Ideally, though, coach Andy Kennedy has to hope that 6-9 sophomore Terrance Henry or newcomers Reginald Buckner, a 6-8 freshman, and DeAngelo Riley, a 6-9 junior college transfer, can fill the vacancy created by the offseason departure of Malcolm White.

White had 27 starts as a freshman, but transferred to LSU to be closer to his home in Baton Rouge.

One thing that should help up front. Aside from putting back missed shots, none of the low-post players likely will be counted on to contribute much in the way of scoring. That job looks like it will be in the very capable hands of that loaded backcourt.

NOTES, QUOTES

• Ole Miss is looking for its first berth in the NCAA Tournament since 2002. The Rebels played in the NIT in 2007 and 2008, reaching the semifinals last year.

• G Terrico White, who came into last season as a backup to Chris Warren, earned Freshman of the Year honors in the SEC after stepping in when Warren went down with a knee injury. He averaged 13.7 points and 2.3 assists a game.

• F Murphy Holloway will be counted on to carry a heavy load inside for the Rebels with the departure of Malcolm White, who transferred to LSU to be closer to home. Holloway averaged 8.4 points and 6.6 rebounds as a freshman last season.

Last Year:   16-15 overall, 7-9 in the SEC.

Head Coach:   Andy Kennedy (career 82-52); third year at Ole Miss (61-39)

Quote To Note:   “Last year there was much made about the fact that there were only three teams from our league in the NCAA Tournament, but in eight of the 10 prior years there were six teams selected, which is half the league. The SEC as a whole was terribly young and inexperienced last season, but most of the marquee players are back, which I think is going to fortify us top to bottom.”—Coach Andy Kennedy, looking at the conference race.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

Scouting The Newcomers:   Reginald Buckner, a 6-8 forward, was listed as the 29th-best prospect in the country by Rivals.com, which lauded him for his defensive strength. He holds the Tennessee high school record for blocked shots. That and his rebounding could get him early playing time. The Rebels went the junior college route for further frontcourt help, signing DeAngelo Riley, a 6-9 forward who played at Southwest Tennessee Community College. Nick Williams, a 6-4 guard, transferred from Indiana and will sit out this season.

Key Early-season Games:   The Rebels play Indiana on Nov. 19 in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Puerto Rico Tip-Off. They will get Boston U. or Kansas State in the second round. Villanova and Georgia Tech are among the four in the other bracket. The Rebels play UTEP, which features Louisville transfer Derrick Caracter, in nearby Southaven, Miss., on Dec. 16. A week later, the Rebels go to Big East opponent West Virginia.

Program Direction:   The Rebels had an unfortunate string of injuries last season, losing Chris Warren, Eniel Polynice and Trevor Gaskins, all guards, to knee injuries. Ole Miss missed the postseason. Unless the Rebels have similar misfortunes in 2009-10, they have the potential to get back to the NIT and could challenge for a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

Probable Starting Lineup:   G Terrico White, G Chris Warren, G Eniel Polynice, F Murphy Holloway, F Terrence Henry.

Roster Report:  

• G Chris Warren, whose season ended after 11 games because of a knee injury, was cleared to play in the summer and says he is feeling no ill-effects from his injury.

• G Eniel Polynice, who played in only one game before going down with a season-ending knee injury, has been cleared.

• G Trevor Gaskins is returning from a 2008 preseason knee injury.