The lowdown
2000-01 record: 27-8; 11-5 in SEC (1st in West)
Final Ranking: No. 9 ESPN/USA Today; No. 14 AP
Postseason: Lost to Arizona 66-56 in third round of NCAA Tournament.
Three Questions for 2001-02
1. Can Derrick Allen replace Rahim Lockhart's presence inside? Will he be a scorer and a bruiser for the Rebels?
2. Will Justin Reed become the leader Rod Barnes needs him to be this season? Will he be a defensive presence, too?
3. Who will replace Jason Flanigan's leadership? Will it be Jason Harrison at the point?
Andy Katz's Scenarios
Best case: The Rebels return as the sleeper again in the SEC West, win the division and earn a mid-level seed in the tournament.
Worst case: Lockhart's importance can't be equaled and the Rebels become this season's Alabama, falling a game or two out of the NCAAs and into the NIT.
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Key Players Returning
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Player
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Yr.
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Pos.
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Ht./Wt.
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Comment
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Justin Reed
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So.
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F
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6-8/225
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PTS: 13.0 | REB: 8.1 | AST: 0.9
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Aaron Harper
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So.
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G/F
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6-5/205
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PTS: 9.2 | REB: 2.9 | AST: 2.0
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Jason Harrison
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Sr.
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G
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5-5/155
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PTS: 7.1 | REB: 1.9 | AST: 3.0
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Key Losses
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Player
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Pos.
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Ht./Wt.
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Comment
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Rahim Lockhart
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F
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6-8/255
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PTS: 13.0 | REB: 8.1 | AST: 0.9
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Jason Flanigan
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G
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6-1/180
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PTS: 7.2 | REB: 3.1 | AST: 2.2
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Mississippi Signings
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Player
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Pos.
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Ht.
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High School/College
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Justin Johnson
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G
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6-0
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Fayetteville, N.C./Seventy-First H.S.
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Jonathan Loe
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G
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6-3
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Memphis, Tenn./Bartlett H.S.
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Mario Jointer
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G
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6-2
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Jackson, Miss./Jim Hill H.S.
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Chris Rhodes
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F
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6-7
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Stafford, Texas/Houston Westbury Christian H.S.
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Kendrick Fox
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F/G
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6-7
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Oxford, Miss./Lafayette H.S.
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