Preseason Love For Rebel Hoops

Believe it or not, Ole Miss is just one week away from its first men's basketball game (exhibition vs. Delta State - next Friday, Nov. 5, at 6 p.m.). And that can only mean one thing - preseason predictions.

Ole Miss is expected to be among the top teams in the league again this year. Here is a breakdown of where the Rebels have been picked this preseason by a variety of outlets:

- 2nd in SEC West (SEC/National Media)
- 2nd in SEC West (CBSSports.com)
- 3rd in SEC West (Athlon)
- 3rd in SEC West (Sporting News)
- 3rd in SEC West (Lindy's)

Ole Miss players getting preseason love:

- Chris Warren: All-America honorable mention (Athlon)
- Chris Warren: #6 Floor Leader in nation (Athlon)
- Chris Warren: Best Leader in SEC (Sporting News)
- Chris Warren: Top Playmaker in SEC (Lindy's)
- Chris Warren: All-SEC 1st team (SEC Coaches)
- Chris Warren: All-SEC 1st team (SEC/National Media)
- Chris Warren: All-SEC 1st team (Athlon)
- Chris Warren: All-SEC 1st team (Sporting News)
- Chris Warren: All-SEC 3rd team (Lindy's)
- Nick Williams: 25 Impact Transfers in nation (Athlon)

Also, Check out the 2010-11 season outlook on OleMissSports.com.

Scott-Etheridge Reunion

One of the many storylines surrounding Saturday's Auburn game is the one-year anniversary of the scary incident with Rebels' Rodney Scott and the Tigers' Zac Etheridge. Most of you are probably familiar with what happened, with Rodney staying still on the field for 15 or so minutes with the motionless Etheridge lying on top of him being attended to by medical staff. Scott's decision to not move saved Etheridge from more serious injury and earned Scott the SEC Sportsmanship Award. It has been the topic of articles this week by the Associated Press, Birmingham News, Anniston Star, Bellingham Herald and Clarion Ledger. There will also be a mjor feature by Tom Rinaldi on the incident on ESPN College Gameday Saturday morning.

Another Manning On The Way

As made public today in the New York Post, Eli and Abby Manning are expecting their first child in the spring. Eli, 29, and Abby, 26, who met in the spring of his junior year at Ole Miss, have been married for 2½ years and live in Hoboken, N.J. Congrats to the entire Manning family!

Masoli on First Take

Rebel QB Jeremiah Masoli was on ESPN2's First Take Wednesday morning. Jeremiah also received high praise from Auburn coach Gene Chizik in today's Auburn Plainsman.

We Are The Champions

Chris Thiemann and Marcel Thiemann
ITA Southern Regional Doubles Champions

Tucker Vorster
ITA Southern Regional Singles Champion

Ole Miss Hoops Visits Media

Andy Kennedy, Renee Ladner, Chris Warren and Kayla Melson are back on campus after a quick trip over to Birmingham this morning for SEC Basketball Media Days. Full coverage of their visit with the press will be available this afternoon on the official site. Here are a few early articles about AK and the men's season outlook from the media on hand.

al.com: Kennedy likes his Ole Miss Rebels' mix of old and new

clarionledger.com: No question in Kennedy’s mind who will lead Ole Miss

Spectacular BPF

You may have seen a tweet from @peteboone today that said,

"The BPF is looking great w new artwork, etc and more to be done. Oh yes the basketball teams are looking good, too. AK seems really excited"

Well, here are some new pics to prove it:

Dreams Do Come True

Former All-American Dori Carter had a successful pro debut this past year on the Duramed Futures Tour. She won the Pennsylvania Classic and finished 14th on the money list. Carter is set to compete in the final stage of Q-School in December where she hopes to earn her LPGA Card. Click here to read about how a simple act of kindness years ago changed her life forever.

Palmer In Line For Start

With injuries to the Detroits Lions' linebacking corps, former Rebel Ashlee Palmer is in line for his first start of the year Sunday against Eli Manning's New York Giants. It would be Palmer's first start as a Lion and third in the NFL, after starting a pair of games as a rookie last year with the Buffalo Bills. It might also be Palmer's first start ever at middle linebacker. He started at outside LB in both of his seasons in Oxford and has played just a handful of snaps in the middle in his NFL career.

Ole Miss Basketball Video Board Under Construction!

Daktronics workers are well underway with the installation of the new basketball video board. Here are some photos of the construction. How exciting for Coach Kennedy and Ladner.

Parnell Now A Cowboy

Jermey Parnell has done some moving the past few months. After a year with the New Orleans Saints, the former Ole Miss football/hoops player joined the Miami Dolphins in the preseason, later returned to the Saints' practice squad and today was added to the Dallas Cowboys' 53-man active roster. He expects to stay at offensive tackle after switching from defense to offense during the summer in New Orleans. Parnell is the lone Rebel on the Dallas roster but will play alongside fellow Houston Nutt pupil Felix Jones.

Archie Serves Dishes, Raises Champions

Archie Manning made some news this week in the Big Easy by announcing plans to open his own restaurant. Manning's will be part of the Harrah's Hotel and Casino complex in downtown New Orleans and open in fall 2011. If Archie is half as successful in the food business as he is raising his sons, Manning's will be a cash cow. Success Magazine has a great story on the Mannings' triumphs in their latest issue.

Success: Raising Champions

Powe Shaking Haters

It's hard to pile up stats when you have to shed two blockers. Such is life for Jerrell Powe. One of the nation's top defensive tackles, Powe has been facing double teams throughout the season, but despite the lack of statistics, the future sheriff of Wayne County remains an All-American candidate and a projected NFL first-round pick, forecasted No. 23 in the Sporting News' latest mock draft. Powe is the subject of features in today's Clarion-Ledger and Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal.

Bummer For Terrico

Ole Miss fans looking forward to Terrico White's NBA debut with the Detroit Pistons will have to wait a little longer. The former SEC Freshman of the Year played 4 minutes last night in the preseason opener against the Miami Heat before he suffered a broken right foot. He is out indefinitely and will be reevaluated this week.

Terrico sent out a tweet today saying, "Broken foot ... Gotta come back stronger."

Here's hoping he heals quickly. On a positive note, I did get this cool picture of 'Rico - courtesy of Michelle Fikany of the Pistons.

New Team For Mitchell

Former Rebel Jayme Mitchell has swapped teams, traded from the Minnesota Vikings to the Cleveland Browns on Tuesday. The trade was for an undisclosed draft pick and apparently provided roster space for Minnesota to pull the trigger on the Randy Moss deal. The defensive end from Jackson had spent his entire NFL career with the Vikes after arriving in the league as an undrafted free agent in 2006. Mitchell amassed 105 tackles and played in 45 games during his time at Ole Miss (2002-05).

Greer Featured In Commercial Appeal

In most instances, H.R. is Human Resources. For the Rebels, H.R. is a hard-nosed fullback, and on Saturday, H.R. was a touchdown maker. Sophomore H.R. Greer has worked his way up the Ole Miss depth chart, and against Kentucky, he collected his first career TD on an eight-yard pass in the second quarter. The Olive Branch native was the subject of a feature by Ron Higgins in today's Commercial Appeal.

Vaughn Seals Denver Win

Cassius Vaughn made perhaps the biggest play of the day in Denver's 26-20 win at Tennessee Sunday. Inside the final two minutes with the Broncos clinging to a three-point lead, a wind-shortened kickoff is fumbled by the Titans' return man, and Vaughn was johnny-on-the-spot (see AP photo below). It was his second fumble recovery on special teams this young season. The undrafted free agent has been a useful member of the Denver roster since his arrival, whether as a cornerback, on kick coverage, as a returner or most recently as a defensive end.

Law Firm In Court Tonight

With starting running back Fred Taylor out, former Rebel BenJarvus Green-Ellis is poised to get his fourth career NFL start for New England's Monday Night Football meeting in Miami. The Law Firm rushed for 98 yards in relief duty for the Patriots last week and became a hot waiver wire pickup in the fantasy football world. Check out a great feature on BJGE in today's Boston Globe.

If you're tuning in for the MNF tilt, you'll be disappointed to see recently departed Rebel John Jerry is out for the Dolphins tonight with an illness.

Bowens Headed To ICC Hall Of Fame

Tim Bowens played only one season in the Red and Blue but it was an impressive one. The Rebels' 1993 defense was special and spearheaded by Bowens and the late Norman Hand in the middle of the line. Both players were products of Itawamba Community College, and on Oct. 9, Bowens will be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame in Fulton. Read more in the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal.