Saiz cleared, could play in Rebels' rematch at Florida
Sebastian Saiz returned to practice Monday and could play on Tuesday when Ole Miss meets Florida (8 p.m. CST, ESPNU) in Gainesville.
The Rebels’ junior forward has not played since Jan. 16. Saiz suffered an eye injury Dec. 18 at Memphis. The Spaniard attempted to play through it, but surgery was eventually required. Ole Miss has gone 3-3 without Saiz, who was averaging 12.8 points and 9.8 rebounds per game before he was sidelined.
In Saiz’s absence, Marcanvis Hymon has taken the lion’s share of the minutes in the low post. Hymon is averaging 6.5 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.
“When (Saiz) went out, it created such a void that we had to completely change a lot of the things we were doing philosophically, but it’s really helped (Hymon) develop,” Ole Miss coach Andy Kennedy said. “He’s been inconsistent at times, which is to be expected, I suppose, but he’s really, really flourished in the role of having to be the guy at the basket. What was coming into the season a perceived weak point of our team now may turn into a strength for us as we go down the stretch.”
The Rebels (15-8 overall, 5-5 in the Southeastern Conference) lost to Florida in Oxford in Saiz’s last game. The Gators (15-8, 6-4) won by nine points (80-71) but they dominated from the start.
“They had their way with us in Game 1, totally dominated us right out of the gate, honestly,” Kennedy said. “We were really never in it from the start.”
Former Ole Miss guard Mike White’s club made 11 of 20 shots from behind the 3-point arc in the initial meeting. KeVaughn Allen scored 27 points, including 20 in the first half.
“We made some huge errors as it relates to scouting report and Florida passes the ball so well,” Kennedy said. “It was a characteristic that you always could count on with a (former Florida/current Oklahoma City Thunder coach) Billy Donovan-coached team and Mike’s done a great job of continuing that. Those kids really pass the ball well and we made some scouting report errors and they capitalized most ever time.
“(Allen) banked in his first 3 and then we lost him in transition and he made a basket and then he goes off. He totally dominated the game.”
The Rebels have won three straight SEC games, including home wins over Auburn and Vanderbilt sandwiching a road win at Missouri. Ole Miss hasn’t surrendered the possibility of making a run at its third NCAA tournament berth in the last four years. To do it, however, the Rebels have to stay hot and pile up wins.
“I’m not sure we’re to a stage yet of must-wins,” Kennedy said. “I think us beating a team the caliber of Vanderbilt in our last outing was tremendous for our guys’ confidence and Vanderbilt being a team that I believe is going to be right in the thick of the league chase right to the bitter end because of their abilities and the position that (Commodores coach) Kevin (Stallings) will put them in, we just thought it was a quality win that our team desperately needed at that time.
“Obviously, going to Florida, anytime you can break through on the road, it’s going to do wonders for your numbers. Where we are right now, the greatest thing we have going for us is Sebas was cleared and now we not only have our best low-post player back in the lineup but we’ve got a guy who, when he went out, was second in the league in rebounding. He provides a completely different aspect to our game-planning moving forward. I certainly think we’ll be a much better team once he gets back and establishes his rhythm.”