Printer-Friendly Format     E-mail this article     Rod Barnes was excited about what he saw at the Rebels' first practice Saturday morning.
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Ole Miss Basketball Opens Preseason Drills With Saturday Morning Practice

Barnes pleased with first day of practice.

Oct. 12, 2002

OXFORD, Miss. - The 2002-03 Ole Miss basketball squad opened preseason drills with a morning practice Saturday. According to fifth-year head coach Rod Barnes, Saturday's workout was a good way to tip off the season.

"We had a good first practice, and we were excited to get to the floor," said Barnes, who has an 86-46 record in four seasons. "Our kids came out with a lot of enthusiasm and were serious about today's work. I liked the way the kids showed up to practice today. For the most part, we were focused and showed good intensity."

The Rebels began practice with 17 players Saturday morning, as freshman Bryan Brown is still with the Ole Miss football team. Barnes liked the numbers he saw on the court during the 2 ½ hour session.

"We have a lot of bodies out there, and the guys are getting good reps," Barnes said. "One reason we went with a longer practice today was to let all the guys get some work in. We have a lot of veterans out there, and we have several young kids who still have a lot to learn. We showed great effort and concentration for a two-and-a-half hour practice.

"The kids enjoyed the practice. There is great camaraderie, and this is a close-knit team. The guys were out there encouraging each other, and that was great to see."

During the practice, the Rebels concentrated on the defensive end, running zone and man-to-man drills.

"We didn't shoot the ball as well today, but today's practice focused on defense," Barnes said. "We held our concentration and intensity for a long period of time. I was pleased."

Following the practice, the Rebels joined the Lady Rebel basketball squad at the Student Union to autograph team schedule posters and meet their fans. Ole Miss returns to practice Sunday morning.