Epl Schedule
Southern Mississippi Basketball Roster Updates and Key Players to Watch This Season
Walking into Reed Green Coliseum this season, I can already sense a different energy around this Southern Mississippi basketball program. Having covered this team for seven seasons now, I’ve seen rebuilding years, surprise runs, and everything in between—but something about this group feels cohesive in a way that’s hard to quantify. It’s not just the new faces or the returning veterans; it’s the quiet confidence I’m picking up from players and staff alike. One quote in particular from forward Victor Aquino stuck with me after their last preseason scrimmage: “Hopefully, we get one more game as good as this. We will be okay.” That kind of calm assurance isn’t common in October, but it tells me this squad believes they’re building toward something real.
Let’s start with the roster changes, because there have been quite a few. The Golden Eagles lost three starters from last year’s squad, which finished 18-14 overall and 9-9 in conference play. That’s a significant chunk of production walking out the door, but I’ve been impressed with how Head Coach Jay Ladner has approached the reload. They’ve brought in four freshmen and two transfers, including point guard Jordan Lee from a mid-major program up north. Lee isn’t the flashiest player, but in the scrimmages I’ve watched, he’s shown a terrific feel for running the offense—something this team desperately needed after averaging nearly 14 turnovers per game last season. I see him starting by mid-November, no question. Another newcomer to keep an eye on is forward Marcus Bell, a true freshman who’s already turning heads with his athleticism and defensive timing. At 6’8”, he brings a wingspan and mobility that could help shore up a defense that allowed 73.5 points per game last year.
Of course, it’s not all about the new guys. The core returning players give Southern Miss a floor they can build on. Senior guard Austin Crowley is back after leading the team in scoring with 16.2 points per game last season, and I expect him to take another step as a playmaker. He’s improved his three-point shooting in the offseason—I’d estimate he’s hitting around 39% from deep in practice, up from 34% last year—and his ability to create his own shot in late-clock situations is something this team will lean on heavily. Then there’s Victor Aquino, the 6’9” big man whose quote really stuck with me. Aquino averaged 8.7 points and 6.3 rebounds last season, but his impact goes beyond the numbers. He’s the vocal leader in the locker room, the guy setting hard screens and diving for loose balls when it matters. When he says, “We will be okay,” it’s not just optimism—it’s a reflection of the work he’s seen this group put in behind closed doors.
I’ve always believed that chemistry can turn a decent roster into a dangerous one, and that’s where I think Southern Miss might surprise people. They’ve added depth in the right places—especially in the frontcourt, where they now have three players 6’8” or taller who can contribute meaningful minutes. Last season, they were outrebounded by an average of 3.2 boards per game; this year, I’m projecting they’ll flip that margin to +1.5 in their favor. That might not sound like much, but in close games, those extra possessions add up. And let’s not overlook the coaching staff’s adjustments. I spoke with one of the assistants last week, and they’ve been emphasizing pace and spacing more than ever. They want to push in transition but also execute more efficiently in half-court sets. If they can cut down those turnovers I mentioned earlier, this offense could jump from middle-of-the-pack to top-three in the conference.
Now, I don’t want to sound overly optimistic—there are still questions, especially regarding their three-point defense. Last season, opponents shot 36.1% from beyond the arc against them, which ranked them near the bottom of the league. They’ll need to tighten that up, particularly against teams like Louisiana Tech and UAB, who love to stretch the floor. But what encourages me is the versatility they now have. Players like Donovan Ivory, who can guard multiple positions, and Mo Arnold, whose on-ball pressure is as good as anyone’s in Conference USA, give them options they didn’t have a year ago. I see this team winning somewhere between 19 and 22 games, maybe even making some noise in the conference tournament if things break right.
When I step back and look at the bigger picture, this Southern Miss team reminds me a bit of the 2018-19 squad that won 20 games and made a run to the NIT. They’ve got a mix of experienced leaders, promising young talent, and a collective belief that they can compete with anyone on their schedule. Victor Aquino’s words keep coming back to me—not as a prediction, but as a statement of identity. “We will be okay” isn’t about hoping for the best; it’s about knowing who they are and what they’re capable of. As someone who’s watched this program navigate ups and downs for years, I’m buying what they’re selling. This could be one of the more enjoyable Southern Mississippi basketball seasons in recent memory, and I, for one, can’t wait to see how it unfolds.