After a few days to allow it to sink in most Ole Miss basketball fans are excitedly optimistic about Kermit Davis as the 22nd head coach in program history.
Monday evening Kermit Davis was announced as the 22nd head coach for the Ole Miss basketball program. There were an incredible amount of fans who gathered in The Pavilion for the formal announcement which would introduce Davis and his family to Rebel Nation. Of course, the announcement was greeted by excited applause as Kermit Davis took the stage as the new Ole Miss basketball head coach.
Many of the Davis family were present for the event, including his parents former Miss State basketball coach Kermit Davis Sr and his wife. Coach Davis, of course played under his dad in Starkville before graduating Miss State in 1982. Davis introduced his family to the crowd of Ole Miss fans and was met with a roar of applause from the Ole Miss fans gathered in The Pavilion.
Here in Oxford a new era for @OleMissMBB begins.
— Peter Burns (@PeterBurnsESPN) March 19, 2018
Welcome back to the @SEC Coach Kermit Davis.
Also, this is the first time I’ve been in the new Pavillon. As nice of a college basketball arena I’ve ever seen. pic.twitter.com/sg62Urcxia
What Davis Is About
Ole Miss Rebels Basketball
Besides expressing the importance of family, Davis expounded on what he had done at MTSU. Not only did he strive to improve not only the basketball program but also placed a major focus on academics. MTSU was one of only six NCAA college basketball programs with a 100% graduation rate in 2016 and one of seven in 2017. MTSU has graduated 52 straight basketball players and will graduate 4 more this spring.
Davis then explained his plans for the Ole Miss basketball program. “It’s going to be relentless, athletic, explosive, a team that’s going to have to play on and on and on to beat. It’s going to be a team that’s going to be unselfish. We’re going to play fast and smart in transition. We’re going to try to get easy baskets”, said Davis.
Davis continued, “We’re going to try to play with
great body language. We’re going to be a respectful team that respects the flag and the National Anthem. All those things from culture is what we’re about. It’s who we’re going to
be.”
Of course, some fans are still unsure of Kermit Davis and how well he will benefit the program. However, some of us who believe the program is already better at this point than we were at the start of this past season. Davis will be committed to an immediate noticeable improvement from last season.
What Fans Are Saying
While many Rebels fans can appreciate Kermit Davis and what he brings to the Ole Miss basketball program, there are still doubters. Many fans still dedicated to the AK era are hard sells. And of course, then there are fans who don’t like the idea of a former Bulldog leading the Rebels.
OK Rebels...poll time! Now you've had a chance to meet your new head basketball coach, Kermit Davis. How do you feel about Davis?#coachkerm#hdt
— Ole Hotty Toddy (@OleHottyToddy) March 20, 2018
Need I remind you of another former Ole Miss basketball coach who had ties to Miss State? Of course, some of you younger Ole Miss fans may not remember women’s basketball legend Van Chancellor. Maybe this will put some of your worst fear and suspicions to rest.
"I promise you this, there’s a lot of great Ole Miss people in this room, but nobody wants to beat Mississippi State’s tail more than Kermit Davis. I guarantee you that. I promise you that, all right? ~Coach Kermit Davis"
We had a chance to get some fans opinions on the new hire and everybody seems to be excited and optimistic. “Robert Morman of Grenada stated, ” I love the idea of Coach Davis, a Mississippi Made man, coaching at Ole Miss and being part of the community of Oxford. I can not wait to see where he takes us.”
“It was a good hire. I’m excited to see him expand on the foundation laid by AK,” Jay Pieralisi of Oxford stated. Tom Hinton also of Oxford told us, “I haven’t been this fired up about basketball since Rob Evans was coach!” Ole Miss fan Billy Shannon of Mineola, Texas was clear about his reasons for liking Davis. “There is no one who wants to beat State more than him,” stated Shannon. Of course, I believe we can safely say the vast majority of Rebel Nation is very excited.
Other Rebels Hoops News
Tuesday it was announced two of Kermit Davis’s former assistants at MTSU would be joining the Ole Miss staff. Coaches Win Case and Ronnie Hamilton were both instrumental in the success which MTSU had on the court. They are also very good recruiters who have served time in the recruiting trenches throughout the southeast. Hamilton spent the past three season with Davis at MTSU while Case has been with Davis for an incredible ten seasons. These two additions are huge for Ole Miss basketball and will make an immediate impact in coming days as recruiting heats up.
Next: Top-10 Rebels In Last 12 Years!
In the coming days leading up to the final college basketball signing period, activity will heat up for Ole Miss basketball. In the short time Davis has been in Oxford he has already made a really good impression on the Ole Miss faithful and brought two great coaches to Oxford. Of course, the best is yet to come. Be sure to check back with OHT for the latest updates on basketball. Welcome to the Ole Miss family coach Davis and assistants Win Case and Ronnie Hamilton. Hotty Toddy!