‘We’re not skipping steps’: Beard on Johnson’s recovery, Case’s Ole Miss legacy

Long-time basketball staffer Win Case left Ole Miss for Southern Miss in the off-season. 

Case had been with the Rebels since 2018. He was the lone holdover from Kermit Davis, the head coach Chris Beard replaced going on three years now.

Case was the lead assistant under Davis and stepped in as acting head coach for the final five games in 2023 after Davis was fired. He served as a special assistant under Beard, an off-court role. 

Case was hired in June as the associate head coach to USM head coach Jay Ladner. 

“Win did a great job here,” Beard said this week. “Not good, great. I’m so happy for him and his family — the opportunity he has to get back on the floor coaching full-time with Jay Ladner at Southern Miss. But I’m sure we’ll talk about Win a lot as the year goes on, because Win has his handprints on a lot of things that went on here.”

JOHNSON AROUND 80 PERCENT

Ole Miss is four weeks into its summer program. Louisville transfer guard Koren Johnson has mostly worked off to the side with team trainers. 

He’s recovering from a labrum injury that cost him all but two games last season. Johnson said he’s around ’80 percent’ health-wise. Beard agreed with his assessment.

“It’s not a matter of if he’ll return [but] when,” Beard said. “We’re not skipping any steps with the rehab. He’s done a great job. He’s reshaping his body. I think he’s lost 10 pounds since he’s been here. He’s getting stronger.”

Johnson likely won’t be full-contact until August and completely healthy until the Rebels’ season opener in November.

“He fits the mold of the way we like to play,” Beard said. “He’s a combo guard and has the ability to have a point-guard mentality. You saw this at Washington and at Louisville in his four or five games there, including the foreign tour. He drives the pass. He understands the ball’s got to move, but also the talent to get a bucket. 

“I think he’s got a competitive side to him that maybe hasn’t been unleashed completely. He could be a great defensive player because he’s competitive. He’s one of those smaller guards that if you score on him he takes it personal. I just see a lot of upside. If we can tap in and get him back to being the best version of himself while doing it within the team system and understanding the things we value around here — discipline, being unselfish — I think he could really, really help us.”

THE NEXT PEDULLA?

The 6-foot-2 Johnson, a junior, told the Ole Miss Spirit last month Beard and Co. sold him with a plan to utilize him in similar fashion to Sean Pedulla. 

Pedulla was a breakout star for the Rebels in his one and only season. Pedulla arrived as a former All-ACC guard from Virginia Tech. He’d played in north of 100 games in three seasons and totaled over 1,200 points and 300 assists. 

He was instrumental in leading Ole Miss to 24 wins and the Sweet 16, matching the greatest single-season accomplishment in program history. 

“I’m desperate to play in the tournament,” Johnson said. “Coach Beard emphasizes it every day. He wants to play on Monday and Monday is when the national championship is. We all have the same goal in mind and we’re just working to get there.

“I’m an electric player. Everybody can see I can score the ball. I like to get everybody involved, and then I like getting steals and jump in the lane. Me being in this opportunity is going to bring everything out in my game.”

Pedulla topped Ole Miss in points (15.4), minutes (32.8), 3-point percentage among starters (39.2 percent), free throw percentage (82.5), assists (135) and steals (68). He split time with veteran Jaylen ‘Juju’ Murray.

RELATED: Koren Johnson’s key phone call with Chris Beard that led him to Ole Miss

Johnson could do the same with any one of Travis Perry, Kezza Giffa and others.

Perry and Giffa are transfers from Kentucky and High Point, respectively.

“We’ve raised the level of our program,” Beard said. “We’ve lost Juju and Pedulla and Matt — some guys that got it done for us. We’re all-in and certainly not looking to take a step back here.

“[Johnson’s] done a great job since he’s been here. It’s a lot of work. It’s a combination of John Raybon, our trainer, and countless hours. This isn’t three sets of 10 on the band type of rehab. This is all day, every day. His relationship with John Reilly, our strength coach. John’s doing a lot of the lower-body stuff. Raybon’s in charge of upper body with the shoulder. At the same time, we’re trying to get him into great shape.”

Johnson in 2023-24 was the Pac-12 Sixth Man of the Year for Washington. He averaged 10.9 points per game. He’s a former 4-star recruit and Top 50 point guard and was ranked as the No. 126 overall player in his class by On3.

“K’s working really hard [including] the metal aspect of coming to practice every day but not being able to contribute,” Beard said. “Trying to say engaged there. We’re following the protocol [and] being patient with it. We’re being aggressive, but we’re being patient. We understand the first game’s November 4th, it’s not August 4th.”