Ole Miss to be without Daeshun Ruffin against UT Martin, timetable for return unknown
The Ole Miss men’s basketball team is 3-0 without Daeshun Ruffin to start the season but that does not mean they do not want, need and miss their starting point guard out on the court.
Though it appears Ruffin will miss at least the first four games of the season and the Thanksgiving trip to Orlando is still in doubt.
Ruffin suffered a bone bruise in the exhibition game against West Georgia on Nov. 1. He finished the game but has not played in any of the regular season games, including Tuesday’s 70-58 win over Chattanooga.
After the initial injury Ole Miss head coach Kermit Davis called Ruffin’s situation a “week-to-week” timeline. Though nearly two weeks into the season and uncertainty still hangs over the sophomore’s return.
“(Ruffin) won’t play on Friday,” Davis said on Tuesday. “Everything is improving. I’ll emphasize again, all the ligaments are great. It’s just this bone bruise, it’s getting better. So, we’ll keep our fingers crossed for Orlando but he won’t be available for Friday night.”
With Ruffin set to miss Friday’s game against UT Martin at 6:30 p.m. CT, capping Ole Miss’ opening homestand, the next chance for him to make his season debut will be in Orlando at the ESPN Events Invitational over Thanksgiving weekend.
In Ruffin’s absence Matthew Murrell has picked up the slack and put Ole Miss on his back.
The junior guard has not done it alone but Murrell has been the bulk of the offense through the first three games and could be relied on deeper into Ole Miss’ non-conference schedule.
Against Chattanooga, Murrell had set season highs in points with a game-high 25, minutes (37), field goals made (9), three-point shots made (6), and blocks (1).
Through three games Murrell leads Ole Miss in scoring with 18.3 points per game. He is the only Rebel averaging in double figures. The next closest is Robert Allen at 9.3 points.
“I’m still playing my game,” Murrell said on Tuesday. “I credit guys like TJ (Caldwell) and Amaree (Abram) stepping up to play the one spot. I feel like they’re helping fill that role. When Ruffin comes back I feel like my play style, I feel like he’s going to make it easier. He creates off the dribble and stuff so he’ll just make my game easier.”
Both true freshman in Caldwell and Abram have been asked to become producers sooner into the respective collegiate careers than maybe expected. Each has answered the challenge with Caldwell averaging 8.7 points and Abram averaging 7.3 points.
Videos of Davis, Murrell and Caldwell’s postgame interviews from Tuesday can be viewed below courtesy of Ole Miss Sports Production.
