Rippee Writes: Friday Scoop
Subscriber deals, a lot of baseball, basketball transfer thoughts
Happy Friday to all. We’ve got a new Mailbag Friday podcast out with a lot of baseball talk, hoops transfers and more. Available on apple and Spotify.
Also, more on your first LBs special below if you missed your promo code email yesterday.
We’ve got a ton to dive into. Let’s get going.
Buffen transferring:
K.J. Buffen announced his intention to enter the transfer portal on Wednesday shortly after he opted out of playing in the NIT — just two days before Ole Miss’ first round match up with Louisiana Tech in Frisco.
The timing is certainly a bit peculiar and what is more interesting is how Kermit responded when asked about Buffen opting (4:05 mark) out. Every year around this time, you can sort of forecast who will be a victim of the continuously churning roster attrition that is now the norm in college hoops. Hell, sometimes the coaching staff will indirectly tell you. Khadim Sy, Shon Robinson and Dimencio Vaughn have already departed the program. Those weren’t surprises. Buffen was a surprise and it brings a puzzling three-year career to an end.
Think back to January of 2019 when Buffen’s 16 points helped lift Ole Miss to a win over a ranked Auburn team. Three days later, his 2018 signing classmate Blake Hinson dropped 26 in a road win at a ranked Mississippi State club. That week propelled Ole Miss into the top 25 for the first time in over half decade and essentially fueled their entire NCAA Tournament resume. The future seemed to be these two freshmen. Now, both are gone. Hinson was pushed out in last year’s roster turnover and Buffen wants a fresh start. I’m not privy to the specifics, but it seems clear there was some sort of falling out that led to him being unhappy. Buffen was a puzzling prospect. The first five games of his sophomore year he looked like a guy who could average 18 and 10 in the SEC. Three weeks later all anyone could talk about was his foul trouble. That kind of surmised his time at Ole Miss. Flashes of promise but littered with inconsistency. With another roster spot open, Davis and the Rebels have a lot of work to do in the transfer market. We can discuss that later on.
Speaking of Ole Miss isn’t a part of March Madness, but you can be. Check out our friends at Skybox Sports Picks. They have a special March Madness Package. Use my promo code to sweeten the deal:
Auburn Scouting Nuggets:
Ole Miss will play an SEC Baseball game for the first time in over 700 days this evening. It’s good to have it back. The Rebels enter the series reeling a bit after being throttled 13-1 by Louisiana Tech in a midweek series that was cut from two games to one because of COVID issues on the Rebels’ pitching staff. Here’s what to look for in their opponent:
Auburn is going to throw two right handers and potentially a third depending on who they go with on Sunday (currently listed as TBA), it could be a third right-hander another. That’s good news for Ole Miss. It could also be Jack Owen, a left-hander who started on the weekend last year. He’s been hurt to start the year, as has their closer, Fitts, who was booted from the weekend rotation. Keep an eye out for that. The Tigers have had a rough go of it pitching-wise this season. Their preseason projected ace is now their closer and their projected closer is now their Saturday guy. Oh, and their closer from last year is now their Friday night guy. In short, you’re going to get two guys in Cody Greenhill and Mason Barnett who throw 95-97 with pretty good secondary stuff, particularly Barnett. Such is life in the SEC. As for Sunday, Ole Miss should have the advantage no matter who Auburn starts, even with Diamond’s recent struggles.
Auburn’s bullpen has been beaten up pretty good and depth is an issue. There is opportunity for Ole Miss to exploit that.
The lineup hits. The Tigers lead the SEC in average (.322), are second in slugging and in RBIs. Not all of those are the most useful statistics and their non-conference slate wasn’t a murderer’s row by any means, but they’re capable.
Speaking of nuggets, all subscribers should have gotten an email yesterday. It serves as a promo code for this week’s LBs Special. Go by, show the email and you get a free pound of spicy ribeye sausage. It is delicious. That’s a hell of a kickstart to your grilling weekend. It’s the first of many specials. Thanks for being a loyal subscriber. More to come next week.
What I’m watching for from Ole Miss:
Cael Baker broke a bone in his hand earlier this week in practice. The recovery timetable is about a month and a half. Obviously, this sucks for the kid and you hope he recovers quickly, but it isn’t devastating news for Ole Miss. Baker wasn’t hitting (.353 slugging with 18 strikeouts in 34 ABs) and he isn’t a plus defender, but it does complicate the most pressing lineup question: who plays first base and left field?
My guess is that Kevin Graham mans first and T.J. McCants is given every chance to win the LF job. Is that the best option? There’s an argument to be made the best version of the Rebels is Trey LaFleur reaching his full potential at the plate and playing 1B with Graham in left. How about one more spicy option for you: A fellow named Gunnar Hoglund hits and potentially plays first base (or DH) on Saturday and Sunday. Mike Bianco said in 2019 that Hoglund could hit during his Ole Miss career, but it wouldn’t be “this year.” Well, we’re in 2021 and Hoglund likely doesn’t see next year. I’m not saying it will happen. I am betting the conversation has been had though.
Saturday and Sunday will go a long way toward forecasting what this rotation looks like when Doug Nikhazy returns. If Drew McDaniel goes six strong in an Ole Miss win, I am honestly not sure what Diamond could do outside of a heroic performance on Sunday to keep his job. If that comes to fruition, it is a good problem to have. McDaniel could also struggle. The electric stuff could lack command and his introduction to the SEC could be a struggle. That makes Diamond’s start even more important. Who knows what happens, but it is a significant moment for those two and the ball club.
Lastly, Ole Miss needs to play better. That sounds simplistic, but their approach offensively needs to improve and the defensive gaffes need to be fewer and farther between. If they play like they have in their last three games, this weekend won’t go well. I predict the Rebels take two of three.
On the horizon:
Monday podcast with a ton of baseball talk
Newsletters next week
More LBs deals.
That’s all from me. Thanks for another great week. Make sure you and your friends and family and enemies subscribe. Everyone is welcome at this party.