(Photo credit: Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images)

After its best hoops season in more than two decades ended in the Sweet 16, Ole Miss opens the season with bigger expectations Monday night against Southeastern Louisiana in Oxford, Miss.

In a 24-12 campaign, the Southeastern Conference school beat North Carolina and Iowa State before losing to No. 2 seed Michigan State 73-70 in last season's NCAA Tournament.

'Depth could be a real ally of our team this year,' third-year coach Chris Beard said of his four returners and dozen transfers. 'We literally have 13 or 14 guys who are in play.'

Guard AJ Storr comes to the Rebels after starting at St. John's, going to Wisconsin and transferring to Kansas. He was a 2023 second-team All-Big Ten selection for the Badgers.

'The SEC is definitely the best conference in college basketball,' the 6-foot-5 Storr said of his decision to continue his career in Oxford.

Returning 6-foot-9 forward Malik Dia saw his scoring dip by six points per game last season, down to 10.8, but was chosen as a third-team selection in the SEC preseason poll.

'It gives me a big chip, especially coming back in the league,' Dia said. 'I know the competitive nature that it is. It's definitely not easy to win in this league, but what comes with that is team success. It's, 'How can I help this team win?'

Meanwhile, the Lions were 18-14 and 12-8 in the Southland Conference last season, and seventh-year coach David Kiefer likes his squad's makeup.

'From the jump, I saw the athleticism, depth and talent the team possessed, and we've worked to piece it all together,' Kiefer said. 'The guys have bought into the program and our culture, and it's been exciting to see.'

Southeastern Louisiana brings back five players, including the conference's Freshman of the Year, Jeremy Elyzee.

A 6-foot-7 forward, Elyzee averaged 10.4 points and 5.0 rebounds and led the team with 21 blocked shots.

'Jeremy and (junior guard) Jaiden Lawrence have stepped up in their leadership roles being returners alongside our new additions Ethan Pickett and Isaiah Gaines,' Kiefer said.

Pickett, a senior guard, played two seasons for UIC, while Gaines has split his Division I career between Florida Atlantic and Radford.

--Field Level Media