MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2001 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Tollison, Chamberlin

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE OLE MISS "REBELS" BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM FOR WINNING THE SEC WEST TITLE AND FOR ADVANCING TO ITS FIRST-EVER NCAA TOURNAMENT SWEET 16 APPEARANCE.

WHEREAS, the Ole Miss "Rebels" Boys Basketball Team has enjoyed its best-ever season, cruising to a 27-8 overall record, an 11-5 SEC mark and the SEC Western Division crown, which was Ole Miss' third in the last five years; and

WHEREAS, the University of Mississippi team, which was ranked No. 14 in the Associated Press (AP) Top 25 poll and No. 13 in ESPN/USA Today Top 25 poll, advanced to the SEC Championship Game against Kentucky; and

WHEREAS, the Rebels were an at-large entry into the NCAA Tournament and advanced to its first-ever NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 appearance and met No. 4 Arizona in the Midwest Regional semifinals on Friday, March 23, 2001, losing 65-55 in a very hard-fought game, televised by CBS; the Rebels were the No. 3 seed, while Arizona was the No. 2 seed in the Regional tournament; and

WHEREAS, this was a tough basketball team mentally and physically; the Rebels had court savvy and don't beat themselves; they weren't afraid of the game's blue-collar aspects, such as defense and rebounding; tough man-to-man was the team's calling card; and

WHEREAS, Center Rahim Lockhart, the leading scorer and rebounder, was a first-team All-SEC pick; Freshman forward, Justin Reed, was chosen the league's top rookie player; there was plenty of firepower at the guard positions with David Sanders, Jason Holmes and Aaron Harper, and veteran leadership at the point with Jason Flanigan and Jason Harrison; and

WHEREAS, the team was led by Coach Rod Barnes, who was named the 2001 Naismith National Men's Coach of the Year and also SEC Coach of the Year; and

WHEREAS, the Rebels team roster is as follows: STARTERS: G-David Sanders (6-3, So.) 7.1 ppg, 2.6 rpg; G-Jason Holmes (6-5, Sr.) 6.4 ppg, 2.5 rpg; G-Jason Flanigan (6-1, Sr.) 7.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.2 apg; F-Justin Reed (6-8, Fr.) 11.1 ppg, 5.8 rpg; F-Rahim Lockhart (6-8, Sr.) 12.8 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 1.4 bpg; KEY RESERVES: F-Aaron Harper (6-7, Fr.) 9.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 2.0 apg; G-Jason Harrison (5-5, Jr.) 7.8 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 3.0 apg; and G-Emmanuel Wade (6-3, So.) 4.1 ppg, 1.7 rpg; and

WHEREAS, the Rebel's Statistical Leaders are as follow:

POINTS Avg. FG% FT% 3P%

Rahim Lockhart 13.0 55.4 47.8 0.0

Justin Reed 11.0 47.8 56.4 13.0

Aaron Harper 9.2 35.2 75.0 35.4

REBOUNDS TOT AVG HIGH

Rahim Lockhart 282 8.1 14

Justin Reed 205 5.9 13

Jason Flanigan 107 3.1 6

ASSISTS TOT AVG HIGH

Jason Harrison 104 3 8

Jason Flanigan 76 2.2 6

Aaron Harper 70 2 7

FOULS TOT AVG DGL

Rahim Lockhart 120 3.4 5

Justin Reed 105 3 2

David Sanders 78 2.2 3

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize the outstanding accomplishments of this group of student-athletes, who have made the 2000-2001 season so exciting for all Mississippians, and who have brought honor to the University of Mississippi and to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the 2000-2001 University of Mississippi "Ole Miss Rebel" Basketball Team and Coach Rod Barnes for winning the SEC Western Division crown and for advancing to its first-ever NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 appearance, and wish this team continued success in future seasons and in their academic and career endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be presented to the Ole Miss Basketball Team, Chancellor Robert Khayat on behalf of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.