clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile
Changing the Culture of Ole Miss Athletics The original Air Kiffin shirt is available here

Filed under:

What Dwight Coleby's transfer to Kansas means for Ole Miss basketball

The Rebs will lose their much-needed 6'9'' big man from an already small frontcourt.

By Jim Lohmar
Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

On Sunday, Dwight Coleby announced he was leaving the Ole Miss basketball program for Bill Self's Kansas Jayhawks, where he'll abstain from competition for a season before fulfilling his last two years of eligibility. Apparently unhappy with playing just 16.5 minutes per game, Coleby said via Twitter that he's "excited to be part of something special" in Lawrence.

Coleby's offensive production in the time he was on the floor certainly didn't knock anyone's boots off last season. He pulled minutes in every game -- unlike, say, Aaron Jones -- but his 5.4 points- and 4.8 rebounds-per-game didn't initially bring down the house.

Still, with M.J. Rhett and Aaron Jones matriculating, Bahamanian Dwight appeared set to back up Sebastian Saiz in the paint next year. At the defensive end, in fact, is where Coleby's absence will be most felt. His 29 blocks last season ranked him second behind Saiz (33) and out-gains Rhett and Jones who both punched away 18 balls. Time to dust off freshman John Crnogorac for some Thunder from Down Under ... down under the defensive hoop.

So happy trails, Dwight Coleby. You're joining a Kansas squad that finished No. 10 last year and now sits No. 17 in the preseason USA Today Coaches Poll. And who knows: maybe we'll meet again in some faraway Sweet Sixteen. In the meantime, Jayhawk Nation seems excited to meet you.