Saiz out, Moody questionable for Saturday vs. MSU
OXFORD - Coach Andy Kennedy is developing two game plans for Saturday’s contest against Mississippi State: one that involves guard Stefan Moody and one that doesn’t.
Moody’s status remains uncertain after he strained his left hamstring in Tuesday's overtime loss to South Carolina. He didn’t practice Wednesday or Thursday and how he feels in practice Friday, if he can go, and Saturday will determine whether he plays against the Bulldogs (7-10, 0-5 SEC).
“I’m going to let him make the call,” Kennedy said. “But if he’s not 100 percent, he will not play Saturday or as close to 100 percent as he can be. He’s responded (to treatment) like I thought he would. His pain has been cut almost in half. He’s much more mobile.”
Moody leads the Southeastern Conference and ranks sixth nationally in scoring with 24.3 points per game and is also averaging four assists, 3.1 rebounds and 1.6 steals.
It’s uncertain who would fill in for Moody if he can’t play.
The senior replaced junior Sam Finley as the team’s starting point guard early in the season, but freshman Donte Fitzpatrick-Dorsey could also play that role.
“It opens some more doors, most certainly,” Kennedy said. “We’ll have to figure that out.”
Moody is just one of three Rebels whose status for the game (1 p.m., SEC Network) against the Bulldogs is uncertain. Ole Miss (12-6, 2-4) will be without forward Sebastian Saiz and could be without guard Martavious Newby, both upperclassmen.
“There’s obviously going to be some confidence loss,” Kennedy said. “(Saiz) is our best interior player, Moody’s our best player, Newby’s our most experienced player. We would certainly like to have them at 100 percent, but that’s just not our reality.”
Saiz underwent surgery Tuesday morning to repair a partially detached retina and could also miss the Rebels’ games next week against Auburn and Kansas State. He’s averaging 12.8 points and 9.8 rebounds, which rank 20th and second in the SEC, respectively.
Saiz’ injury occurred in the Rebels’ game against Memphis on Dec. 18 when he was hit in the face hard enough to cause blood to ooze from his eye. His vision cleared up afterward but began bother him the morning of the team’s Jan. 13 game against LSU.
Kennedy said Saiz told the team about the problem before its game last Saturday against Florida. Saiz underwent surgery after his eye didn’t improve.
Newby has too much pressure around his right eye, which was swollen shut or close to it when the senior sat out Tuesday’s game. He’s had trouble with his eyes since at least last summer.
In addition to the uncertainty surrounding three of the Rebels’ better players is the fact that they enter Saturday’s game on a three-game losing streak, their longest of the season.
“(The Bulldogs) see us walking in a little bit wounded,” Kennedy said. “They’re still a senior-oriented team. I know that obviously they’re a group that’s going to be hungry being at 0-5 (in conference play) at this point.”
Contact Daniel Paulling at dpaulling@jackson.gannett.com. Follow @DanielPaulling on Twitter.