Nashville–It was the shot that would only fly in that situation.
Every coach in the country would advise their point guard–who was previously 0-for-6 from 3-point range–against coming down and taking a shot in transition over a bigger, more athletic defender. Instead, Ole Miss coach Chris Beard leaned on the scorers’ table with his arms crossed as time expired. He was chill and composed.
His point guard Sean Pedulla had to take that shot, Beard could also tell that he wanted to.
“Sean has courage,” Beard said. “He wants the ball in that moment.”
Pedulla had to let it rip. Ole Miss had to just throw one at the rim, otherwise its battle with Arkansas would be extended into overtime. If it had, who knows what would’ve happened. All bets were off at that point.
The good news for Pedulla and Ole Miss: the shot fell. As a result, Ole Miss sealed an 83-80 win over Arkansas and lives to see another day in the SEC Tournament.
“That was probably the biggest shot in my career,” Pedulla told Southeastern 16. “That’s what March is all about, players making plays.”
The feel inside Bridgestone Arena as Arkansas forward Trevon Brazile’s second free throw went up and clanked off the rim was a feel that uniquely happens this time of year.
Everyone in the gym could seemingly feel what was about to happen, except for Pedulla.
“Actually I didn’t know,” Pedulla said. “I thought a couple of the other ones were going in and I didn’t make them so I didn’t know. It did feel good and I’m just glad it dropped.”
“I knew it was cash,” Ole Miss forward Jaemyn Brakefield told Southeastern 16 while toting his mobile camera. “I knew this game was over.”
Turns out that despite being on the bench when the shot went up, Brakefield as well as Ole Miss’ walk-on core was correct.
None of them would have a second to brag about their hunch, though. Instead, they’d all soon be storming the floor in an effort to dogpile their veteran point guard alongside the rest of the roster.
“When it went in all the emotions came out and I was like ‘holy cow,’” Ole Miss forward Malik Dia told Southeastern 16. “I should’ve ran back on defense, but I didn’t even do that. I was so full of emotion.”
“I’m just so happy he made the shot.”
Despite Pedulla’s poor shooting on the rest of the day, his teammates didn’t doubt whether he was making the right decision taking that shot. They didn’t doubt that the 40.7% 3-point shooter would get it on the tracks.
Of course he would, right? Anything else wouldn’t have been true to his character. A guy like him doesn’t back off just because a few shots in a row don’t fall.
“If you’re a shooter or a bucket getter you’re not really thinking about your missed shots,” Dia said. “He’s just one of the most fierce competitors I know. He just wants it bad just like the rest of us.”
Pedulla didn’t necessarily forget about what happened earlier in the day as a few open ones clanked off the rim, but it didn’t phase him.
The veteran, who has played in 133 total games and has started nearly 100 over the course of four seasons, did what veterans do when their shot isn’t falling. They just keep firing them.
“I was just worried about the next one, so I was just saying ‘keep shooting,” Pedulla said. “That’s all I was worried about.”
Turns out Pedulla was worried about the right thing. The veteran guard made a memory on Wednesday that will stick with Ole Miss hoops for a long time.