If you’ve ever stepped foot inside Reed Green Coliseum on a humid night in Hattiesburg, you know the vibe. It is loud. It is sweaty. Honestly, it is one of the most underrated environments in college hoops when the team is rolling. But let’s be real—following Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles basketball lately has been a bit of a rollercoaster. One year you’re hanging a Sun Belt regular-season title banner, and the next you’re grinding through a double-digit loss season.
That is just the nature of mid-major life in the 2020s.
Currently, we are seeing a program in the middle of a massive "prove it" stretch. Head coach Jay Ladner, a Southern Miss alum who literally lived the glory days as a player on the 1987 NIT championship team, is entering a pivotal phase of his tenure. After a frustrating 11-22 campaign in 2024-25, the pressure is on. But if you look at the 2025-26 roster, there is a clear shift in strategy. They aren't just looking for warm bodies; they are hunting for explosive scoring and high-upside length.
The Jay Ladner Era: High Peaks and Hard Valleys
Jay Ladner is Hattiesburg royalty. He gets the "Hub City." When he was hired, he took over a program that was essentially in the basement and, within four years, orchestrated an 18-win turnaround that nearly broke NCAA records. 25 wins. A conference title. A perfect 15-0 home record.
It was magical.
Then came the regression. The 2024-25 season was tough to watch at times. The offense stagnated, and the defense couldn't quite find its identity in a Sun Belt Conference that has become a gauntlet of athletic wings and bruising bigs. Ladner has been vocal about the challenges of the new recruiting landscape—basically, the NIL and transfer portal era—but he hasn’t stopped swinging. His contract runs through 2026-27, which means the clock is ticking to get back to that 20-win standard.
Who is Carrying the Load in 2025-26?
If you haven't been keeping tabs on the box scores this season, there’s one name you need to circle: Isaac Taveras. The junior guard from the Dominican Republic has been an absolute spark plug. He isn't just a volume shooter; he’s a playmaker who actually cares about rebounding.
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In the early goings of the 2025-26 season, Taveras has been putting up numbers that make him a legitimate All-Sun Belt candidate. We’re talking about a guy who dropped 28 on Buffalo and 25 on South Carolina in a heartbreaking overtime loss. He’s the engine.
But he isn't alone. Tylik Weeks, a 6’7” forward out of New York, has brought some much-needed "toughness" to the frontcourt. He’s averaging over 17 points a game as of mid-January. Then you have Djahi Binet, the Frenchman who does the dirty work. He’s the type of player every coach loves—7.2 rebounds per game doesn't happen by accident.
The 2025-26 Key Contributors
- Isaac Taveras (G): Leading the team in points, steals, and usage. He’s the primary option when the shot clock is winding down.
- Tylik Weeks (F): The physical presence. He gets to the free-throw line constantly, which is vital for a team that sometimes struggles from deep.
- Dylan Brumfield (G): The local product. A Hattiesburg native who handles the ball and facilitates. He’s the steady hand.
- Tegra Izay (C): At 7-feet tall, he’s the primary rim protector. He might not score 20, but his presence alters how opponents attack the paint.
Why Reed Green Coliseum is Getting a $35 Million Facelift
Let’s talk about the "Green House." It was built in 1965. It’s iconic, sure, but it’s also showing its age. If you’ve been to a game recently, you’ve noticed the bench seating and the cramped concourses.
The good news? The university is finally doing something about it.
A massive $35 million renovation project is underway. We aren't just talking about a coat of paint here. This is a total overhaul. There’s going to be a new practice facility, a "club lounge" for fans who want a premium experience, and—most importantly for the players—modernized locker rooms and training areas.
The goal is simple: Recruiting. When a high school kid or a high-major transfer walks into your building, you want them to feel like they are in a big-time program. These upgrades, expected to be fully realized soon, are designed to make Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles basketball competitive in the facilities arms race.
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Looking Back to Move Forward
You can't talk about Southern Miss hoops without mentioning Clarence Weatherspoon. "Spoon" is the gold standard. A three-time Metro Conference Player of the Year who went on to be a lottery pick and a long-time NBA pro. He’s the proof that you can reach the highest level of the sport from Hattiesburg.
The program also clings to that 1987 NIT title. People forget how big that was. They beat Ole Miss, Vanderbilt, and Nebraska on the way to winning it all at Madison Square Garden. That legacy matters. It’s why the fan base is so passionate (and sometimes frustrated). They know what the ceiling looks like.
The Path Ahead: Can They Win the Sun Belt?
Winning the Sun Belt is a tall order. You have programs like James Madison, Appalachian State, and Louisiana that are consistently reloading. To compete, Southern Miss has to find consistency on the defensive end.
Last season, the Golden Eagles allowed 76 points per game, which ranked near the bottom of the country. This year, the numbers are slightly better, but the defensive rotations still need work. They’ve shown they can score—the 92-83 win over North Florida proved that. But can they win a 62-60 grind-it-out game in the Sun Belt tournament? That’s the real question.
Real Talk: The Schedule
The 2025-26 schedule has been a gauntlet. They took Power 4 teams like South Carolina and LSU to the brink or faced them in hostile environments. While the record might not look pristine right now, these games are meant to battle-test the roster for the conference tournament in Pensacola.
Honestly, the Sun Belt is a "one-bid league" most years. That means everything—literally everything—comes down to those few days in March.
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What You Should Do Next
If you want to support the program or just stay informed, there are a few practical steps you can take. First, actually go to a game if you're in the Pine Belt. Ticket sales directly impact the budget for those $35 million renovations.
Second, keep an eye on the transfer portal. In today’s game, the roster you see in November might look 50% different by next summer. Following accounts like @SouthernMissMBB on X (formerly Twitter) is the fastest way to see who is coming and going.
Finally, pay attention to the mid-week Sun Belt matchups. These games are usually tucked away on ESPN+, but they are where the season is won or lost. If Taveras and Weeks can stay healthy and the "Green House" stays loud, don't be surprised if this team makes a deep run in the conference tournament.
Success in Hattiesburg isn't just about winning games; it’s about rebuilding a culture that expects to be at the top. It’s a slow process, but the pieces—and the money—are starting to fall into place.
To stay ahead of the curve, track the team's adjusted defensive efficiency on sites like KenPom. If that number starts climbing into the top 150 nationally, it’s a sign that Ladner’s squad is becoming a legitimate threat for a postseason bid. Monitor the progress of the Reed Green renovations through the "Reed Green Rising" initiative to see how the physical transformation of the program is matching the on-court product.