Daeshun Ruffin will not play against Stanford for the first game of the ESPN Events Invitational (12:30 p.m. CT, ESPNU). Ruffin has not been available so far this season due to a knee injury.

Ruffin is a major piece of the Rebels’ offense and is one of their best returning shooters. Matthew Murrell, junior guard, has stepped up in Ruffin’s absence in the first games this season, averaging 17.8 per contest and has helped lead the Rebels to a 4-0 start.

Ruffin’s freshman season started off strong with him scoring 12.6 points per game and averaging 3.4 assists before injuries would limit his playing time. He would only play in 14 games in the 2021-22 season and at the start of February, he would suffer a knee injury that has continued to hamper him.

The Rebels have had Murrell and Tye Fagan, a former Georgia transfer, fill in as the team’s starting guards. Things are looking better than last year for the Rebels which finished second to last in SEC play.

If Ole Miss wins today, it will face off against the winner of Florida State and Siena tomorrow.