by Jake Adams
Led by scrappy play and timely 2nd-half shooting, Ole Miss overpowered the Arkansas Razorbacks for a 76-64 win to improve to 15-2 and a historical 4-0 in the SEC. Not since 1936-37 have the Rebels started their SEC schedule 4-0. If you're in your 30's or 40's your grandparents were small children the last time it happened.
It's a big deal.
Thanks to the win Ole Miss will very likely enter both Top 25 polls on Monday. In mid-January at least, Ole Miss looks like a team destined for the NCAA Tournament, but there's so much more basketball to play before a declaration like that can be made.
That won't stop us from doing it though. We can resolutely say that this is the most exciting team Andy Kennedy has had in his seven years on the job, and by golly we're going to enjoy talking about it. The Rebels are streaking and have a chance to do some serious damage in their conference schedule.
Next up for Ole Miss is Tennessee (Thursday, 6 p.m., ESPN2) and at Auburn (Saturday, 7 p.m. FSN). The Rebels should be heavy favorites in both games. If Ole Miss can take care of business it'll be 6-0 going into a showcase ESPN game against Kentucky on January 29.
The nation will be watching.
Judging by everything I've read and heard since Marshall Henderson's incredible game-saving shot against Vanderbilt on Tuesday, Ole Miss has everybody's attention now.
Good for Andy Kennedy.
