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| Ole Miss wants its first 3-0 SEC start since 2005-06. |
After opening its SEC schedule with a pair of emphatic wins against Tennessee and No. 10 Missouri Ole Miss finds itself in a good place right now. The Rebels are atop the SEC standings, "in" the latest projections of all the leading bracketologists (Lunardi, Palm, Glockner), and very nearly in the Top 25. With games this week against Vanderbilt and Arkansas the Rebels have the opportunity before them to take the next step, improve to 4-0 and start drawing some serious national recognition.
In a sport that places such a heavy emphasis on resume building, more attention would be a good thing.
It starts tonight in a Tuesday tilt at Vanderbilt (8 pm, ESPNU), the Boise State of basketball with its unique-shaped gym containing benches on either end of the floor. Andy Kennedy will feel helpless to correct when his team is on the other end of the court.
But maybe the Rebels won't need much correction from their coach tonight. At 13-2 (2-0 SEC) the Rebels are playing some mighty fine basketball, making their free throws and defending better than ever. Ole Miss even has the league's leading scorer in Marshall Henderson (18.6 ppg) and two of its best big men in Murphy Holloway and Reginald Buckner.
The Rebels certainly have the arsenal to discard a struggling Vanderbilt. What they need to avoid more than anything is a letdown.
Vanderbilt is in total rebuild mode this year, replacing all five starters, and it shows in the Dores' uncustomary 6-8 record (0-2 SEC). Vanderbilt took a down Kentucky to the wire in its SEC opener, but was horrid in a 56-33 loss to Arkansas on Saturday, and there's at least the possibility that Vandy will be without leading scorer Kedren Johnson tonight. Johnson has a sore shoulder. A team that only scored 33 points on Saturday can ill afford to lose its leading scorer.
Danny Sheridan has the Rebels as 9-point favorites.
On paper at least Ole Miss should win easily, but this is an SEC road game, and things always have a way of being more difficult in that scenario. The Rebels will need to continue their inspired play to move to 3-0 in the conference for the first time since 2005-06.
OLE MISS HEADLINES:
1. The Solo Cup Derby.
2. These Rebels are Different.
3. Ole Miss recruits fill top of latest 247 rankings.
4. Rebels vs. 'Dores.
5. Vanderbilt could be without leading scorer.
Just finished my home visit with Coach Gundy and Coach Dunn #GoPokes 🍊🏈🔫🙌
— Laquon Treadwell (@SuccessfulQuon) January 15, 2013