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| UT wants to stop this man. |
by Jake Adams
Yesterday, I announced that Rebel Nation and the publishers of Mississippi Sports Magazine are launching a new bi-monthly magazine dedicated to coverage of Ole Miss starting with a football preview issue this summer. Your response was amazing. Many of you are already subscribing or sent me a message telling me you intend to subscribe. I received emails from some far away places, too, and some were accompanied by interesting stories. Several of you told me you couldn't wait to read my site each morning, which absolutely made my day. Thanks to all of you I'm now more excited about this venture than ever! We are in the process of building a new website that should be up and running in the next couple weeks. You'll be able to subscribe to the magazine from the site, but if you want to subscribe now just email me (jake(at)omrebelnation.com) and I'll be delighted to give you the info. Now, onto Ole Miss...
Ole Miss (15-2, 4-0 SEC) tips off against Tennessee (9-7, 1-3 SEC) at 6 p.m. (ESPN2), and Marshall Henderson, who dropped 32 on the Vols in the January 9 SEC opener, hasn't sunk his first 3-pointer or performed his first celebratory antic yet but has already taken up residence inside Tennessee's head.
Henderson leads the SEC in scoring (18.9 ppg), 3-pointers per game (3.8) and free throw percentage (85.9), and he is the only thing the Vols can think about.
"You can punch him in the mouth by stopping him from scoring," Tennessee forward Jarnell Stokes told the Times Free Press.
"I'm gonna have to be in his shorts," Vols guard Josh Richardson told Wes Rucker.
"The team was really embarrassed by that and the situation that happened," UT freshman Derek Reese said. "We knew we didn't come out and do what we're supposed to do as a team. That's what we need to focus on next time."
"The guy was scoring the basketball – he was making plays. … I hate being on the other side, but he is a competitive basketball player. You have to step up to the plate." agreed Tennessee coach Cuonzo Martin.
It's as though Henderson has been challenged to a duel, but instead of meeting at high noon in the center of town, he'll be meeting the Vols at 6 p.m. on ESPN2.
Tennessee will have one thing and one thing only on its mind tonight when it steps inside Tad Smith Coliseum - STOP MARSHALL HENDERSON.
That singular focus should open up opportunities on the floor for the other four Ole Miss players. Basketball is a five on five sport, last I checked. Nick Williams, Jarvis Summers, Murphy Holloway and others should have more scoring opportunities as the orange jerseys do their best to cling to Henderson's every move. It's "the Marshall Henderson effect," and it will only grow stronger if the brash Texan can score under the spotlight against a team hell bent on making sure he doesn't.
At stake for the Rebels is their new Top 25 ranking, their place atop the SEC standings and the chance to improve to a nearly unprecedented 5-0. Ole Miss hasn't been 5-0 since the last time it was 4-0...1936-37.
REBEL NATION HEADLINES:
1. Marshall is like the crazy fan in the stands.
2. Henderson best thing to happen to Ole Miss basketball.
3. Ole Miss looking for some BIG gifts.