Keys to the Game: Ole Miss men’s basketball hosts Florida tonight as Rebels and Gators look for first SEC win
OXFORD, Miss. — Ole Miss men’s basketball returns to the Pavilion tonight to take on the 10-4 Florida Gators, who are also coming off of an SEC loss, theirs to Kentucky.
Before we count down to tip-off, let’s check out what the Rebels need to do to bounce back tonight from their loss to Tennessee and pick up their first conference win.
Create Turnovers
Head coach Chris Beard has done a nice job coaching this Rebels’ team to play with speed and physicality on the defensive side of the ball, creating steals, blocks, and turnovers in general. We even saw it against Tennessee, as Ole Miss creating six turnovers in the first half was one of the most important reasons the Rebs were only down nine at halftime.
In Florida’s last five games, the Gators have averaged just over 13 turnovers per game, putting them in the 21st percentile for turnovers per game. If Ole Miss can block shots in the paint, use its speed on the perimeter, and be physical on its own home court, I think the Rebels are capable of creating even more than 13 turnovers. This will play a crucial role if Ole Miss walks away victorious tonight.
Push to the Perimeter
To put it simply, the Gators have become a legitimate threat when they take shots inside the paint and they’re sporting a 50-percent field goal percentage. Putting that in perspective, Ole Miss has a 32.7 field goal percentage from inside the paint. It’s evident that if the Rebels want to win their first SEC game, they need to force the ball to the outside and make the Gators shoot.
On the offensive side of the ball, Ole Miss is going to have to shoot and shoot it well. Against Tennessee, the Rebs went 6-16 from beyond the arch and missed on a lot of opportunities to make the game closer, especially in the first half. A guy I’d like to see get more involved in Chris Beard’s offensive track today is TJ Caldwell, who is the second-best three-point shooter on this team. If the Rebs can shoot how they have been and prevent Florida from creating space in the paint, their chances will become a lot greater to win this game!
Box-out and Rebound
We’ve said it time and time again, but until there is a change, the emphasis on rebounding will continue to be harped on. Unfortunately for Ole Miss, Florida ranks in the 99th and 97th percentiles for offensive and defensive rebounding, which could present a serious issue in tonight’s matchup.
Against the Vols, Ole Miss allowed Tennessee to grab 19 offensive rebounds and 28 defensive, burying the Rebels on the glass. For Florida,Tyrese Samuel, Micah Handlogten, and Alex Condon have gotten the job done, averaging at least six rebounds per game for the Gators. All three of these players are 6-foot-10 or taller, giving Jamarion Sharp and Moussa Cisse debatably their toughest opponents yet.
For the Rebels to bounce back tonight, it starts and ends on the glass and that will likely determine the outcome of this game.
Make sure you tune in tonight at 8 p.m. on SEC Network to watch Ole Miss in its second conference game. Hotty Toddy!
