Ole Miss Men’s Basketball Looking to Upset No. 18 Vanderbilt in Music City Saturday
OXFORD, Miss. —Â Ole Miss men’s basketball is in Nashville tonight as head coach Chris Beard’s team looks to upset the Vanderbilt Commodores. The Rebels were originally set to host the contest, but the home-and-home series between the two has been switched after a strong winter storm hit the Oxford area last weekend. Vanderbilt currently sits at No. 18 nationally and No. 4 in the SEC. The teams tip off at 5:00 p.m. CT.
ON THE AIR
Television/Online: SEC Network
Play-by-Play: Richard Cross
Analyst: Pat Bradley
OLE MISS RADIO
Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network
Play-by-Play: Gary Darby
Analyst: Murphy Holloway
Ole Miss will enter the matchup with an 11-9 overall record and a 3-4 SEC record, which puts the Rebels at No. 11 in the conference. They will be looking to bounce back from a two-game losing streak and secure a major high-quality win over a tough SEC opponent, while also evening out their conference record. Ole Miss’ last win came over Mississippi State in Starkville almost two weeks ago. The Rebels have proven they can compete with the best, specifically with their win over a ranked Georgia team.
The Commodores got their season off to a great 16-0 start, but then lost three games. Vanderbilt has since bounced back with wins over Mississippi State and Kentucky. Vandy currently leads the all-time series with Ole Miss and last lost to the Rebels at home in 2019. KenPom ranks the Commodores at No. 12, with both their offensive and defensive efficiency rating in the top-15.
Scouting the Commodores
Entering with an SEC-best 18 wins on the season, Vanderbilt picked up notable non-con victories over UCF, VCU, Saint Mary’s, SMU, Memphis, and Wake Forest. They’ve gone 5-3 to begin conference action, recently hosting Kentucky and winning 80-55. Vandy currently sits in fourth in the SEC standings, ranks No. 15 in the Coaches Poll and No. 18 in the AP Poll, and holds the No. 13 spot in the latest NET Rankings and No. 12 spot in KenPom.
Four players average double figures in scoring for one of the higher-powered offenses in the country, led by guard Tyler Tanner at 17.5. The Commodores are led on the boards by returning forward Devin McGlockton at 7.0 per outing. Sharpshooter Tyler Nickel leads the SEC and ranks among the nation’s best from beyond the arc, making 71 total shots while shooting 45.8 percent from deep.
Vanderbilt’s Notable NCAA Team Statistical Rankings:
– Assist-to-turnover ratio: 1.85, 6th
– Three-point defensive percentage: 28.7, 10th
– Points per game: 89.6, 11th
– Scoring margin: +16.5, 12th
– Blocks per game: 5.3, 15th
– Turnover margin: +4.0, 19th
– Fewest turnovers per game: 9.6, 20th
– Free throw percentage: 77.3, 22nd
– Steals per game: 9.2, 25th
Keys to the game
- Slow down the Commodores’ offense: Vanderbilt plays a very fast-paced style of offense, leading to catch-and-shoot three-pointers, fast-break points and an average of 23 free throw attempts per game. The Rebels will need to work on slowing down Tanner and the offense and giving the Commodores a difficult shot selection. Vanderbilt typically shoots at almost a 50% field goal rate, but can struggle to shoot the three at times. The Rebels just need to ensure they don’t give up free points with fouls.
- Control the ball: Both teams average a similar number of offensive and defensive rebounds; the Rebels will need veterans, like Malik Dia, to step up and outrebound the Commodores. If Ole Miss can limit Vanderbilt’s possessions and opportunities to score, then the Rebels will be in a good spot. However, they’ll also need to ensure that they’re careful handling the ball, as the Commodores average almost 10 steals per game. Losing the turnover battle would be detrimental for either team.
- Start strong, but be patient:Â The Rebels will need to get off to a good start offensively, as taking control of the game and its pace early is a necessity for success. But Ole Miss will still need to be patient and take smart shots. Vanderbilt typically runs a variation of a man-to-man defense, so the Rebels will need to take advantage and focus on ball movement. They’ll need to take the shots that they can create, but finding space on the perimeter and hitting the three would be a major plus.
Why this game matters
A win in Music City would be a major momentum shift for the Rebels before they get even deeper into SEC play and closer to the tournament. The ability to bounce back after two losses would play a pivotal role in what energy the Rebels carry over the next few games. After Vanderbilt, the Rebels will travel to face Tennessee and Texas before returning home for No. 23 Alabama.
Winning all three would be amazing for Ole Miss, but if it could escape its three-game road trip with at least two wins, then the team would return to Oxford with much-needed momentum that could help set the tone for the rest of league play. Rebels, but a win would certainly set the tone.
Game info
- Matchup: Ole Miss at Vanderbilt
- Time: 5 p.m. CT
- Location: Memorial Gymnasium, Nashville, TN.
- TV: SEC Network
Noah Scoggins
Noah is from Killeen, Texas, and graduated from Early College High School. He grew up in the Birmingham, Alabama, area and is now a second-year senior at the University of Alabama and will graduate in the spring. He is currently majoring in news media with a focus in sports media, as well as a minor in criminal justice. Noah has always loved and been passionate about college athletics and wants to share his love for sports.
