Ole Miss Men’s Basketball Searching for Win in the Jungle Over Auburn on Saturday

OXFORD, Miss. — The Rebels are headed to Auburn on Saturday, searching for a win after losing their last game to LSU in double overtime. Now on a 10-game losing streak, Ole Miss will hope to upset the Tigers when the game tips off at 7:30 p.m. CT.

ON THE AIR

Television: SEC Network
Play-by-Play: Dave Neal
Analyst: Jon Sundvold

OLE MISS RADIO

Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network
Play-by-Play: Gary Darby
Analyst: Murphy Holloway

Where they stand

Ole Miss will enter Neville Arena on Saturday with an overall record of 11-17 and a conference record of 3-12, which places the Rebels in dead last in the SEC. After a heartbreaking 106-99 double overtime loss to LSU on Wednesday, Ole Miss has now dropped its last 10 games and has not seen a win in almost a month and a half, when it beat Mississippi State on Jan. 17. The Rebels’ 10-game skid originally began with a 78-66 loss to the Tigers in Oxford, but head coach Chris Beards’ squad will now hope for a different result.

The Tigers are coming off a 91-79 loss to Oklahoma in Norman and looking to get back on track in their return home. Auburn beat Kentucky by one point in the game prior, but that’s been its only win in the past seven games. Auburn holds a 15-13 overall record, with a 6-9 record in the SEC. Now sitting at No. 11 in the SEC, it’s been a bit of a disappointing season for the Tigers, who entered the season ranked No. 20 with new head coach Steven Pearl, but quickly dropped out after accumulating some early losses.

Scouting the Tigers

Pearl took over the program this season after his father, Bruce Pearl, retired. Bruce Pearl finished his career at Auburn with a 244-123 record, even leading the Tigers to a Final Four appearance and an AP ranking of No. 1 last season. Steven Pearl holds similar coaching philosophies and has not quite changed the way he plays on the court. However, Auburn has been unable to execute as well as it has in previous years, dropping games to top-ranked teams in Houston, Michigan, Arizona and Purdue. The Tigers have also dropped some surprising SEC games, but acquired some nice, ranked wins over Florida, Arkansas and St. John’s along the way. Auburn is ranked No. 37 in the nation overall, according to KenPom, with the No. 10-ranked offensive efficiency.

The Tigers currently have four players averaging double-digit points per game, with forward Keyshawn Hall being the most important, playing 33 minutes per game and scoring an average of 20.8. KeShawn Murphy is Auburn’s leader on the boards, acquiring 7.1 per game, but Hall is close behind, averaging seven per game. Hall also shoots fairly efficiently from behind the arc, making about 40.8% of his attempts. But guard Kevin Overton has made the most three-pointers on the season, with 56.

Auburn’s Notable NCAA Team Statistical Rankings:

– Free throw attempts per game, 27.7, 2nd
– Free throws made per game, 20.7, 3rd
– Offensive rebounds per game, 13.8, 12th
– Points per game, 83.5, 36th
– Turnovers per game, 10.1, 46th
– Blocks per game, 4.3, 60th

Keys to the game

1. Slow the game down: The Tigers play a very up-tempo style of basketball, one that could become quite detrimental to the Rebels if Ole Miss lets Auburn get momentum going early on. With the Tigers playing at home, too, Ole Miss will need to play aggressively on defense and use its shot clock wisely to slow the game down and not let Auburn take control.

2. Get to the free-throw line: Auburn plays a very tight defense, although it may throw in some switches occasionally. But the full-press style of play is what the Rebels will need to exploit. The Rebels will need their playmakers to play with intensity and get going early, showing the toughness to drive through the paint to the basket and create fouls for free throws.

3. Defensive intensity: The Rebels will need to play aggressive defense as well. Defensive intensity isn’t just about helping slow the game down; it’s about playing with the physicality to force turnovers and tough shots. Auburn’s offense can get going quickly, but if anything, the Rebels must find a way to slow Hall down and ensure he doesn’t hit his average of scoring 20 a game.

Why this game matters

Although the Rebels may not be fighting for much in the big picture, this game and the rest on the schedule still matter. These games, potential wins, matter to head coach Chris Beard, to the locker room, to recruiting and even for momentum before the SEC Tournament. All it takes is finding one spark to get things going, for things to click into place and for Ole Miss to win.

If Ole Miss were able to secure a major win over an SEC rival in Auburn, it could easily attain some momentum to bring back home to Oxford, where it will face No. 25 Vanderbilt before the season-finale against South Carolina. Closing the season out with three nice wins would be an outstanding way to leave the season off and head to Nashville with.

Game info

• Matchup: Ole Miss at Auburn
• Time: 7:30 p.m. CT
• Location: Neville Arena, Auburn, AL.
• TV: SEC Network