Coach Chris Beard and the Rebels see Saturday’s matchup with Missouri as another opportunity to reset as SEC play continues.
“When you’re in this league, every night is a test,” Beard said this week. “You have to be ready to compete for 40 minutes.”
The Rebels have showed flashes of progress in recent outings, particularly on the defensive end, where effort and communication have improved in spurts. Ole Miss has been at its best when it has defended the rim without overcommitting and turned stops into transition opportunities, something Beard emphasized again heading into the Missouri game.
“I thought we did some good things defensively in stretches,” Beard said. “The challenge is sustaining that against a physical, well-coached team.”
Malik Dia continues to anchor Ole Miss on both ends of the floor and remains the most reliable presence in the Rebels’ frontcourt. His ability to score through contact and clean up on the glass has been vital, especially as Beard continues to evaluate his rotation. As has been the case most of the season, minutes remain fluid, with multiple players competing for expanded roles.
“That part hasn’t changed,” Beard said of the rotation. “Production earns opportunity.”
KNOW THE FOE
Missouri enters Saturday’s matchup looking to ride a hot streak after beating Kentucky in Rupp Arena on Wednesday night to continue their undefeated start conference play. The Tigers have leaned on their athleticism and pace to stay competitive, using pressure and tempo as hallmarks under head coach Dennis Gates. Missouri has shown the ability to score in bunches when it can speed opponents up and turn defense into offense.
The Tigers are led offensively by their guard play, with senior guard Mark Mitchell pacing the team in scoring with 17.2 points per game. Missouri also gets consistent production from its wings and forwards, spreading the floor and attacking off the bounce to keep defenses from loading up on one option. When the Tigers are at their best, they are getting downhill early and generating clean looks before defenses can get set.
Missouri plays fast on both ends of the floor, pushing the ball in transition and applying heavy ball pressure defensively. The Tigers are aggressive jumping passing lanes and trapping ball handlers, particularly along the sidelines, in an effort to force turnovers and dictate tempo. That pressure-oriented approach will challenge Ole Miss to value possessions, make sharp reads and remain composed against Missouri’s speed.
What To Watch
CAN OLE MISS HANDLE THE PRESSURE?
Missouri’s ability to speed teams up will test Ole Miss’ ball security. The Rebels have struggled with turnovers in spurts this season, and handling pressure will be key to keeping the game at a manageable pace.
WILL THE REBELS CONTROL THE GLASS?
Rebounding has been inconsistent for Ole Miss, but when the Rebels have won the battle on the boards, their chances of success have increased significantly. Limiting second-chance points against a physical Missouri team will be critical.
WHO STEPS UP ALONGSIDE DIA?
While Dia provides a steady presence, Ole Miss will need complementary scoring to keep Missouri from loading up defensively. Against Arkansas the Rebels had five players in double-digits, if they look to win on Saturday they must continue having significant scoring inputs across the lineup.
NOTEBOOK
– Ole Miss is looking for its first SEC win this season.
– Malik Dia leads the Rebels in rebounding and has scored in double figures in the majority of games this season.
– Missouri won last season’s meeting between the two programs. – Ole Miss leads the all time series against Missouri 17-9
