Chris Beard and the Ole Miss Rebels (9-7, 1-2 SEC) are set to hit the road tonight, aiming to upset the No. 21 Georgia Bulldogs (14-2, 2-1 SEC) in Athens.
Coming off a solid home victory against Mizzou, where they triumphed 76-69 on Saturday, the Rebels face their fourth true road game of the season. However, their previous outings away from home have not been promising, as they currently hold an unfortunate record of 0-3 in such matchups.
Georgia also enters this contest buoyed by a recent win over South Carolina, edging them out 75-70 on the road. This victory was crucial for the Bulldogs after suffering a setback against Florida last week. The last time these two teams met, Ole Miss secured a convincing home win with a score of 63-51. Now, with momentum building for both sides, the pressing question is whether Ole Miss can replicate their recent success on the road against this ranked opponent.
The Bulldogs are known for their high-volume shooting from beyond the arc and will be eager to improve upon their recent performance of just 10-for-48 from three-point range over their last two games. Nevertheless, Georgia possesses formidable weapons across various aspects of offense led by Cal transfer guard Jeremiah Wilkinson. Wilkerson has been averaging 17 points per game, shooting at 35% behind the arc. The weapons don’t stop there for Georgia, with junior guard Blue Gain holding down the backcourt, averaging roughly 15 points per game.
Match that with strong rebounding on both ends of the court, effective ball control leading to fewer turnovers, and aggressive free throw attempts, all of which contribute to their up-tempo style that makes them difficult to contain.
While the Rebels face significant challenges ahead, flashes of potential suggest they could pull off an upset. A key factor for Ole Miss will be how effectively they control the game from the outset. They have struggled to generate close-range looks and dunks in comparison to Georgia’s offensive prowess.
As we await tip-off at Stegeman Coliseum at 7 p.m. ET, it remains to be seen if Beard’s strategic adjustments and newfound momentum will translate into improved performance on enemy territory. Rebels not making the road trip can catch the action on the SEC Network.