Even in the most difficult moments for Chris Beard and the Ole Miss Rebels, overlooking their potential is not an option. This season has presented its fair share of trials and tribulations, yet the roster boasts enough talent to make significant strides. Their recent victory over Auburn serves as a testament to this assertion, showcasing their resilience and skill on the court.
As they return home to face No. 25 Vanderbilt, the Rebels are eager to continue what they’ve started. Following AJ Storr’s impressive 26-point performance in Ole Miss’ 85-79 triumph against Auburn, the atmosphere in Oxford is charged with optimism. The Rebels have achieved a mixed record of 7-7 at home this season but remain competitive with a 2-3 mark in games decided by fewer than four points.
Scouting the Dores
Vanderbilt enters this matchup with a solid record of 22-7 overall and 9-7 within SEC play. However, their recent form has raised concerns, as they have lost three of their last four games, including defeats against Missouri and Tennessee before narrowly edging out Georgia at home. Their latest setback came at the hands of Kentucky, which further complicates their trajectory as they head into crucial tournament play.
Despite these challenges, this week’s ESPN analytics still favor Vanderbilt with a projected 70% chance of victory against Ole Miss’ 29%. The Commodores rank fourth in the SEC for defensive metrics, allowing an average of 74.5 points while limiting opponents to just 42.3% shooting from the field.
The Commodores feature four players averaging double figures in scoring, led by guard Tyler Tanner at an impressive 18.5 points per game. Devin McGlockton dominates on the boards with an average of 6.8 rebounds per game, while sharpshooter Tyler Nickel stands out from beyond the arc—currently ranking second in the SEC with a remarkable shooting percentage of 40.9%.
Ole Miss’ Bench Power
One key aspect that sets Ole Miss apart is their depth off the bench—averaging an impressive 30. 6 points per game ranks them among the top teams nationally (24th) and third within the SEC. Senior guard AJ Storr has been pivotal during this stretch; coming off the bench for his last fifteen games, he’s recorded seven outings with over twenty points—including two standout performances where he scored a season-high of 27 points.
Storr’s ability to score consistently makes him a valuable asset, as he averages around 18 points per game throughout conference play—a figure that ranks him among non-starters across all SEC teams.
Hardwood History
The rivalry between Ole Miss and Vanderbilt dates back to January 8, 1925—the first meeting saw Vandy narrowly defeating Ole Miss by one point (19-18). Since then, these two schools have faced each other on numerous occasions; Vanderbilt currently leads the all-time series at an imposing count of 81-49 but struggles when visiting Oxford, where Ole Miss holds a slight edge (34-24).
In their most recent clash earlier this season on January 31st, Vanderbilt secured a close win (71-68), powered by Tyler’s strong performance, scoring twenty-four points.
Despite facing challenges throughout this season—particularly late-game execution—the Rebels should not be underestimated when playing at home, where they thrive under pressure.
As we look forward to tonight’s showdown against No. 25 Vanderbilt, it will be fascinating to see if Ole Miss can harness its momentum from last week’s victory over Auburn and leverage its talented roster effectively against another tough opponent and close at home.
Will Chris Beard’s squad rise up once again? Tip-off is set for 8PM CT from SJB Pavilion here in Oxford; it will air on SEC+.