Ole Miss comes into Tuesday night’s matchup against the Auburn Tigers on a hot run, and the Rebels are looking to extend their momentum in a crucial SEC test at the Sandy and John Black Pavilion.
Ole Miss has shown significant growth over its last several games. The offense has begun to look like a functioning unit, finding balance between getting downhill and operating in the half court, and overall just finding ways to score. Defensively, the Rebels have taken some large strides as the season has worn on, forcing turnovers, contesting shots better and protecting the glass in ways they weren’t earlier in the year. Beard’s squad has done a strong job protecting the ball and dictating tempo at key stretches during their three-game winning streak in conference play.
Know The Foe
Auburn enters Tuesday night’s matchup coming off a solid home win over South Carolina on Saturday to improve to 11-7 overall and 2-3 in SEC play. The Tigers have shown flashes of physicality and depth under first year head coach Steven Pearl, relying on veteran presence, size inside and the ability to grind out games with tough defense and second-chance opportunities.
Auburn is at its best when controlling the boards, limiting transition and turning stops into points. They consistently utilize their bench to keep the energy high and make things physical, particularly in the paint. The Tigers have talented scorers who can stretch the floor and attack off the dribble, but they thrive when dictating a slower, more methodical pace that wears opponents down.
Defensively, Auburn applies consistent pressure and contests shots well, forcing teams into tough looks and capitalizing on the glass. That frontcourt presence will test Ole Miss’s interior play, and the Rebels will need to match the Tigers’ physicality to avoid getting pushed around or giving up easy putbacks.
What To Watch
Can The Momentum Carry At Home?
The Rebels have shown they can win tough games away from Oxford, with wins over Georgia and Mississippi State on the road. Now, can they bring that same energy and execution to The Pavilion? Protecting home court will be huge as the team looks toward potential postseason positioning in a rugged SEC.
The Battle On The Glass
Ole Miss will be facing one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the league Tuesday. Can the Rebels box out the Auburn big men well enough to prevent a flurry of potentially devastating second chance points?
From The Paint or Behind The Arc? The Rebels Need Both
Against Mississippi State, Ole Miss shot one of its worst clips from deep in recent memory, going just 2 of 20 from three-point range. In order to walk out of the SJB Pavilion with a win on Tuesday night the Rebels will have to score every way they can.
Notes
– Ole Miss is looking for its first four game SEC win streak since the 2020-21 season.
– Auburn has won the last nine games in the series against Ole Miss, dating back to 2021.
– Ole Miss trails in the all time series against Auburn 28-30
