Chris Beard and his team are beginning to take shape after a period of reworking and retooling. The Rebels aim to maintain their momentum tonight in a crucial SEC matchup as they host the Auburn Tigers (11-7, 2-3 SEC) at home in Oxford. Both Ole Miss and Auburn enter this game with identical overall records; however, the Rebels are currently on a three-game winning streak in SEC play, having secured victories against Missouri, Georgia, and Mississippi State.
Coach Pearl on the Rebels:
“(Ole Miss) does a great job of swarming to the basketball and creating turnovers,” Pearl said of the Rebels. “They do a good job of being active on all penetration, on all rebounds. I think they’re playing harder defensively. They have three options offensively that they can really feed and go to. They’re getting more confident with one another.”
Auburn’s Last Matchup
The Tigers narrowly defeated South Carolina in their most recent game, winning 71-67. Auburn relied on a more comprehensive team effort rather than solely depending on Keyshawn Hall and Tahadd Pettiford for the victory. Filip Jovic and Sebastian Williams-Adams stepped up to secure the hard-fought win against the Gamecocks. Jovic was particularly impactful, shooting 9 of 12 from the field and scoring 23 points, along with contributing six rebounds and two steals. Williams-Adams supported him with eight rebounds and three assists while adding 11 points to the scoreboard.
As Auburn prepares to face Ole Miss tonight, expect head coach Steven Pearl to expand the playbook in an effort to keep his team competitive, especially as they pursue their first SEC road win of the season. The Tigers have struggled at times with consistency and execution, which has left them vulnerable; the Rebels will likely seek to capitalize on these weaknesses.
The Tigers lead the all-time series against Ole Miss with a record of 86-64 and enter tonight’s matchup as slight favorites, with a spread of -2.5 per BetMGM.
The Rebel Road Map
After a month that has been characterized by significant offensive struggles and notable defensive inconsistencies, Ole Miss head coach Chris Beard made the strategic play to move AJ Storr to the bench. This shift in strategy has proven to be quite effective, as it has allowed Storr to begin resembling the standout player he showcased during his time at Wisconsin. As a result of this change, he is now averaging an impressive 23.3 points per game throughout this current three-game winning streak for Ole Miss. This transformation not only highlights Storr’s individual talent but also reflects the positive adjustments being made within the team under Beard’s leadership.
Offensively, I expect that Beard and the Rebels will continue to rely heavily on individual contributions from their standout trio, often referred to as their “Big Three”: Illias Karmardine, Malik Dia, and AJ Storr. Despite experiencing some fluctuations in performance throughout the course of this season, each of these players seems to be finding a greater sense of comfort and confidence on the court as the games progress. This newfound ease not only enhances their individual performances but also makes them increasingly formidable opponents for any team they face.
The Rebels have consistently shown strong activity across various facets of the game—whether it involves penetrating defenses to score, securing rebounds to gain possession, or applying relentless pressure through tenacious defense—while effectively leveraging their top scorers when the situation calls for it. Although Ole Miss currently ranks among the slowest-paced teams in college basketball, they have managed to excel in maintaining ball security. Their impressive turnover rate places them within the top 50 teams nationally, reflecting a disciplined approach to handling the ball. Additionally, they rank an impressive 20th in block percentage, showcasing their ability to provide solid rim protection against opposing offenses.
As tip-off approaches, Ole Miss is expected to be at full strength, while Auburn will be without two players: Abdul Bashir and Emeka Opurum. The Auburn-Ole Miss game will be broadcast live on ESPNU with Dave Neal and Dane Bradshaw providing courtside commentary. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 PM CT from The Pavilion.