Ole Miss Basketball

Ole Miss basketball lost two key bench contributors during its loss to Kentucky.

Now, a very young, inexperienced Ole Miss bench will have to become productive in a hurry for Andy Kennedy's Rebels. The ailing Rebels will now rely upon four freshmen reserves.

Forward Aaron Jones, averaging 16.9 minutes, 4.1 rebounds and 3.5 points per game sustained a torn ACL. Guard Nick Williams, averaging an impressive 24.5 minutes, 2.6 rebounds and 9.4 points per game tweaked a foot that had already caused him trouble earlier in the year. Jones is out for the season, while Williams is out indefinitely.

Ole Miss will continue to lean on guard Marshall Henderson (19.3 ppg) and forward Murphy Holloway (14.6 ppg) for the remainder of the season. Kennedy must quickly look to his SEC rookies to become fundamental parts of his game plan the rest of the way.

Freshman Reserves That Must Step Up

Guard Derrick Millinghaus

Already having seen a fair amount of playing time this year, the 5'10'', 170-pound Millinghaus is averaging 14.9 minutes, 5.5 points and 1.8 assists per game heading into a showdown with Florida.

Until guard Nick Williams is able to return from a foot injury, the diminutive Millinghaus will become a player Ole Miss needs to be productive and consistent down the stretch.

Guard Martavious Newby

The 6'3'', 210-pound Newby has been less of a consistent contributor than Millinghaus at the guard position, averaging only 7.6 minutes and 2.3 points per game up to this point.

However, taller (by five inches) and heavier (by 40 pounds) than Millinghaus, Newby has the potential to give the Rebels more physical minutes at the guard position. If the speedy Millinghaus and physical Newby can become consistent and dependable off the bench, starting guards Marshall Henderson, Jarvis Summers and Ladarius White should have ample time for rest.

Millinghaus and Newby will have to combine to produce an additional 24.5 minutes, 2.6 rebounds and 9.4 points per game just to make up for the production lost with Nick Williams out. A little more production definitely wouldn't hurt.

Forward Terry Brutus

Andy Kennedy hopes Terry Brutus will become a substantial part of his rotation. The 6'6'', 240-forward is averaging just 4.3 minutes per game, but has the potential to become a major player off the bench for Kennedy.

He has the height and weight to be a force in the middle, providing quality rest for Rebel starting big men Murphy Holloway and Reginald Buckner. The Rebels also hope Brutus' size can help wear down opposing teams' big men inside.

Forward Anthony Perez

The 6'9'', 205-pound Venezuelan forward has a near mirror image frame to that of the injured Aaron Jones.

Unfortunately for Ole Miss, similar to Brutus, Perez has seen only limited action compared to  reserve guards Millinghaus and Newby. It's crucial Ole Miss keeps Holloway and Buckner out of foul trouble moving forward. For that to happen, Perez will have to provide much more than the 6.8 minutes per game he's seen so far this season.

Brutus and Perez will have to join forces to account for at least another 16.9 minutes, 4.1 rebounds and 3.5 points per game to compensate for Aaron Jones' lost production. Bringing in points and rebounds would be helpful, but more than anything Brutus and Perez need to provide physical play in the paint when Holloway and Buckner are resting.

Much will be expected of  these freshmen reserves as Ole Miss closes out their final 11 conference games.

After returning from a daunting trip to No. 4 Florida, Kennedy will have 10 SEC games remaining before play begins in the SEC Tournament. Only facing one opponent currently ranked in the top 25 in their final 10 games, the four freshmen reserves should have time to gain some much-needed confidence before beginning postseason play.

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The No. 16 Ole Miss Rebels travel to Gainesville, FL for a date with No. 4 Florida on Saturday night. Unfortunately for the Rebels and head coach Andy Kennedy, the Florida game simply couldn't come at a worse time.

As the Rebels headed into a January 29 showdown against the defending national champion Kentucky Wildcats, Ole Miss basketball was looking brighter than ever. Coach Andy Kennedy's No. 16 Ole Miss Rebels were 17-2 (6-0 SEC)—their best start in program history—and on the fast track to a chance at postseason success.

The dream season of 2013 all came to a screeching halt on January 29, at least in the interim.

In a nationally televised game on ESPN, Rebel fans' excitement was quickly tempered. Despite putting on a 17-0 run in the second half to pull within striking distance of a lead Kentucky held most of the game, the Rebels eventually lost 87-74. Bigger than the lost game though, two key Ole Miss reserves (forward Aaron Jones and guard Nick Williams) were lost to injuries.

Unfortunately for sophomore forward Aaron Jones, the following day tests revealed he had sustained a torn ACL. Prior to his season-ending injury, Jones had been averaging 16.9 minutes per game, 4.1 rebounds per game and 3.5 points per game. The loss of Jones will hurt Ole Miss significantly.

Senior G Nick Williams tweaked a foot that had already caused him trouble earlier in the year. He is now listed as being out indefinitely. It's an injury sure to deal a blow to Ole Miss, as the reserve guard had been coming off the bench to contribute an impressive 24.5 minutes per game and 9.4 points per game.

For an offense that relies heavily upon their Southeastern Conference (SEC) scoring leader G Marshall Henderson (19.3 ppg), significant scoring production from the bench has also been very important. Now minus Jones and Williams, other reserves for the Rebels will have to step up and do so in a hurry. As quickly as Saturday night in Gainesville, the Rebels must begin to see solid bench play facing a Gator club that has simply been dominant.

Additionally, the loss of Jones will mean starting big men F Murphy Holloway and F Reginald Buckner will have to see more minutes. Anyone that follows basketball knows big men in the paint are prone to foul trouble. Consistent foul trouble from either Holloway or Buckner could spell major trouble for a club forced to bring two young players into the mix. Two freshmen big men, F Anthony Perez and F Terry Brutus, will now have to adjust quickly to SEC play as their new roles will begin Saturday against Florida and continue the rest of the season.

Speaking of Florida, through their first seven conference games they have won by 33, 28, 19, 31, 17, 35 and 39 points. At home they play even better against SEC opponents, boasting an average margin of victory of nearly 34 points per game.

Fortunately for Ole Miss, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. The boys in red and blue just won't see that light until they are out of Florida and back in Oxford.

The Rebels (RPI: 38, SOS: 118) will have 10 SEC games remaining after playing Florida. Each of their 10 remaining games will come against teams currently not ranked, with the exception of a No. 17 Missouri team that Ole Miss already defeated this year 64-49.

Assuming Ole Miss doesn't pull off the upset at Florida, they will then have a record of 17-4 (6-2 SEC).

If the Rebels can win seven of their final 10 conference games, they would be 24-7 (13-5 SEC) prior to even entering the SEC Basketball Tournament. Historically, the Rebels don't play very well in the conference tournament. Even with a worst-case first-round loss there, finishing the regular season 24-7 (13-5 SEC) should lock Ole Miss with a date to the big dance.

If Ole Miss can find consistent bench production down the stretch, the Rebels are a group still very capable of making postseason runs in March.

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If it isn't the most important question in college basketball, it's at least the most interesting one to answer.

What makes Ole Miss shooting guard Marshall Henderson—media-appointed mouthpiece of the Southeastern Conference, bane of every opposing fanbase he's ever encountered and one-time target of the Secret Service—the single most polarizing player in the country?

Glad you asked.

The Basics

Name: Marshall "White Chocolate" Henderson

Dimensions: 6'2", 175 lbs.

Season Stats: 19.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.6 apg, 30.3 mpg, 58.2 percent true shooting percentage

Season Stat That Will Blow Your Mind: 10.9 three-point attempts per game (34.9 percent success rate)

Typical Expression After Made Shot:

Typical Expression After Made Shot With Game on the Line:

Birth of the Legend

After scoring 2,829 points during a prolific and controversy-tinged career at L.D. Bell High School in Hurst, Texas, Henderson committed to the University of Utah.

During his freshman season with the Utes (2009-10), Henderson averaged 11.8 points and attempted a modest (sarcasm font) 6.5 three-pointers per game.

He also reportedly punched a BYU player in the face...

Stigmatized by the incident and somewhat at odds with coach Jim Boylen, Henderson transferred to Texas Tech at season's end. Before he could suit up for the Red Raiders, Henderson was contacted by the Secret Service in connection with a crime he'd committed in high school.

From The Clarion-Ledger (h/t The Big Lead):

According to a statement he gave to the Secret Service, in 2009 as a high school senior, Henderson used $800 of counterfeit money given to him by a friend to buy 59 grams of marijuana in two separate transactions.

Henderson got probation, but later violated the terms of his arrangement and served a 25-day stint in prison.

Henderson then transferred to South Plains College, where he averaged 19.6 points per game and led the Texans to the 2012 JUCO national championship. He also attempted 312 three-pointers.

Henderson transferred to Ole Miss at the beginning of this season. He has now attempted 218 three-pointers as a member of the Rebels.

Marshall Henderson loves to shoot.

Why Are We Talking About Him?

Ostensibly because he's a remorseless gunner with an abiding love of trash talk and the rictus-grin precocity of a mischievous child.

Ostensibly because he's already the most exciting, irritating, addictively watchable player in the SEC just seven games into his conference career.

Ostensibly because he lives in that precious cultural corridor between what we love to hate and hate to love.

More specifically, because he did this after sinking two game-winning free throws against Auburn on Saturday (courtesy of Deadspin):

 Marshall Henderson loves to talk.

But What Is He Like Off the Court?

(Courtesy of Outkick The Coverage, h/t Deadspin)

(Courtesy of Busted Coverage)

How Might He React to an Unexpected Encounter with a Cheerleader?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsmOhyPmeJU

Marshall Henderson Quotes

From the Lexington Herald-Ledger, "Every team has a little white guy who can shoot threes. I'm trying to make a difference."

On the first crowd that he pissed off (via The Oxford Eagle), “I’m pretty sure it started in seventh grade, whenever I started playing junior high basketball." 

On one of his most memorable shots (via The Oxford Eagle):

I had one in junior college last year. It was probably close to the same time as now. I hit a buzzer beater and that one was actually for the win. We got into a little mini brawl afterwards. It was fun. We threw a lot of chairs in the hallway when we got in the hall. That was great.

On being contacted by the Secret Service (via The Clarion-Ledger):

They came to Utah and were like, ‘Blah and blah and we got this and surveillance camera,’ and I threw up. That was my first thing, because I thought I was done for. It was scary as hell.

Marshall Henderson Tweets

So I had this dream last night .... coach kennedy and I went to tunica together!! Hahaha ill jst leave it at that

— marshall henderson (@NativeFlash22) January 23, 2013

 

AYEEEE !!!!! HOPE EVERYONE IS HAVING AN AMAAZING #WHITEGIRLWEDNESDAY WOOOOP!

— marshall henderson (@NativeFlash22) January 23, 2013

SEE IM SLIM SHADY YES IM THE REAL SHADY ... ALL YOU OTHER SLIM SHADYS ARE JST IMITATING, SO WONT THE REAL SLIM SHADY PLEASE STAND UP!!

— marshall henderson (@NativeFlash22) January 25, 2013

eminem - the way i am ... that song bangin #slimshady

— marshall henderson (@NativeFlash22) January 29, 2013

Observer's note:  Marshall Henderson likes Eminem

Marshall Henderson Retweets:

@nativeflash22 is the example of what not to be on the court, no where near humble, shows lack of respect, thinks he's the greatest #growup

— Aaron Spillman (@spillmanAaron) January 29, 2013

 

hate losing to Marshall inbred trailer trash Wiggerson @nativeflash22

— Jordan Humphreys (@jordanhumphreys) January 25, 2013

@nativeflash22 you are the classless player I've ever seen, you are ugly, you are white, and I hate you. And I mean REALLY ugly. Like UGLY.

— meredith kilby(@mereflipinkilby) January 25, 2013

Marshall Henderson loves attention.

What The Media Is Saying About Marshall Henderson

From Seth Davis of Sports Illustrated:

I realize Henderson is an emotional player, and he's having a heck of a season for the resurgent Rebels. But that does not excuse him for running over to the Auburn student section to taunt the fans after he sank the game-winning free throws in Saturday's 63-61 victory. It's not like Henderson had a stellar game, either. He needed 13 shots to score 15 points, and as a team the Rebs shot just 4 for 17 from the foul line. I have no doubt that Henderson has many more winning moments in his future. Here's hoping that when they arrive, he chooses to act like a winner.

And now the take from another "Seth..."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNuMer570c8

NBA Prospects?

His first college coach seems to think so, but does it really matter?

The Best Thing About Marshall Henderson?

He's a junior.

Those are the facts. Leave your interpretations in the comments below.

Ole Miss Rebel basketball is arguably in the midst of their best season in program history, as head coach Andy Kennedy tries to keep his squad on the track to postseason success. With continued focus, Ole Miss should find themselves entering the SEC Tournament riding a wave of momentum, just the opposite of the 1980-81 Ole Miss squad that went on to win the SEC Tournament Championship.

Currently at 17-3 (6-1 SEC) and ranked No. 16 in the nation, folks around Oxford have great expectations for this talented team come time for postseason play. While all Rebel eyes will eventually turn to the NCAA tournament, it will be interesting to see what type of run Ole Miss can first make in the SEC Tournament.

There have been solid Ole Miss teams spanning the history of Rebel basketball since its infancy in 1909, but former head coach Bob Weltlich's 1980-81 Ole Miss club is one that will forever be remembered in Oxford for their unexpected run to capture the SEC Tournament crown on March 7, 1981 against Dominique Wilkins and the Georgia Bulldogs.

The 1980-81 Rebels, while manned with Rebel stars still talked about today, didn't have the type of SEC success in the regular season that the 2013 team is having right now. In fact, Weltlich's Rebels posted only a 5-10 conference mark in the regular season as opposed to Kennedy's No. 16 Rebels which currently sport a 6-1 conference record on the heels of a loss to Kentucky.

After the Rebels return from a daunting trip to No. 4 Florida on February 2, the remainder of conference play should provide ample opportunity to build upon a solid conference record.

While the 2012-13 Rebels have performed well during the regular season, the '81 Rebels seemingly just got hot when it mattered most. Led by Rebel legends Sean Tuohy, Carlos Clark and Elston Turner among others, the '81 squad tore through the 1981 SEC Basketball Tournament in Birmingham, AL. The '81 Rebels upset No.10 Tennessee 81-71 in their opening game, defeated Vanderbilt 71-51 in the second round and hung on to knock off Dominique Wilkins' Georgia Bulldogs in the championship game by a score of 66-62.

Former Ole Miss  All-American and Houston Rocket John Stroud suggested to me in an exclusive interview:

"The 1981 team had great chemistry. They were very well-coached and had solid point guard play in Sean Tuohy and two future NBA players, Elston Turner and Carlos Clark. It was a full team."

Furthermore, the '81 Rebels were the first Ole Miss team to ever advance to the NCAA tournament (earning a bid as SEC Tournament champions). Ole Miss narrowly missed a chance to advance to the second round of the NCAA tournament in 1981, falling to the Kansas Jayhawks 69-66 in the opening round.

The '81 Rebels and the '13 Rebels are two teams who took and are taking entirely different paths into the SEC Tournament. While the '81 Rebels were probably a more talented team top to bottom, the '13 Rebels rely heavily upon guard Marshall Henderson and forward Murphy Holloway.

Rebel All-American and Houston Rocket John Stroud suggested of what this year’s team needs to do down the stretch to find similar success:

"They have to have better bench play with Henderson and Holloway being consistent from this point moving forward.  The mark of great players is consistency."

Bench play and consistency are two elements Andy Kennedy's Rebels must possess in the months of February and March if they wish to take advantage of the opportunity at hand this year. More talented teams, like the ones Ole Miss will see as they advance in postseason play, will make it more difficult for the Rebels to rely so heavily upon Marshall Henderson. That being said, Kennedy must find consistent bench contribution if his team wants to play well into the month of March.

For two Ole Miss basketball teams with at least the potential to be the only Ole Miss teams to ever be crowned SEC Tournament champions, the paths to the postseason couldn't be any different.

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Ole Miss Basketball, Football and Rebel fans alike are eagerly awaiting a very special week.

Under the leadership of Ole Miss Director of Athletics (AD), Ross Bjork, the entire Rebel athletics program is on the fast track to a level of success unparalleled in recent memory.

The State of Ole Miss Football

Coach Hugh Freeze, after only his initial year at the helm in Oxford, is currently putting together a recruiting class that could end up being ranked as high as Top Five nationally for an upstart team, retaining nearly all of its weapons (minus athlete Randall Mackey). In his first year as the Rebel head coach, Freeze completed one of the most remarkable turnarounds in the country as he went 7-6 with a team that had gone 2-10 and 4-10 respectively the previous two seasons. If the Ole Miss coaching staff lands the 2013 recruiting class that many expect with the starters already returning in 2013, fellow Southeastern Conference (SEC) teams should consider themselves warned. The Ole Miss Rebels will quickly become a force to be reckoned with in the SEC.

The State of Ole Miss Basketball

As for the No. 16 Rebels basketball squad, there may not be a hotter team in the country right now. Head Coach Andy Kennedy was able to bring in the missing puzzle piece this season that had plagued his team for the past six years, holding them back from ever advancing to the NCAA Tournament. However, they are currently at 17-2 (6-0 SEC), and if floor leaders Marshall Henderson and Murphy Holloway can continue to lead the Rebels in the right direction down the conference stretch, Kennedy should find himself a participant in March Madness with a real chance at making some noise.

What's got Rebel fans so excited about what lies ahead in coming days?

A Date with the Florida Gators (Saturday, February 2)

On Saturday, February 2nd (6 p.m. CT on ESPNU), Kennedy's No. 16 Rebels will get their one real chance of the regular season to show the nation what they're all about as they travel to Gainesville, FL for a date with the No. 4 Gators. The SEC isn't as strong from top to bottom as it has been in recent years, so a defining win on the road against the Gators would be a golden star on the Rebels' tournament resume come March. While Ole Miss did knock off a then Top 10 Missouri Tigers club earlier this year, the Missouri win doesn't carry the weight it once did, as the Tigers have fallen in rank.

Super Bowl XLVII: Patrick Willis vs. Michael Oher (Sunday, February 3)

While not involving any current Ole Miss athlete, the Rebel faithful will certainly have a vested interest in Super Bowl XLVII, as former Ole Miss greats Patrick Willis and Michael Oher will line up on opposite sides of the ball. Super Bowl XLVII will mark the second consecutive Super Bowl a former Rebel will leave the game a champion, as QB Eli Manning led the Giants to a victory in Super Bowl XLVI in 2012 against the New England Patriots. For Rebel fans, it's a win-win situation.

National Signing Day (Wednesday, February 6)

There is sure to be a party in Oxford on February 6, as many expect Ole Miss to land their most highly rated football recruiting class of all time. Currently sporting a No. 12  recruiting ranking by Rivals.com, Ole Miss remains in the hunt for a handful of the nation's top remaining uncommitted recruits. Even if one or two more top recruits decide to don the red and blue for their college careers, the Rebels should easily end up ranked with a Top 10 national recruiting class for 2013. One thing is for sure, Rebel fans will be keeping a close eye on National Signing Day coverage as each letter of intent is signed.

Signing Day Nightcap: Basketball Hosts Mississippi State (Wednesday, February 6)

As if folks in Oxford won't be hyped enough by Wednesday evening after seeing how things shake out with their recruiting class earlier in the day, Mississippi State comes to town that same night to take on the round ball Rebs at 6 p.m. CT on CSS. Bulldog fans may want to bring their earplugs, because the Tad Pad should be rocking with a jubilant crowd by tip-off. Depending on the two prior outcomes against Kentucky and Florida, Ole Miss could potentially come into the game with a 19-2 (8-0 SEC) record, sure to have them ranked in the Top 10 nationally. The atmosphere should provide Marshall Henderson with all the energy he needs to perform well against the rival Bulldogs.

A Trip to Columbia, Missouri, With a Chance to Sweep (Saturday, February 9)

Earlier in the year on January 12, Ole Miss knocked off a then No. 12 ranked Missouri Tiger basketball team in Oxford. While Missouri doesn't currently look to be as strong of a team as they once were, a victorious trip to Columbia would hand the Rebels a season sweep of the SEC newcomer in 2013. Playing a weaker SEC schedule than usual, a season sweep of Missouri (currently 15-4, 4-2 SEC), would only help Ole Miss as they try and build upon their tournament resume the rest of the season.

All of this being said, it's easy to see why the first week in February could be a monumental one for Ole Miss Athletics both for immediate and long terms returns. AD Ross Bjork has to like where his program is heading in still his first full year as the Rebel AD. Come Sunday February 10, it's really quite possible he could have a Top 10 football recruiting class and a men's basketball team (assuming they fall to either Kentucky or Florida) also ranked near the Top 10. However, only time will tell.

Regardless of how the the days ahead shake out for Ole Miss, it's a good time to be a Rebel.

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Basketball player Marshall Henderson is quickly becoming a living legend at Ole Miss.

In the words of How I Met Your Mother playboy character Barney Stinson,"He's legend...wait for it... dary!"

Not since the two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning played for the Rebels nearly a decade ago has an Ole Miss athlete garnered such love and attention from the fans in Oxford.

While his status has been slowly building all season, Rebel fans will forever talk about the Vanderbilt game  as Henderson's national coming-out party.

In a game in which the Rebels prevailed, Henderson squared his shoulders and sank a near half-court three-point launch with seconds remaining to send the game into overtime.

The 2011-2012 Junior College Player of the Year, Henderson shows more heart and passion than any player in college basketball this season. Often maligned by the media and opposing teams for wearing his emotions on his sleeve, it's nearly impossible not to be a fan of the flashy Rebel floor leader.

He is what makes college basketball so great. He opens his heart and shows the crowd what he's feeling every single game.

He's leading the SEC in scoring, averaging 19.2 points per game. He's made 3.9 three-point buckets per game (good for fifth nationally) and has made 27 more three-pointers (74 total) than his nearest competitor in the conference (47 by Texas A&M's Elston Turner).

He also leads the SEC in free throw shooting, making 86.7 percent of his attempts.

The statistics are great and could be analyzed all day long, but it's Henderson's pure passion for the game and "leave nothing on the floor" attitude that separates him from other premier players in Ole Miss basketball lore.

There have been Rebel greats—like Denver Brackeen, Don Kessinger, Johnny Neumann, John Stroud, Sean Tuohy, Carlos Clark, Rod Barnes, Gerald Glass, Keith Carter, Ansu Sesay, Jason Harrison, Rahim Lockhart, and, most recently Chris Warren—but none had quite the flair for drama that defines Henderson's play from opening tip to final buzzer.

Whether fervently engaging the Ole Miss student section, Club Red, or feeding off taunting from opposing teams, Henderson displays his heart on the floor more than any player in recent memory.

Some in the media feel Henderson may be too expressive with his emotions, but you have to admire a student-athlete who plays for the love of the game and can make an entire arena come to its feet in a matter of seconds. He has the "it" factor, and it's impressive.

So, where does the Henderson legacy grow from here?

In the midst of a run to be remembered for the ages in Oxford, Henderson already has led the Rebels to their best start in school history, 17-2 (6-0 in the SEC). With 12 conference games remaining before entering SEC and NCAA Tournament play, the junior star has really only begun to show what he can do.

Heck, he's still got another full season in Oxford.

If I were a coach or player sitting in front of the television on Selection Sunday watching to see which team I would be playing in the NCAA Tournament, Henderson's Rebels would be the last team I would want to draw in the first round. Henderson is about as hard to contain as Texas A&M QB Johnny "Heisman" Manziel.

That's quite tall talk.

At this rate, Henderson may go down as one of the most loved Rebel greats of all time. 

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The No. 16 Ole Miss Rebels (17-2, 6-0 SEC) are set to rumble with a young Kentucky Wildcat club Tuesday evening in Oxford, MS at 8 p.m. CT on ESPN, as the Rebels look to earn their 10th straight win.

Head coach Andy Kennedy and Ole Miss just keep finding ways to win, period. It's impressive. The Rebels are off to their best start in school history dating back to the school's inaugural season of basketball in 1909.

Coming off of two come-from-behind victories against conference foes Tennessee and Auburn in their last two outings, Kennedy's Rebels simply don't know how to lose right now. In reality, the Rebels should have lost their last two games after horrid first-half performances. However, they are proving to be a team with a truly amazing will to win basketball games.

Tuesday evening in Oxford, though, Ole Miss will face yet another litmus test, as the storied Kentucky Wildcats (13-6, 4-2 SEC) make a trip to the Tad Smith Coliseum. While head coach John Calipari's Wildcats have lost some luster after winning the school's eighth national championship in 2012, they are a very young team, who are only gaining confidence as the season progresses.

Sure, the Wildcats compiled four losses in nonconference play earlier this season, but the losses came to the likes of Duke, Baylor, Notre Dame and Louisville. There's no doubt Calipari would have rather seen victories in each of those respective games, but playing against such high-quality opponents early in the season will only help the young Wildcats as conference play continues.

Led by freshman guard Archie Goodwin (14.6 ppg) and freshman forward Alex Poythress (13.1 ppg), Kentucky boasts a 4-2 conference record, and it's only getting better with each game it plays.

With wins over the same conference opponents (Vanderbilt, Tennessee and Auburn) who Ole Miss had such trouble disposing of in recent weeks, the folks in Oxford should be on high alert when the Big Blue roll into Oxford early this week.

Ole Miss may not have the same opportunity to dig itself out of a hole against Kentucky, as it did against the likes of Vanderbilt, Tennessee and Auburn. Whether you are a fan of the ostentatious coach or not, John Calipari simply knows how to make his teams mentally tough, as they inch towards postseason play when intensity increases a notch or two.

What must the Rebels do to not find themselves fighting for life late against Kentucky?

1. Come out of the locker room for tip-off with a sense of urgency.

The Rebels simply haven't been able to begin the first five minutes of recent games with any real productivity. That must change against the Wildcats, if Ole Miss desires to push its conference record to an impressive 7-0. Ole Miss needs to find success from the field immediately after tipoff and get an early lead to build confidence.

2. Marshall, Marshall, Marshall

 SEC scoring leader (19.2 ppg) Marshall Henderson needs to find a hot hand early against a stingy Kentucky defense only yielding 62 points per game.

Henderson has put up quality numbers lately, but the bulk of them have not come until the second half of games. It will work in the Rebels' favor if Henderson can sink a few three-point baskets early, which will help him get in a good state of mind for the entire game.

3. Take advantage of opportunities at the charity stripe.

While Marshall Henderson may be a streaky shooter, Ole Miss, as a team, has proven to be even streakier from the free-throw line in recent games.

Look no further than their last outing to see a glaring blemish in the box score at Auburn, as the Rebels only went 4-17 from the charity stripe. Free-throw percentage (currently 67.4 percent) must improve beginning Tuesday evening against the Cats, if Kennedy's club wants to play deep into March.

4. Murphy Holloway, Reginald Buckner must dominate on the boards.

Rebel forwards Murphy Holloway (10.4 rpg) and Reginald Buckner (7.9 rpg) are two main reasons the Rebels are one of the best rebounding teams in the SEC, but Kentucky is not too shabby on the glass itself.

Wildcat freshman Nerlens Noel currently ranks second in rebounds per game behind Holloway, pulling in a respectable 9.4 rebounds per game. The team who performs better on the boards will definitely have an edge.

5. Stay in the continued good graces of the basketball gods.

For whatever reason, Ole Miss has seen more than its fair share of fortunate circumstances occur in the 2012-2013 season.

From Marshall Henderson's near half-court heave to give the Rebels second life against Vanderbilt, to being able to grind out wins despite very poor performances against lesser teams in recent weeks, the basketball gods have been smiling on Kennedy's Rebels.

Every team needs a little luck now and then, and it would behoove the Rebels to keep getting some bounces to fall their way.

In yet another prime time slot on ESPN Tuesday night at home, Ole Miss has a prime opportunity to impress folks watching, which will ultimately determine what type of seed it is granted in the NCAA Tournament. This time, the Rebels need to take full advantage and showcase their talents.

Prediction:

Ole Miss 70 - Kentucky 65

Follow me @SephTheRebel for Ole Miss news from an Ole Miss guy ...

The Ole Miss Rebels, led by Marshall Henderson and Murphy Holloway, simply keep finding ways to win ball games that they have no reason even being in for one reason or another.

Who knows, maybe Ole Miss Head Coach Andy Kennedy just keeps reciting late Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis' signature line, "Just win, baby," when he feels the Rebels need the motivation?

Whatever Kennedy is telling his No. 16 Ole Miss Rebels, it's working, and working very well.

Prior to entering Southeastern Conference (SEC) play, Ole Miss compiled a respectable record of 12-2. The Rebels only lost two games in non-conference play, losing by three points on the road at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) and dropping its only other loss by two points in overtime to Indiana State University (ISU) at the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic.

It should be noted that both MTSU (currently 17-4) and ISU (currently 12-7) made appearances in the 2011 NCAA tournament. While Ole Miss would like to be undefeated right now, its two losses are far from bad on a tournament resume come early March.

Fast forward to the start of SEC play and the Rebels are now 6-0 in the conference (17-2 overall), off to their best start in school history.

How has Ole Miss achieved the 6-0 SEC start?

Jan. 9         @ Tennessee (W, 92-74)

Jan. 12       # 10 Missouri (W, 64-49)

Jan. 15       @ Vanderbilt (W, 89-79 OT)

Jan. 19       Arkansas (W, 76-64)

Jan. 24       Tennessee (W, 62-56)

Jan. 26       @ Auburn (W, 63-61)

While the 6-0 start is certainly impressive for the Rebels, more telling is the manner in which Kennedy's club has won. They have found ways to win games they had no business even being in.

Case One: @ Vanderbilt on Jan. 15

In the Jan. 15 game in Nashville, Tenn., against Vanderbilt, a struggling Rebel defense yielded 17, yes 17, three-point baskets to the Commodores. In fact, the 17 three-pointers made by Vandy set a Memorial Gym record, a gym that has been hosting basketball games since 1952.

Despite struggling nearly the whole game against the young Vanderbilt squad, Rebel PG Marshall Henderson got a hot hand in the second half to help bring the Rebels to within striking distance as the game neared an end.

Not only did he help shrink the Vanderbilt lead, but he nailed a 35-foot three-point heave as time expired to give Ole Miss a new life in overtime.

Ole Miss dominated the game in overtime, outscoring the Commodores 11-1, to improve to 3-0 in league play behind Henderson's 26 points. Given second life, the Rebels simply knew how to take care of business in overtime.

Case Two: Tennessee on Jan. 24

Taking the court at Tad Smith Coliseum as a ranked team in front of a nationally-televised audience on ESPN2 commentated by Rece Davis and Bob Knight, Kennedy's team couldn't have been more confident in their current level of play. However, that changed rather quickly as the Tennessee Volunteers surged after the opening tip.

Ole Miss couldn't buy a basket the entire first half of the game, going 4-of-23 (17.4 percent) from the field, including eight missed three-point attempts. It was hard to believe how cold the Rebels were in the first half; after all, they came into the game riding a seven game win streak.

However, things began to change for the Rebels close to the midpoint of the second half. The streaky, yet gutsy Henderson suddenly caught fire from behind the three-point arc, finishing with six three-point baskets and 28 points to lead the Rebels to a come-from-behind victory at home.

It's often said, "Big-time players make big-time plays in big-time games."

Well, Marshall Henderson did just that for the Ole Miss Rebels in the second half against Tennessee, just as he did in the second half earlier this year on the road in Nashville.

Case Three: @ Auburn on Jan 26

Trailing 33-28 just before time expired in the first half, Ole Miss' Aaron Jones rattled in a lengthy three-point attempt for the Rebels to bring Ole Miss to within two of the Auburn Tigers at the half.

Similar to the sluggish start like they had against Tennessee in Oxford, Ole Miss played anything but their best in the first half at Auburn. However, the afore mentioned basket by Jones just before half seemed to be a sign of good things to come for the Rebels in the second half against the Tigers.

Scraping and clawing their way back against a simply inferior Auburn team, Ole Miss found the lead and managed to keep it for most of the second half, albeit a close one. In a game where the Rebels only managed to go a measly 2-15 from the free throw line before Marshall Henderson sank two free throws to seal the Rebel victory in the final minutes, once again Ole Miss simply found a way to win.

The Auburn victory provided yet another mental edge to a gritty Ole Miss team as the Rebels inch their way closer and closer to postseason tournaments.

With 12 SEC games remaining for the Rebels before the SEC Basketball Tournament in Nashville, I wouldn't bet against Henderson and the Rebels another game this year.

However, the Rebels are now in the midst of a three game conference stretch in a matter of six days as they played at Auburn (Saturday, Jan. 26), play at home against Kentucky (Tuesday, Jan. 29), and finally take to the road against a premier No. 4 Florida Gator team (Saturday, Feb. 2) to end the grueling stretch.

It will be a grueling stretch for Ole Miss, but it will prepare them for a very similar rapid three- to four-game outing in the SEC Tournament and NCAA Tournament.

In closing, Ole Miss has shown that they have a proclivity towards dramatic, victorious finishes in 2013.

That's alright though, as each of these types of games builds more team chemistry and character as postseason play nears in early March.

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The newly #23 ranked Ole Miss Rebels (15-2, 4-0 SEC) will host the struggling Tennessee Volunteers (9-7, 1-3 SEC) on Thursday evening. The conference matchup will receive a 6pm CT prime time television slot, with none other than legendary former Indiana Hoosier coach Bob Knight and ESPN's own Rece Davis set to call the game on ESPN2.

With Ole Miss students returning to campus for spring classes the Tuesday prior (January 22), you better believe that the "Tad Pad" will be rocking behind the boisterous support of "Club Red" (the Ole Miss student section) to show Knight and Davis how serious the folks of Oxford are about basketball.

At least on paper, it's quite a mismatch when comparing where both teams stand in late January.

#23 Ole Miss (RPI: 32, SOS: 125) couldn't really be any hotter than they are right now, off to their best start in SEC play since the 1936-1937 season. Andy Kennedy's club has only lost two games this year, losing by three points on the road at Middle Tennessee State University and dropping its only other loss by two points in overtime to Indiana State University at the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic.

It should be noted that both MTSU and ISU made appearances in the 2011 NCAA tournament. While Ole Miss would like to be undefeated right now, its two losses are far from bad.

Tennessee (RPI: 92,SOS: 47), on the other hand, comes into Oxford heading in the opposite direction. The Volunteers had dropped their last four games (Memphis, Ole Miss, at Alabama and at Kentucky) before a convincing win against a 7-9 (2-2 SEC) Mississippi State team in Knoxville this past Saturday. Scoring in not a Volunteer strong suit, averaging only 65.6 ppg this season (227th in the nation).

The players Tennessee will rely most on Thursday in Oxford are its 6'5", 178 lb. junior guard, Jordan McRae (13.8 ppg, 3.1 rpb), and its 6'8", 270 lb. sophomore forward, Jarnell Stokes (11.2 ppg, 7.8 rpg). While neither are as flashy as Ole Miss star Marshall Henderson, both post quality numbers for the Vols. 

As for Ole Miss, they are led by flashy 6'2", 175 lb. junior guard Marshall Henderson (18.9ppg, tops in the SEC). While Henderson is a streaky shooter, for the good and bad, he also leads the SEC in three-point percentage (.358) having sunk 64 treys this season (21 ahead of his nearest conference competition, Texas A&M's Elston Turner). But that's not all. He also leads the SEC in free-throw percentage (.859) having made 67 of 78 attempts on the year. Nice year, Mr. Henderson.

While Henderson is the more outspoken Rebel, Kennedy's club certainly wouldn't be where they are today without the outstanding play of 6'7", 240 lb. senior forward Murphy Holloway. Currently, Holloway stands atop the conference in rebounds per game (10.6), and comes in at a very respectable eighth in the conference in scoring (15.8 ppg). It should go without saying, as go Henderson and Holloway, as go the Rebels as a team. Thus far this season, it's gone pretty darn well.

Marching its way towards a bid to dance in March for the first time under Kennedy's tenure, #23 Ole Miss will get a chance Thursday night in front of a nationally televised game, featuring two marquee college basketball announcers, to show worthiness of it's #23 ranking, currently putting up 82.4 ppg (fourth nationally) and pulling down 41.4 boards per game (11ationally).

Looking to advance to 16-2 (5-0 SEC) in 2012-2013, the Rebels should have no problem disposing of the struggling Volunteers after Tennessee runs out of steam near halftime.

This should be a fun one for the folks in Oxford, as they welcome Bob Knight and Rece Davis to the Tad Pad to call the game for their red-hot Rebels. Cracking the Top 20 of the AP Basketball Poll may not be too far off for the Rebels, either.

Prediction:

Ole Miss 85 - Tennessee 69

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 The red-hot Ole Miss Rebels are set to tangle with a scrappy Arkansas club at 1:30pm ET Saturday afternoon in front of a nearly sold-out C.M. Tad Smith Coliseum in Oxford, MS.

The 14-2 (3-0 SEC) Rebels look to improve their conference record to 4-0 for the first time since the 1936-1937 season. It would be yet another shot in the arm for Coach Andy Kennedy's Rebels that won in thrilling overtime fashion at Vanderbilt earlier this week as a result of guard Marshall Henderson's heroics.

Not so fast, though! The Razorbacks, led by guard BJ Young (17.4 ppg) and forward Marshall Powell (15.2 ppg), will enter Oxford 11-5 (2-1 SEC) following a thrilling double-overtime win against the Auburn Tigers in their last outing. It will mark their second conference road game in as many tries.

First and foremost, this game will showcase the SEC's leading scorer, the Rebels' Marshall Henderson (19.1 ppg) against the conference's 2nd best scoring defense in the Arkansas Razorbacks (only giving up 60.7 ppg). It will be strength against strength, setting up for an interesting battle.

Additionally, while both the Rebels (4th in the nation at 82.8 ppg) and Razorbacks (12th in the nation at 79.6 ppg) put up a lot of points, it's the big men on the boards that may play a determining factor in this SEC Western Division showdown.

Ole Miss currently ranks 14th in the nation, averaging 41.1 rebounds per game, while Arkansas comes in somewhat below the Rebels, averaging only 36.4 rebounds per game—good for 124th nationally.

Will Ole Miss improve to 4-0 for the 1st time since the 1936-1937 season?

It should be a closer than imagined game, but I think a hot-shooting Marshall Henderson will be the difference for the Rebels. 

Prediction:

Ole Miss 73 - Arkansas 68

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