Although it may look forward to some giant information that remains on its southeastern conference schedule, No. 24 Ole Miss has the immediate task of recovering and taking care of basketball better when it is facing Vanderbilt on Saturday in Nashville, Tenn.
After losing to Mississippi State in Oxford-The other to their hated rivals this season-does not have one in the middle of the week, the rebels (19-7, 8-5) are with an exciting quintet of competitions before the conference the tournament begins March 12 in the music city.
Two are against UNRANKED Vanderbilt (17-9, 5-8) and sink Oklahoma. The other three demand coach Chris Beards squad to go to No. 1 Auburn, play their home final against No. 6 Tennessee and close the regular season campaign at No. 2 Florida.
The nation’s leaders in the smallest turnover committed (8.8 per match) went up with 11 against its enemy in the state. However, Beard’s biggest complaint in the loss 81-71 to Bulldogs was the same as in the first matchup: Rebounding.
Ole Miss lost the recovery battle with 12 boards after going minus-22 in the first meeting in Starkville. Beard said that his group, 4-2 in the last six games, must harden some.
“That’s what Rebounding is,” said second year’s Rebels coach. “That’s what ends around the basket is: to demand that the judges call fouls. I just thought we had a lot of softness for us. It’s not easy for me to say as a coach because that’s one thing we’re proud of.”
Lead Guard Sean Pedulla tops the rebels in points (14.6 points), assists (3.8) and steal (2.0), while Big Man Malik Dia average 9.8 points and takes a team high 5.7 returns.
The rebels’ time to win begins Saturday against a fighting collection of Commodores that will be very and lost at sea during the second half.
Vanderbilt coach Mark Byington and his squad have learned a tough lesson in Sec which was punctured again Wednesday evening: winning on the road in the Powerhouse conference takes a complete 40 minute effort.
In their four February matches from their Nashville -Campus, Commodores led either by several points or was dragged by one at half time but exploded during the second half.
At Oklahoma they were in front of four but outsourced 61-27 in a 30-point Walloping. Against Florida, they had a lead with one point but lost by 11. Staying within the voluntary state against Tennessee turned out even worse: Vanderbilt was up by 13 but blew a chance to swipe Vols in a five -point setback.
On Wednesday, Commodores was solid and hit only 41-40 at the break at No. 17 Kentucky, but Wildcats exploded in their funny home arena and exceeded visitors 41-21 in yet another route, 82-61.
So what about these other halves?
“I think Oklahoma was an anomaly. I don’t think it’s us,” Byington said after the defeat at Rocky Top. “At the same time, these teams will come back. They will make adjustments and they will come with rage.”
Since he beat No. 9 Kentucky 74-69 on January 25, Commodores has lost three straight matches and five out of six.
Leading goal scorers Jason Edwards are on average 17.3 points while Devin McGlockton Nets 10.9 per match and AJ Hoggard is an average of 10.2 points and 4.6 assists.
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