LaDarius White forces his way through defenders in a game against Texas A&M earlier this season. DM Photo | Logan Kirkland
Tonight’s matchup in Gainesville against Florida (12-11, 5-5 SEC) is absolutely critical if the Ole Miss Rebels (16-7, 7-3 SEC) want to gain a higher seed in the NCAA Tournament field as they are currently a 10-seed, according to ESPN “Bracketoligst” Joe Lunardi.
The Gators come into this matchup hungry following their nail-biting loss to Florida last weekend. One Gator that torched Ole Miss in the first meeting on Jan. 24 was junior guard Michael Frazier, who scored 27 points in the Florida 72-71 loss to Ole Miss. Frazier also made six three-pointers and was 7-of-7 from the free-throw line. Florida coach Billy Donovan said that Frazier is doubtful for the game with a high ankle sprain.
This is a huge advantage for the Rebels as Florida will likely play without their leading scorer. However, Florida could explore some of their other strengths. Junior forward Dorian Finney-Smith, senior transfer center Jon Horford and sophomore forward Chris Walker are more than capable of pounding the Rebels inside. Without the defensive pressure of Frazier, the Ole Miss guards should be able to make plays on the perimeter that should give Ole Miss an advantage against Florida.
Impact player for Ole Miss- Ladarius White
Senior guard Ladarius White comes into this matchup on a roll after exploding for 20 points on the road at Auburn last Saturday. The O’Connell Center is a tough place to play, and the bench contribution is extremely critical in this game. Many consider Snoop as the vocal leader of the team, and his voice will be critical in a hostile environment. White’s three-point shooting will come in handy tonight as he has not disappointed all season. So far this season, White only played in one game where he didn’t score a three-pointer. If White gets going early, then the rest of the bench should catch on and match his production.
Impact player for Florida- Dorian Finney-Smith
In the last meeting, Finney-Smith scored 15 points and grabbed six rebounds as he gave the Rebels a lot of trouble throughout the game. He will be counted on even more in this one with the loss of Michael Frazier. The good news for Rebel fans is that their bench, including sophomore center Dwight Coleby and junior forward Anthony Perez, can guard Finney-Smith in any situation. Look for Finney-Smith to get more than the ten shots he received in the first matchup, and he will most definitely be ready on the defensive side of the ball. Finney-Smith is a player to watch as he could potentially be a second-round draft pick in this year’s NBA draft.
Location: O’Connell Center,
Gainesville, Fla.
TV: ESPN, 6:00 p.m. CT
