Ole Miss Women’s vs. Southern
5:00 p.m. C.T.
TV: SEC Network +
Tad Smith Coliseum
The 2-0 Ole Miss Women’s Basketball team is off to a stellar start so far. The Rebels won their first two games by an average of 39 points. This game is critical for the Rebels as head coach Matt Insell only has one game to prepare before his coaching matchup with his father, Rick Insell, on November 23rd against Middle Tennessee State.
The Rebels got off to a poor 1-4 start last season, and a win against Southern would prevent that nightmare to happen again. Thus far, freshman point guards Toree Thompson and A’Queen Hayes have weathered the storm at the point. Senior forward Tia Faleru became the 26th Ole Miss Rebel to reach the 1,000-point mark in the win against Mississippi Valley State. The three-point shot is a statistic where the Rebels need to get more consistent, and tonight’s matchup provides a good opportunity for the Rebels to practice on their looks.
Meanwhile, Southern comes into this matchup 1-0 on the season as tonight’s matchup is their biggest test of the young season. Southern’s schedule looks to be a roller coaster as they’ll take on Illinois, Minnesota, Texas, Arizona, and Florida over the next month.
Impact Player – Ole Miss
Junior shooting guard Gracie Frizell needs to make her mark offensively in this game. She’s only knocked down one of five three pointers to start this year. If the Rebels want to get better, Frizzell will be the driving force from the perimeter, and the key catalyst behind the three-point line. With more production from Frizzell, the Rebels should have no trouble beating Southern.
Impact Player – Southern
Senior point guard Kendra Coleman returns as the Jaguars leading scorer from a season ago. Playing against great point guards is a key test for Toree Thompson, Erica Sisk, and A’Queen Hayes. Coleman will get her looks offensively, but the Rebels can take her out of the game by making Coleman work hard on the defensive end. Coleman could cause problems if she gets going early due to her speed and tenacious effort on the defensive end.
Ole Miss Men’s vs.
Southern
7:00 p.m. C.T.
TV: SEC Network +
Tad Smith Coliseum
Standing at 1-1 in the young season is not what any Rebel fan wanted to start the 2014-2015 Men’s Basketball season. Being undefeated in non-conference play is crucial to making the NCAA Tournament. Following the Rebels’ heartbreaking 66-65 overtime loss to Charleston Southern, Ole Miss rebounded to pick up their first win of the season 74-64 at Troy on Monday night.
Tonight’s matchup begins the Emerald Coast Classic where Ole Miss hosts two home games before they travel to Niceville, Florida to take on Creighton on November 28. The Rebels have many things to work on before they take on Creighton, who is still a solid basketball team even without sharpshooter Doug McDeermott this year. Ole Miss needs to work on scoring in the paint in this matchup against Southern out of the SWAC conference. On the other hand, the Jaguars come into this matchup 1-1 on the season, and they have a little hope, as they know Ole Miss is now vulnerable to any team after losing to Charleston Southern.
Impact Player – Ole Miss
Senior stretch forward Aaron Jones returns tonight after a three game absence due to a suspension where he violated team rules. The 6’9’’ forward led the Rebels with 6.6 rebounds per game and was third in the SEC with 69 blocks last season. It’s been obvious that Jones’ impact has been missed through the first two games. The Rebels need Jones’ rebounding and post-scoring in order to win games this season. Tonight’s matchup presents a golden opportunity for Jones to get some confidence back as he’ll play a big role in the Ole Miss frontcourt rotation this season.
Impact Player – Southern
Sophomore point guard Trelun Banks can really do it all for the Jaguars. He’s a crafty point guard who can pass, shoot, rebound, and assist. Through two games, the guard averages 9 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists. You might as well call him a stat-sheet stuffer. He’s one guy the Rebels need to look out for as he will most likely be all over the floor and competing on both ends to help his team win.
