Kermit Davis meets with the media via Zoom this afternoon. For now, here's the preview notes from UM Media Relations:
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Ole Miss men’s basketball looks to complete the season sweep over its oldest rival when it travels to Mississippi State on Saturday afternoon. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. CT at Humphrey Coliseum and live on ESPNU.
TEAM FACTS
Ole Miss Rebels (9-8, 1-4 SEC)
Head Coach: Kermit Davis • 4th Season at Ole Miss (60-50) • 529-313 career record (27th Season)
Mississippi State Bulldogs (12-5, 3-2 SEC)
Head Coach: Ben Howland • 7th Season at MSU (128-87) • 527-295 career record (26th Season)
ON THE AIR
Television/Online: ESPNU
Play-by-Play: Tom Hart
Color: Carolyn Peck
OLE MISS RADIO
Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network
Play-by-Play: David Kellum
Color: John Stroud
SiriusXM
XM: 387
SiriusXM App: 977
RIVALRY RENEWED
The oldest rivalry in the SEC heats back up when the Rebels head to Starkville to take on in-state rival Mississippi State on Saturday. The Bulldogs are Ole Miss’ most-played opponent, having met 265 times on the hardwood dating back to the beginning of the series in 1914. MSU holds a 146-119 series lead, but the Rebels have won 12 of the past 17 matchups, the best streak against the Bulldogs since winning 11 of 14 from 1929-33. Ole Miss holds an 86-45 advantage in Oxford, winning nine of the past 11 at home that includes a 5-2 mark in SJB Pavilion (opened 2016). The away team was the victor in both meetings in 2021, with the Rebels emerging 64-46 in Starkville on Jan. 19, and the Bulldogs winning 66-56 in Oxford on Feb. 20. The Rebels hold a 6-4 advantage in the previous 10 meetings, and the average margin of victory for the winner in that span has been by 12.6 points per game.
RIVALRY CONNECTION
His alma mater is now his rival. Now in the Red and Blue, Kermit Davis is 4-3 against Mississippi State. Davis earned a varsity letter playing basketball for the Bulldogs in 1982, completing his bachelor’s degree in the same year. Two years later, he finished up school with a master’s degree at MSU. Davis’ father, Kermit Davis Sr., was MSU’s head coach from 1971-77.
LAST MEETING: Jan. 8, 2022 (W, 82-72, in Oxford)
• 265th all-time meeting in SEC’s oldest rivalry
• Matthew Murrell: career-high 31 points on 10-of-11 shooting, 5-of-5 3PT shooting and a 6-of-6 clip from the free throw line
• Murrell: one of three Rebels to ever go 5-of-5 from three (Devontae Shuler, 2020; Joe Harvell, 1990)
• Started out 10-of-10 from the field
• Murrell’s 23 first-half points most by a Rebel against an SEC opponent in the first half since Stefan Moody scored 24 vs. Mississippi State on March 2, 2016
• 50 first half points: most against an SEC opponent since 51 against Mississippi State on Jan. 31, 2017
• Nysier Brooks: 15 points, 16 rebounds (career-high), 5 blocks (ties career-high)
• Daeshun Ruffin: 17 points, 8 assists (career-high), 4 steals, 3 3PM (career-high)
• Jaemyn Brakefield: 15 points, 4 rebounds, 1 block
• Ole Miss: 50.9 percent overall, 47.8 from three, 72.2 free throw, only 1 bench point
LAST MEETING IN STARKVILLE: Jan. 19, 2021 (W, 64-46)
• Fewest points allowed in an SEC game since Feb. 6, 2004 (W, 55-45, vs. Arkansas)
• Fewest points allowed in the rivalry vs. MSU since Feb. 25, 1995 (L, 46-42)
• At the time was just the 12th performance in the previous 20 seasons keeping an SEC opponent to fewer than 50 points (only third such time on the road)
• 11th Ole Miss win in previous 15 meetings
• Ole Miss: 46 percent shooting, won boards 37-31
• MSU: 35 percent shooting, 12 turnovers (10 Ole Miss steals)
• Devontae Shuler: 22 points, 8-of-13 FG
• Jarkel Joiner: 12 points (8 in second half)
• Luis Rodriguez: 6 points, 8 rebounds
SCOUTING MISSISSIPPI STATE
Mississippi State stands at 12-5 overall and 3-2 in SEC play, going 2-1 since falling to the Rebels in Oxford on Jan. 8. Included in that stretch is an upset of No. 24 Alabama in Starkville on Jan. 15, with the Bulldogs taking down the Tide, 78-76, behind 24 points from Iverson Molinar. Aside from its loss to Ole Miss and Florida on Jan. 19, MSU’s lone blemishes on the season come against Louisville in The Bahamas on Nov. 25 (72-58), vs. Minnesota in Starkville on Dec. 5 (81-76) and against Colorado State on Dec. 11 at the Basketball Hall of Fame Classic in Fort Worth (66-63). Currently, MSU owns a NET rating of 52 with a 1-2 record vs. Quad 1, a 1-1 record against Quad 2, and a 10-2 combined record against Quads 3 and 4.
The Bulldogs use a tenacious effort on the glass, a careful but effective defense and a lights-out shooting offense to excellent effect. MSU ranks second in the SEC and eighth nationally at its rebounding margin of +9.4, helped greatly by not letting its opponents see many missed shots as the Bulldogs also rank second in the SEC and 32nd in the NCAA at a 47.6 percent shooting percentage on the season. The Bulldogs have held five opponents to 60 points or fewer and four to 50 or fewer.
Mississippi State is led by Iverson Molinar, who averages 17.6 points (No. 3 SEC), 3.6 rebounds, 4.5 assists (No. 7 SEC) and owns the SEC’s second-best assist-turnover rate (2.5) and free throw percentage (.875).
LAST TIME OUT (vs. Missouri: L, 53-78)
• Missouri shot an Ole Miss opponent season-high 62.7 percent overall and 57.1 percent from three
• Daeshun Ruffin: 12 points, 4 steals, 3 assists, 2 rebounds
• Nysier Brooks: 8 points, 10 rebounds (7 offensive), 2 assists, 1 block
• Tye Fagan: 9 points, 3 rebounds
SEC CHECK-IN • INDIVIDUAL
Beyond the halfway mark of the season and five games into the 18-game SEC slate, the Rebels hold several strong positions within the overall SEC single-game highs for individuals, both in overall play this season and within conference-only action.
Single-Game High • Points
1. Scotty Pippen Jr. (Vanderbilt) - 32 (vs. Kentucky)
2. Matthew Murrell (Ole Miss) - 31 (vs. MSU)
2. JD Notae (Arkansas) - 31 (vs. Texas A&M)
2. Quenton Jackson (Texas A&M) - 31 (vs. Cent. Ark.)
Single-Game High • 3PT Percentage
1. Matthew Murrell (Ole Miss) - 1.000 (5-5), vs. MSU
1. Justin Powell (Tennessee) - 1.000 (5-5), vs. Presbyterian
3. Kennedy Chandler (Tennessee) - 1.000 (4-4), vs. UT Martin
SEC-Only Single-Game High • 3PT Made
1. Scotty Pippen Jr. (Vanderbilt) - 6 (vs. Kentucky)
2. Matthew Murrell (Ole Miss) - 5 (vs. MSU)
2. Tye Fagan (Ole Miss) - 5 (vs. Tennessee)
Five others
SEC-Only Single-Game High • 3PT Percentage
1. Matthew Murrell (Ole Miss) - 1.000 (5-5), vs. MSU
Eight others tied at 2-2
SEC-Only • 3PT Percentage
1. Matthew Murrell (Ole Miss) - .536
2. Davion Mintz (Kentucky) - .469
3. Noah Baumann (Georgia) - .441
SEC-Only • 3PT/Game
1. Santiago Vescovi (Tennessee) - 3.2
2. Matthew Murrell (Ole Miss) - 3.0
2. Noah Baumann (Georgia) - 3.0
Overall • Offensive Rebounds
1. Oscar Tshiebwe (Kentucky) - 5.2
2. Colin Castleton (Florida) - 3.3
3. Nysier Brooks (Ole Miss) - 3.1
SEC-Only • Rebounding
1. Oscar Tshiebwe (Kentucky) - 14.8
2. Jaylin Williams (Arkansas) - 10.0
3. Nysier Brooks (Ole Miss) - 9.8
SEC-Only • Offensive Rebounds
1. Oscar Tshiebwe (Kentucky) - 4.5
2. Nysier Brooks (Ole Miss) - 4.2
3. Colin Castleton (Florida) - 3.5
SEC-Only Single-Game High • Steals
1. Daeshun Ruffin (Ole Miss) - 5 (vs. Tennessee)
Six others
SEC-Only • Steals
1. Kennedy Chandler (Tennessee) - 3.4
2. Daeshun Ruffin (Ole Miss) - 3.0
2. Keon Ellis (Alabama) - 3.0
SEC-Only • Assist-Turnover
1. TyTy Washington Jr. (Kentucky) - 2.8
2. Wendell Green Jr. (Auburn) - 2.3
3. Daeshun Ruffin (Ole Miss) - 1.7
SEC CHECK-IN • TEAM
Likewise, the Rebels as an overall unit hold several impressive marks worth considering through 17 games played and five within SEC play.
Overall 3PT Defense
1. LSU - 260
2. Ole Miss - .294
3. Kentucky - .297
Overall Single-Game High • FT Percentage
1. Ole Miss - 1.000 (15-15), vs. Auburn
2. Tennessee - 1.000 (10-10), vs. Tennessee Tech
3. Kentucky - 1.000 (8-8), vs. Mount St. Mary’s
Overall Single-Game High • Rebounds
1. South Carolina - 59, vs. Allen
2. Ole Miss - 57, Rider
SEC-Only 3PT Shooting
1. Kentucky - .385
2. Ole Miss - .369
3. Georgia - .356
SEC-Only 3PT Made/Game
1. Vanderbilt - 9.4
2. Ole Miss - 8.2
3. Alabama - 7.8
SEC-Only Single-Game High • 3PT Made
1. Vanderbilt - 12 (vs. Kentucky)
2. Ole Miss - 11 (vs. MSU)
2. Ole Miss - 11 (vs. Tennessee)
Three others
SEC-Only Single-Game High • FT Percentage
1. Ole Miss - 1.000 (15-15), vs. Auburn
2. Kentucky - .952 (20-21), vs. Tennessee
HISTORIC SHOWING AT THE FREE THROW LINE
Ole Miss did not miss any of its free attempts against No. 4 Auburn on Jan. 15, going a perfect 15-of-15 from the charity stripe to notch one of the best free throw performances in school history. The Rebels’ outing against the Tigers stands as just the third perfect free throw effort in Ole Miss history of at least 10 attempts alongside a school record 22-of-22 effort against South Alabama on Nov. 18, 2008 and a 10-of-10 performance against Mississippi State on Feb. 28, 1959. This also stands as the best in the SEC this season, and the only perfect performance in conference play.
Furthermore, the 15-of-15 outing ranks among just nine perfect performances in the NCAA this season with at least 15 made free throws:
1. Villanova - 26-26 (vs. Howard, Nov. 16)
2. Long Beach State - 17-17 (vs. UC Santa Barbara, Jan. 13)
2. Montana - 17-17 (vs. Air Force, Dec. 8)
2. Detroit Mercy - 17-17 (vs. Hofstra, Nov. 27)
5. Valparaiso - 16-16 (vs. Illinois State, Jan. 2)
5. Purdue Fort Wayne - 16-16 (vs. Wright State, Dec. 2)
7. Ole Miss - 15-15 (vs. Auburn, Jan. 15)
7. Miami (Ohio) - 15-15 (vs. Western Michigan, Jan. 15)
7. Charleston Southern - 15-15 (vs. Clemson, Nov. 26)
THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
After not getting to the line very often to start the season, the Rebels have been getting to the charity stripe and using it to great effect in the process. After starting the season just 17-of-31 (.548) from the free throw line amid three straight single-digit performances, Ole Miss has only been held to single digits four times in the succeeding 14 games at a combined line of 175-of-244 (.717) since playing Elon on Nov. 19 -- averaging 12.5 free throws made per game in that stretch. During its three-game winning streak that started on Nov. 26 vs. MVSU, Ole Miss went 54-of-76 (.711) -- which accounted for 25 percent of all Rebel scoring during the streak -- and over its last three wins over Middle Tennessee (13-20), Dayton (16-21) and Mississippi State (13-18), the Rebels have shot 42-of-59 (.712). Ole Miss averaged 13.0 trips to the free throw line in its first five games of the season, but has since averaged 17.5.
OFF THE LINE
It’s been difficult to damage the Rebels from distance this season, as Ole Miss has held seven of its last 11 opponents to 30 percent or lower from beyond the arc. In five wins against Rider (2-of-13), No. 18 Memphis (2-of-11), Middle Tennessee (3-of-27), Dayton (4-18) and Mississippi State (3-16), Rebel opponents shot a combined 14-of-85 (.165). The Rebels currently rank 38th nationally and second in the SEC with a season opposing three-point clip of 29.4 percent, and Ole Miss also ranks sixth in the conference in SEC-only three-point defense at .300. In the Kermit Davis era, Ole Miss is 30-17 when holding opponents to 30 percent or lower and 48-26 when holding opponents below 40 percent from deep.
MURRELL GOES UNCONSCIOUS
Sophomore Matthew Murrell absolutely lit the net on fire against in-state rival Mississippi State on Jan. 8, dropping a career-high 31 points on an absurd 10-of-11 shooting performance that included a perfect 5-of-5 line from beyond the arc and a 6-of-6 clip from the free throw line. Murrell actually started the game 10-of-10 from the field before a late miss with 2:32 to play gave him his lone blemish on the night. Murrell stands as one of only three Rebels all-time to have gone 5-of-5 from three, joining Devontae Shuler’s performance vs. Jackson State on Dec. 10, 2020, and Joe Harvell’s 5-of-5 outing against Tennessee in the SEC Tournament on March 9, 1990 -- making Murrell’s the only such performance against an SEC opponent during the regular season. Murrell was unconscious in the first half, scoring 23 points in the opening frame alone, which had already beat his previous career-high of 19 points scored against No. 18 Memphis on Dec. 4. His 23 first-half points stands as the most scored by a Rebel against an SEC opponent since Stefan Moody dropped 24 against Mississippi State on March 2, 2016. To anyone paying attention lately, though, this was just the latest and greatest output from Murrell. Over his last five games since SEC play began Jan. 5 at Tennessee, he is 15-of-28 (.536) from three and 25-of-49 (.510) overall, averaging 15.6 points per game in that stretch. Murrell started the season 2-of-10 (.200) from three across his first six games, but a 3-of-6 three-point performance against Rider and a 4-of-9 rip against the nationally-ranked Tigers helped spark a three-point line of 26-of-60 (.433) since across his last 11 games played since Nov. 30 against Rider.
Murrell is the program’s highest rated recruit ever nationally, signing with Ole Miss ranked No. 39 overall by both ESPN and the 247Sports Composite in 2019-20.
FROM WAY DOWNTOWN
Ole Miss has found its stroke from three-ball land again just in time for conference play. The Rebels rank second among SEC schools in three-point shooting in conference action thus far with a 41-of-111 (.369) line. Ole Miss hit double-digit threes in each of its first two games of SEC season, going 11-of-22 at No. 18 Tennessee in a near-upset thriller that went into overtime before an 11-of-23 performance against in-state rival Mississippi State on Jan. 8. On the season Ole Miss has hit double-digit threes made three times when including an 11-of-29 performance against Charleston Southern back on Nov. 12, the most such games since the Rebels tallied seven double-digit games during head coach Kermit Davis’ first season in 2018-19.
CLEANING UP THE OFFENSIVE GLASS
Graduate transfer Nysier Brooks has been a beast on the offensive glass to start SEC play, ranking second in conference action at 4.2 offensive boards per game. Brooks hauled in a whopping eight offensive boards against Mississippi State to help lead to a career-high 16 rebounds, the most total boards by a Rebel since Sebastian Saiz hauled in 17 vs. Georgia Tech in the 2017 NIT. Brooks has had five or more offensive boards in four games this season, and he has had at least six rebounds in all but one game this season after only nabbing four in his Rebel debut vs. New Orleans on Nov. 9. Furthermore, Brooks has hit double-digit rebounds six times, including three in SEC play to average an SEC third-best average of 9.8 per game in conference play. Over his last seven games since a 16-point, 11-rebound double-double vs. Dayton on Dec. 18, Brooks has grabbed an average of 9.6 boards per game to go along with 10.9 points and 1.6 blocks. Overall, Brooks ranks fifth in the SEC at 8.4 rebounds per game, and his overall offensive rebounding average of 3.1 per game ranks third in the conference. Brooks most recently recorded his third Rebel double-double and eighth of his career following a 15-point, 16 rebound performance against Mississippi State on Jan. 8.
SERIOUS MINUTES FOR BROOKS
Nysier Brooks has also rarely left the court in conference action, currently ranking fifth in SEC-only minutes per game at 33.6. In non-conference action, Brooks averaged 25.9 minutes per game.
WATCH YOUR BACK
Freshman guard Daeshun Ruffin has quickly become a force to reckon with defensively, averaging 2.4 steals per game in just nine career contests. Ruffin has been particularly proficient and picking pockets lately, averaging an SEC-only second-ranked 3.0 steals per game in SEC play after a career-high five steal performance at No. 18 Tennessee and four more against Mississippi State and Missouri. At his current pace of 2.4 steals per game, Ruffin is on pace to break the Ole Miss freshman record for total steals of 47 set by Elston Turner in 27 games played in 1978. Ruffin missed eight games while sitting out one month due to breaking his right hand in the season opener vs. New Orleans on Nov. 9.
RUFFIN RETURNS IN BIG SPOT
Ole Miss freshman Daeshun Ruffin returned from a four-week absence in dynamic fashion and has taken a prominent leadership role, averaging 12.1 points, 3.5 assists and 2.5 steals since returning from injury vs. Middle Tennessee on Dec. 15. His first three games back were a revelation, as Ruffin averaged 16.0 points, 2.7 assists, 1.7 steals and shot 41.7 percent overall and 70.8 percent from the free throw line against Middle Tennessee (Dec. 15), Dayton (Dec. 18) and Samford (Dec. 21). Ruffin suffered a fractured hand in the second half of the season opener against New Orleans, and missed the subsequent four weeks of action. Ruffin first saw the floor again against Middle Tennessee on Dec. 15, scoring 12 points in just 12 minutes of action -- nine of which came in the first half as he came off the bench. Ruffin followed that up with a splendid showing against Dayton, scoring a career-high 19 points after a powerful 17-point second half to help lift the Rebels to victory. Ruffin hit 9-of-12 from the free throw line against the Flyers, and in his first two games back from injury his 13 free throws made accounted for 44.8 percent of all Rebel free throws made (29) in that stretch. Recently, Ruffin found success running the Rebel offense as well with a career-high eight assists against Mississippi State on Jan. 8 to go along with 17 points and a career-high three trifectas made.
Ruffin is the first McDonald’s All-American signee in program history following a storied career at Callaway High School in his native Jackson, Mississippi.
TYE-ING IT ALL TOGETHER
Senior Tye Fagan answered the call again and again for the shorthanded Rebels at No. 18 Tennessee when his team needed him, nearly leading Ole Miss to a record fifth straight top-25 win on Jan. 5. Fagan scored a career-high 23 points against the nationally-ranked Vols, and was a key catalyst for the Rebel offense at several crucial junctures in the second half. Fagan scored 20 of his 23 points in the second half and overtime, all from beyond the arc, going a perfect 5-of-5 from deep in the second period before missing a last-second try at the final buzzer in OT. Entering the contest, Fagan was 6-of-21 (.286) from three on the season, and entering this year he held a career line of 19-of-68 (.279). This isn’t the first hot streak from three for Fagan this year, though, as he started the season 5-of-7 (.714) from deep across his first three games. Since that three-game opening stretch, Fagan had gone 1-of-14 (.071) prior to the explosion in Knoxville. Fagan transferred to Ole Miss this season after spending the prior three years at Georgia, where he scored 450 career points and shot 56.4 percent overall in 89 games played for the Bulldogs. Included in his UGA career was a big outing against the Rebels in Oxford in 2021, scoring 19 points on a career-best 9-of-9 shooting effort.
On the season, Fagan has been a Swiss Army knife for Ole Miss, contributing in significant ways in multiple facets of the game. Fagan is averaging a balanced stat line of 7.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists, while averaging an assist-turnover ratio of 1.4 in 21.1 minutes played per game.
PROTECT THE BALL
Ole Miss has forced double-digit turnovers in all but one of their 17 of their contests so far this season, and have only turned the ball over more than its opponent three times this season. In the Kermit Davis era, the Rebels are 47-21 when having fewer turnovers than their opponents, and are 36-14 when forcing 15 turnovers or more.
BEWARE THE REBELS
Following its 67-63 upset over No. 18 Memphis on Dec. 4, Ole Miss had notched its fourth consecutive Top-25 win for just the second time in school history. The other such occurrence came across the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons, when Ole Miss ripped off four in a row against No. 6 Florida on Feb. 16, 2002 (68-51), No. 6 Alabama on March 3, 2002 (84-56), at No. 23 LSU the following season on Jan. 18, 2003 (67-57), and three days later vs. No. 15 Alabama on Jan. 21, 2003 (76-57). The latest streak came against No. 10 Tennessee on Feb. 2, 2021 (52-50), No. 10 Missouri on Feb. 10, 2021 (80-59) and at No. 24 Missouri on Feb. 23, 2021 before the win vs. Memphis. This was also the first time since 2001 that Ole Miss won against four ranked teams within the same calendar year. That season the Rebels did so five times against No. 10 Tennessee on Feb. 10 (87-71), No. 20 Alabama on March 3 (105-71), No. 5 Florida in the SEC Tournament (74-69), No. 19 Notre Dame in the NCAA Tournament (59-56) and the following season against No. 22 Memphis on Dec. 7 (71-67).
2020-21 / 2021-22
Feb. 2, 2021 - vs. #10 Tennessee (52-50)
Feb. 10, 2021 - vs. #10 Missouri (80-59)
Feb. 23, 2021 - at #24 Missouri (60-53)
Dec. 4, 2021 - vs. #18 Memphis (67-63)
2001-02 / 2002-03
Feb. 16, 2002 - vs. #6 Florida (68-51)
March 3, 2002 - vs. #6 Alabama (84-56)
Jan. 18, 2003 - at #23 LSU (67-57)
Jan. 21, 2003 - vs. #15 Alabama (76-57)
HOMETOWN HERO
Senior Jarkel Joiner was named one of 60 men’s and women’s basketball student-athletes nationally named as candidates for the 2021-22 Senior CLASS Award on Dec. 7. Ole Miss women’s basketball senior Shakira Austin was also named a candidate, making Ole Miss the only SEC school to be represented on both lists and one of just four nationally alongside BYU, Michigan and Virginia Tech.
To be eligible, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition. An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School ®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.
In the classroom, Joiner holds a 3.13 GPA in multi-disciplinary studies, and is a staple in his hometown community. Joiner was named to the 2020-21 SEC Community Service Team, working closely with the Reading with the Rebels program in addition to the Stronger Together Mississippi initiative and Adopt-A-Basket, which helps feed local families during the holiday season.
The men’s and women’s candidates will be narrowed to two fields of ten finalists later in the season, and those names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans, who will then select one male candidate and one female candidate who best exemplifies excellence in the four C’s of community, classroom, character and competition. The Senior CLASS Award winners will be announced during the 2022 NCAA Men’s Final Four® and NCAA Women’s Final Four® this spring.
YEAR FOUR OF THE DAVIS ERA
Kermit Davis enters his fourth season at the helm of Ole Miss Basketball. Over his first three seasons, Davis led the Rebels to a pair of postseason appearances (2020 postseason was cancelled due to COVID-19). With 60 victories as head coach of the Rebels, Davis is one of only four coaches in Ole Miss history to rack up at least 50 wins over their first three seasons. A nine-time conference coach of the year, Davis is 38th among active Division I head coaches with 463 career wins over 24 seasons, including stints at Middle Tennessee, Idaho and Texas A&M. In 27 seasons as a college basketball head coach, he has amassed 529 wins.
DAVIS ERA TRENDS TO WATCH
• 51-17 when leading at half
• 5-0 when scoring 90+, 27-3 when scoring 80+, 46-20 when scoring 70+
• 41-17 when winning the rebounding battle
• 26-3 when at 50 percent shooting or better
• 17-6 when shooting 40 percent or better from three
• 57-29 when keeping opponents below 50 percent shooting (33-6 when below 40 percent)
| OLE MISS (9-8, 1-4 SEC) at MISSISSIPPI STATE (12-5, 3-2 SEC) Saturday, January 22 • 3 p.m. CT • Starkville, Miss. Humphrey Coliseum (10,575) 
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| Watch • Live Stats • Listen Ole Miss Game Notes • MSU Game Notes • SEC Game Notes |
TEAM FACTS
Ole Miss Rebels (9-8, 1-4 SEC)
Head Coach: Kermit Davis • 4th Season at Ole Miss (60-50) • 529-313 career record (27th Season)
Mississippi State Bulldogs (12-5, 3-2 SEC)
Head Coach: Ben Howland • 7th Season at MSU (128-87) • 527-295 career record (26th Season)
ON THE AIR
Television/Online: ESPNU
Play-by-Play: Tom Hart
Color: Carolyn Peck
OLE MISS RADIO
Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network
Play-by-Play: David Kellum
Color: John Stroud
SiriusXM
XM: 387
SiriusXM App: 977
RIVALRY RENEWED
The oldest rivalry in the SEC heats back up when the Rebels head to Starkville to take on in-state rival Mississippi State on Saturday. The Bulldogs are Ole Miss’ most-played opponent, having met 265 times on the hardwood dating back to the beginning of the series in 1914. MSU holds a 146-119 series lead, but the Rebels have won 12 of the past 17 matchups, the best streak against the Bulldogs since winning 11 of 14 from 1929-33. Ole Miss holds an 86-45 advantage in Oxford, winning nine of the past 11 at home that includes a 5-2 mark in SJB Pavilion (opened 2016). The away team was the victor in both meetings in 2021, with the Rebels emerging 64-46 in Starkville on Jan. 19, and the Bulldogs winning 66-56 in Oxford on Feb. 20. The Rebels hold a 6-4 advantage in the previous 10 meetings, and the average margin of victory for the winner in that span has been by 12.6 points per game.
RIVALRY CONNECTION
His alma mater is now his rival. Now in the Red and Blue, Kermit Davis is 4-3 against Mississippi State. Davis earned a varsity letter playing basketball for the Bulldogs in 1982, completing his bachelor’s degree in the same year. Two years later, he finished up school with a master’s degree at MSU. Davis’ father, Kermit Davis Sr., was MSU’s head coach from 1971-77.
LAST MEETING: Jan. 8, 2022 (W, 82-72, in Oxford)
• 265th all-time meeting in SEC’s oldest rivalry
• Matthew Murrell: career-high 31 points on 10-of-11 shooting, 5-of-5 3PT shooting and a 6-of-6 clip from the free throw line
• Murrell: one of three Rebels to ever go 5-of-5 from three (Devontae Shuler, 2020; Joe Harvell, 1990)
• Started out 10-of-10 from the field
• Murrell’s 23 first-half points most by a Rebel against an SEC opponent in the first half since Stefan Moody scored 24 vs. Mississippi State on March 2, 2016
• 50 first half points: most against an SEC opponent since 51 against Mississippi State on Jan. 31, 2017
• Nysier Brooks: 15 points, 16 rebounds (career-high), 5 blocks (ties career-high)
• Daeshun Ruffin: 17 points, 8 assists (career-high), 4 steals, 3 3PM (career-high)
• Jaemyn Brakefield: 15 points, 4 rebounds, 1 block
• Ole Miss: 50.9 percent overall, 47.8 from three, 72.2 free throw, only 1 bench point
LAST MEETING IN STARKVILLE: Jan. 19, 2021 (W, 64-46)
• Fewest points allowed in an SEC game since Feb. 6, 2004 (W, 55-45, vs. Arkansas)
• Fewest points allowed in the rivalry vs. MSU since Feb. 25, 1995 (L, 46-42)
• At the time was just the 12th performance in the previous 20 seasons keeping an SEC opponent to fewer than 50 points (only third such time on the road)
• 11th Ole Miss win in previous 15 meetings
• Ole Miss: 46 percent shooting, won boards 37-31
• MSU: 35 percent shooting, 12 turnovers (10 Ole Miss steals)
• Devontae Shuler: 22 points, 8-of-13 FG
• Jarkel Joiner: 12 points (8 in second half)
• Luis Rodriguez: 6 points, 8 rebounds
SCOUTING MISSISSIPPI STATE
Mississippi State stands at 12-5 overall and 3-2 in SEC play, going 2-1 since falling to the Rebels in Oxford on Jan. 8. Included in that stretch is an upset of No. 24 Alabama in Starkville on Jan. 15, with the Bulldogs taking down the Tide, 78-76, behind 24 points from Iverson Molinar. Aside from its loss to Ole Miss and Florida on Jan. 19, MSU’s lone blemishes on the season come against Louisville in The Bahamas on Nov. 25 (72-58), vs. Minnesota in Starkville on Dec. 5 (81-76) and against Colorado State on Dec. 11 at the Basketball Hall of Fame Classic in Fort Worth (66-63). Currently, MSU owns a NET rating of 52 with a 1-2 record vs. Quad 1, a 1-1 record against Quad 2, and a 10-2 combined record against Quads 3 and 4.
The Bulldogs use a tenacious effort on the glass, a careful but effective defense and a lights-out shooting offense to excellent effect. MSU ranks second in the SEC and eighth nationally at its rebounding margin of +9.4, helped greatly by not letting its opponents see many missed shots as the Bulldogs also rank second in the SEC and 32nd in the NCAA at a 47.6 percent shooting percentage on the season. The Bulldogs have held five opponents to 60 points or fewer and four to 50 or fewer.
Mississippi State is led by Iverson Molinar, who averages 17.6 points (No. 3 SEC), 3.6 rebounds, 4.5 assists (No. 7 SEC) and owns the SEC’s second-best assist-turnover rate (2.5) and free throw percentage (.875).
LAST TIME OUT (vs. Missouri: L, 53-78)
• Missouri shot an Ole Miss opponent season-high 62.7 percent overall and 57.1 percent from three
• Daeshun Ruffin: 12 points, 4 steals, 3 assists, 2 rebounds
• Nysier Brooks: 8 points, 10 rebounds (7 offensive), 2 assists, 1 block
• Tye Fagan: 9 points, 3 rebounds
SEC CHECK-IN • INDIVIDUAL
Beyond the halfway mark of the season and five games into the 18-game SEC slate, the Rebels hold several strong positions within the overall SEC single-game highs for individuals, both in overall play this season and within conference-only action.
Single-Game High • Points
1. Scotty Pippen Jr. (Vanderbilt) - 32 (vs. Kentucky)
2. Matthew Murrell (Ole Miss) - 31 (vs. MSU)
2. JD Notae (Arkansas) - 31 (vs. Texas A&M)
2. Quenton Jackson (Texas A&M) - 31 (vs. Cent. Ark.)
Single-Game High • 3PT Percentage
1. Matthew Murrell (Ole Miss) - 1.000 (5-5), vs. MSU
1. Justin Powell (Tennessee) - 1.000 (5-5), vs. Presbyterian
3. Kennedy Chandler (Tennessee) - 1.000 (4-4), vs. UT Martin
SEC-Only Single-Game High • 3PT Made
1. Scotty Pippen Jr. (Vanderbilt) - 6 (vs. Kentucky)
2. Matthew Murrell (Ole Miss) - 5 (vs. MSU)
2. Tye Fagan (Ole Miss) - 5 (vs. Tennessee)
Five others
SEC-Only Single-Game High • 3PT Percentage
1. Matthew Murrell (Ole Miss) - 1.000 (5-5), vs. MSU
Eight others tied at 2-2
SEC-Only • 3PT Percentage
1. Matthew Murrell (Ole Miss) - .536
2. Davion Mintz (Kentucky) - .469
3. Noah Baumann (Georgia) - .441
SEC-Only • 3PT/Game
1. Santiago Vescovi (Tennessee) - 3.2
2. Matthew Murrell (Ole Miss) - 3.0
2. Noah Baumann (Georgia) - 3.0
Overall • Offensive Rebounds
1. Oscar Tshiebwe (Kentucky) - 5.2
2. Colin Castleton (Florida) - 3.3
3. Nysier Brooks (Ole Miss) - 3.1
SEC-Only • Rebounding
1. Oscar Tshiebwe (Kentucky) - 14.8
2. Jaylin Williams (Arkansas) - 10.0
3. Nysier Brooks (Ole Miss) - 9.8
SEC-Only • Offensive Rebounds
1. Oscar Tshiebwe (Kentucky) - 4.5
2. Nysier Brooks (Ole Miss) - 4.2
3. Colin Castleton (Florida) - 3.5
SEC-Only Single-Game High • Steals
1. Daeshun Ruffin (Ole Miss) - 5 (vs. Tennessee)
Six others
SEC-Only • Steals
1. Kennedy Chandler (Tennessee) - 3.4
2. Daeshun Ruffin (Ole Miss) - 3.0
2. Keon Ellis (Alabama) - 3.0
SEC-Only • Assist-Turnover
1. TyTy Washington Jr. (Kentucky) - 2.8
2. Wendell Green Jr. (Auburn) - 2.3
3. Daeshun Ruffin (Ole Miss) - 1.7
SEC CHECK-IN • TEAM
Likewise, the Rebels as an overall unit hold several impressive marks worth considering through 17 games played and five within SEC play.
Overall 3PT Defense
1. LSU - 260
2. Ole Miss - .294
3. Kentucky - .297
Overall Single-Game High • FT Percentage
1. Ole Miss - 1.000 (15-15), vs. Auburn
2. Tennessee - 1.000 (10-10), vs. Tennessee Tech
3. Kentucky - 1.000 (8-8), vs. Mount St. Mary’s
Overall Single-Game High • Rebounds
1. South Carolina - 59, vs. Allen
2. Ole Miss - 57, Rider
SEC-Only 3PT Shooting
1. Kentucky - .385
2. Ole Miss - .369
3. Georgia - .356
SEC-Only 3PT Made/Game
1. Vanderbilt - 9.4
2. Ole Miss - 8.2
3. Alabama - 7.8
SEC-Only Single-Game High • 3PT Made
1. Vanderbilt - 12 (vs. Kentucky)
2. Ole Miss - 11 (vs. MSU)
2. Ole Miss - 11 (vs. Tennessee)
Three others
SEC-Only Single-Game High • FT Percentage
1. Ole Miss - 1.000 (15-15), vs. Auburn
2. Kentucky - .952 (20-21), vs. Tennessee
HISTORIC SHOWING AT THE FREE THROW LINE
Ole Miss did not miss any of its free attempts against No. 4 Auburn on Jan. 15, going a perfect 15-of-15 from the charity stripe to notch one of the best free throw performances in school history. The Rebels’ outing against the Tigers stands as just the third perfect free throw effort in Ole Miss history of at least 10 attempts alongside a school record 22-of-22 effort against South Alabama on Nov. 18, 2008 and a 10-of-10 performance against Mississippi State on Feb. 28, 1959. This also stands as the best in the SEC this season, and the only perfect performance in conference play.
Furthermore, the 15-of-15 outing ranks among just nine perfect performances in the NCAA this season with at least 15 made free throws:
1. Villanova - 26-26 (vs. Howard, Nov. 16)
2. Long Beach State - 17-17 (vs. UC Santa Barbara, Jan. 13)
2. Montana - 17-17 (vs. Air Force, Dec. 8)
2. Detroit Mercy - 17-17 (vs. Hofstra, Nov. 27)
5. Valparaiso - 16-16 (vs. Illinois State, Jan. 2)
5. Purdue Fort Wayne - 16-16 (vs. Wright State, Dec. 2)
7. Ole Miss - 15-15 (vs. Auburn, Jan. 15)
7. Miami (Ohio) - 15-15 (vs. Western Michigan, Jan. 15)
7. Charleston Southern - 15-15 (vs. Clemson, Nov. 26)
THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
After not getting to the line very often to start the season, the Rebels have been getting to the charity stripe and using it to great effect in the process. After starting the season just 17-of-31 (.548) from the free throw line amid three straight single-digit performances, Ole Miss has only been held to single digits four times in the succeeding 14 games at a combined line of 175-of-244 (.717) since playing Elon on Nov. 19 -- averaging 12.5 free throws made per game in that stretch. During its three-game winning streak that started on Nov. 26 vs. MVSU, Ole Miss went 54-of-76 (.711) -- which accounted for 25 percent of all Rebel scoring during the streak -- and over its last three wins over Middle Tennessee (13-20), Dayton (16-21) and Mississippi State (13-18), the Rebels have shot 42-of-59 (.712). Ole Miss averaged 13.0 trips to the free throw line in its first five games of the season, but has since averaged 17.5.
OFF THE LINE
It’s been difficult to damage the Rebels from distance this season, as Ole Miss has held seven of its last 11 opponents to 30 percent or lower from beyond the arc. In five wins against Rider (2-of-13), No. 18 Memphis (2-of-11), Middle Tennessee (3-of-27), Dayton (4-18) and Mississippi State (3-16), Rebel opponents shot a combined 14-of-85 (.165). The Rebels currently rank 38th nationally and second in the SEC with a season opposing three-point clip of 29.4 percent, and Ole Miss also ranks sixth in the conference in SEC-only three-point defense at .300. In the Kermit Davis era, Ole Miss is 30-17 when holding opponents to 30 percent or lower and 48-26 when holding opponents below 40 percent from deep.
MURRELL GOES UNCONSCIOUS
Sophomore Matthew Murrell absolutely lit the net on fire against in-state rival Mississippi State on Jan. 8, dropping a career-high 31 points on an absurd 10-of-11 shooting performance that included a perfect 5-of-5 line from beyond the arc and a 6-of-6 clip from the free throw line. Murrell actually started the game 10-of-10 from the field before a late miss with 2:32 to play gave him his lone blemish on the night. Murrell stands as one of only three Rebels all-time to have gone 5-of-5 from three, joining Devontae Shuler’s performance vs. Jackson State on Dec. 10, 2020, and Joe Harvell’s 5-of-5 outing against Tennessee in the SEC Tournament on March 9, 1990 -- making Murrell’s the only such performance against an SEC opponent during the regular season. Murrell was unconscious in the first half, scoring 23 points in the opening frame alone, which had already beat his previous career-high of 19 points scored against No. 18 Memphis on Dec. 4. His 23 first-half points stands as the most scored by a Rebel against an SEC opponent since Stefan Moody dropped 24 against Mississippi State on March 2, 2016. To anyone paying attention lately, though, this was just the latest and greatest output from Murrell. Over his last five games since SEC play began Jan. 5 at Tennessee, he is 15-of-28 (.536) from three and 25-of-49 (.510) overall, averaging 15.6 points per game in that stretch. Murrell started the season 2-of-10 (.200) from three across his first six games, but a 3-of-6 three-point performance against Rider and a 4-of-9 rip against the nationally-ranked Tigers helped spark a three-point line of 26-of-60 (.433) since across his last 11 games played since Nov. 30 against Rider.
Murrell is the program’s highest rated recruit ever nationally, signing with Ole Miss ranked No. 39 overall by both ESPN and the 247Sports Composite in 2019-20.
FROM WAY DOWNTOWN
Ole Miss has found its stroke from three-ball land again just in time for conference play. The Rebels rank second among SEC schools in three-point shooting in conference action thus far with a 41-of-111 (.369) line. Ole Miss hit double-digit threes in each of its first two games of SEC season, going 11-of-22 at No. 18 Tennessee in a near-upset thriller that went into overtime before an 11-of-23 performance against in-state rival Mississippi State on Jan. 8. On the season Ole Miss has hit double-digit threes made three times when including an 11-of-29 performance against Charleston Southern back on Nov. 12, the most such games since the Rebels tallied seven double-digit games during head coach Kermit Davis’ first season in 2018-19.
CLEANING UP THE OFFENSIVE GLASS
Graduate transfer Nysier Brooks has been a beast on the offensive glass to start SEC play, ranking second in conference action at 4.2 offensive boards per game. Brooks hauled in a whopping eight offensive boards against Mississippi State to help lead to a career-high 16 rebounds, the most total boards by a Rebel since Sebastian Saiz hauled in 17 vs. Georgia Tech in the 2017 NIT. Brooks has had five or more offensive boards in four games this season, and he has had at least six rebounds in all but one game this season after only nabbing four in his Rebel debut vs. New Orleans on Nov. 9. Furthermore, Brooks has hit double-digit rebounds six times, including three in SEC play to average an SEC third-best average of 9.8 per game in conference play. Over his last seven games since a 16-point, 11-rebound double-double vs. Dayton on Dec. 18, Brooks has grabbed an average of 9.6 boards per game to go along with 10.9 points and 1.6 blocks. Overall, Brooks ranks fifth in the SEC at 8.4 rebounds per game, and his overall offensive rebounding average of 3.1 per game ranks third in the conference. Brooks most recently recorded his third Rebel double-double and eighth of his career following a 15-point, 16 rebound performance against Mississippi State on Jan. 8.
SERIOUS MINUTES FOR BROOKS
Nysier Brooks has also rarely left the court in conference action, currently ranking fifth in SEC-only minutes per game at 33.6. In non-conference action, Brooks averaged 25.9 minutes per game.
WATCH YOUR BACK
Freshman guard Daeshun Ruffin has quickly become a force to reckon with defensively, averaging 2.4 steals per game in just nine career contests. Ruffin has been particularly proficient and picking pockets lately, averaging an SEC-only second-ranked 3.0 steals per game in SEC play after a career-high five steal performance at No. 18 Tennessee and four more against Mississippi State and Missouri. At his current pace of 2.4 steals per game, Ruffin is on pace to break the Ole Miss freshman record for total steals of 47 set by Elston Turner in 27 games played in 1978. Ruffin missed eight games while sitting out one month due to breaking his right hand in the season opener vs. New Orleans on Nov. 9.
RUFFIN RETURNS IN BIG SPOT
Ole Miss freshman Daeshun Ruffin returned from a four-week absence in dynamic fashion and has taken a prominent leadership role, averaging 12.1 points, 3.5 assists and 2.5 steals since returning from injury vs. Middle Tennessee on Dec. 15. His first three games back were a revelation, as Ruffin averaged 16.0 points, 2.7 assists, 1.7 steals and shot 41.7 percent overall and 70.8 percent from the free throw line against Middle Tennessee (Dec. 15), Dayton (Dec. 18) and Samford (Dec. 21). Ruffin suffered a fractured hand in the second half of the season opener against New Orleans, and missed the subsequent four weeks of action. Ruffin first saw the floor again against Middle Tennessee on Dec. 15, scoring 12 points in just 12 minutes of action -- nine of which came in the first half as he came off the bench. Ruffin followed that up with a splendid showing against Dayton, scoring a career-high 19 points after a powerful 17-point second half to help lift the Rebels to victory. Ruffin hit 9-of-12 from the free throw line against the Flyers, and in his first two games back from injury his 13 free throws made accounted for 44.8 percent of all Rebel free throws made (29) in that stretch. Recently, Ruffin found success running the Rebel offense as well with a career-high eight assists against Mississippi State on Jan. 8 to go along with 17 points and a career-high three trifectas made.
Ruffin is the first McDonald’s All-American signee in program history following a storied career at Callaway High School in his native Jackson, Mississippi.
TYE-ING IT ALL TOGETHER
Senior Tye Fagan answered the call again and again for the shorthanded Rebels at No. 18 Tennessee when his team needed him, nearly leading Ole Miss to a record fifth straight top-25 win on Jan. 5. Fagan scored a career-high 23 points against the nationally-ranked Vols, and was a key catalyst for the Rebel offense at several crucial junctures in the second half. Fagan scored 20 of his 23 points in the second half and overtime, all from beyond the arc, going a perfect 5-of-5 from deep in the second period before missing a last-second try at the final buzzer in OT. Entering the contest, Fagan was 6-of-21 (.286) from three on the season, and entering this year he held a career line of 19-of-68 (.279). This isn’t the first hot streak from three for Fagan this year, though, as he started the season 5-of-7 (.714) from deep across his first three games. Since that three-game opening stretch, Fagan had gone 1-of-14 (.071) prior to the explosion in Knoxville. Fagan transferred to Ole Miss this season after spending the prior three years at Georgia, where he scored 450 career points and shot 56.4 percent overall in 89 games played for the Bulldogs. Included in his UGA career was a big outing against the Rebels in Oxford in 2021, scoring 19 points on a career-best 9-of-9 shooting effort.
On the season, Fagan has been a Swiss Army knife for Ole Miss, contributing in significant ways in multiple facets of the game. Fagan is averaging a balanced stat line of 7.8 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.3 assists, while averaging an assist-turnover ratio of 1.4 in 21.1 minutes played per game.
PROTECT THE BALL
Ole Miss has forced double-digit turnovers in all but one of their 17 of their contests so far this season, and have only turned the ball over more than its opponent three times this season. In the Kermit Davis era, the Rebels are 47-21 when having fewer turnovers than their opponents, and are 36-14 when forcing 15 turnovers or more.
BEWARE THE REBELS
Following its 67-63 upset over No. 18 Memphis on Dec. 4, Ole Miss had notched its fourth consecutive Top-25 win for just the second time in school history. The other such occurrence came across the 2001-02 and 2002-03 seasons, when Ole Miss ripped off four in a row against No. 6 Florida on Feb. 16, 2002 (68-51), No. 6 Alabama on March 3, 2002 (84-56), at No. 23 LSU the following season on Jan. 18, 2003 (67-57), and three days later vs. No. 15 Alabama on Jan. 21, 2003 (76-57). The latest streak came against No. 10 Tennessee on Feb. 2, 2021 (52-50), No. 10 Missouri on Feb. 10, 2021 (80-59) and at No. 24 Missouri on Feb. 23, 2021 before the win vs. Memphis. This was also the first time since 2001 that Ole Miss won against four ranked teams within the same calendar year. That season the Rebels did so five times against No. 10 Tennessee on Feb. 10 (87-71), No. 20 Alabama on March 3 (105-71), No. 5 Florida in the SEC Tournament (74-69), No. 19 Notre Dame in the NCAA Tournament (59-56) and the following season against No. 22 Memphis on Dec. 7 (71-67).
2020-21 / 2021-22
Feb. 2, 2021 - vs. #10 Tennessee (52-50)
Feb. 10, 2021 - vs. #10 Missouri (80-59)
Feb. 23, 2021 - at #24 Missouri (60-53)
Dec. 4, 2021 - vs. #18 Memphis (67-63)
2001-02 / 2002-03
Feb. 16, 2002 - vs. #6 Florida (68-51)
March 3, 2002 - vs. #6 Alabama (84-56)
Jan. 18, 2003 - at #23 LSU (67-57)
Jan. 21, 2003 - vs. #15 Alabama (76-57)
HOMETOWN HERO
Senior Jarkel Joiner was named one of 60 men’s and women’s basketball student-athletes nationally named as candidates for the 2021-22 Senior CLASS Award on Dec. 7. Ole Miss women’s basketball senior Shakira Austin was also named a candidate, making Ole Miss the only SEC school to be represented on both lists and one of just four nationally alongside BYU, Michigan and Virginia Tech.
To be eligible, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition. An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School ®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.
In the classroom, Joiner holds a 3.13 GPA in multi-disciplinary studies, and is a staple in his hometown community. Joiner was named to the 2020-21 SEC Community Service Team, working closely with the Reading with the Rebels program in addition to the Stronger Together Mississippi initiative and Adopt-A-Basket, which helps feed local families during the holiday season.
The men’s and women’s candidates will be narrowed to two fields of ten finalists later in the season, and those names will be placed on the official ballot. Ballots will be distributed through a nationwide voting system to media, coaches and fans, who will then select one male candidate and one female candidate who best exemplifies excellence in the four C’s of community, classroom, character and competition. The Senior CLASS Award winners will be announced during the 2022 NCAA Men’s Final Four® and NCAA Women’s Final Four® this spring.
YEAR FOUR OF THE DAVIS ERA
Kermit Davis enters his fourth season at the helm of Ole Miss Basketball. Over his first three seasons, Davis led the Rebels to a pair of postseason appearances (2020 postseason was cancelled due to COVID-19). With 60 victories as head coach of the Rebels, Davis is one of only four coaches in Ole Miss history to rack up at least 50 wins over their first three seasons. A nine-time conference coach of the year, Davis is 38th among active Division I head coaches with 463 career wins over 24 seasons, including stints at Middle Tennessee, Idaho and Texas A&M. In 27 seasons as a college basketball head coach, he has amassed 529 wins.
DAVIS ERA TRENDS TO WATCH
• 51-17 when leading at half
• 5-0 when scoring 90+, 27-3 when scoring 80+, 46-20 when scoring 70+
• 41-17 when winning the rebounding battle
• 26-3 when at 50 percent shooting or better
• 17-6 when shooting 40 percent or better from three
• 57-29 when keeping opponents below 50 percent shooting (33-6 when below 40 percent)
