From UM Media Relations:
Ole Miss (12-9, 3-5 SEC) vs. Mississippi State (13-7, 4-4 SEC)
Date: Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017
Time: 6:00 p.m. CT
Location: Oxford, Miss.
Arena: The Pavilion at Ole Miss (9,051)
Television: SECN
Mike Morgan, play-by-play
Kyle Macy, analyst
Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network
David Kellum, play-by-play
Keith Carter, analyst
Live Audio: OleMissSports.com
Live Video: WatchESPN.com
Series: MSU Leads 142-112
In Oxford: OM Leads 82-43
Streak: OM, W1
Last Meeting: OM, W 86-78 (3/2/16)
TIP OFF
• Ole Miss wraps up a three-game homestand Tuesday when the Rebels welcome Mississippi State to Oxford. The Rebels and the Bulldogs are the SEC’s most-played rivalry, having met 254 times.
• With the win over Bradley, head coach Andy Kennedy moved past former Kentucky coach Rick Pitino into 19th on the SEC career coaching victories list and now has 224 wins at Ole Miss.
• Senior F Sebastian Saiz recorded his 23rd career double-double with 20 points and 10 boards versus No. 5 Baylor and now has 14 double-doubles this season, which leads the SEC and ranks fifth nationally. Saiz leads the SEC and ranks sixth in the nation pulling down 11.2 rebounds a game and is the only player in the SEC this season averaging a double-double. The league’s active career rebounding leader, he recently moved past Elston Turner into fourth in Ole Miss history with 835 rebounds. Saiz has topped both 1,000 points and 800 boards in his career and is just the sixth player in Ole Miss history accomplish that feat.
• Senior F Sebastian Saiz needs just 65 rebounds to join Rebel great Murphy Holloway as the only two players in Ole Miss history with 1,000 points and 900 rebounds.
• Sophomore G Terence Davis earned SEC Player of the Week honors last week after his second straight double- double in the win at Mizzou with 18 points and 11 rebounds. He is averaging 16.5 points and 6.8 rebounds a game over his last four games and has increased his scoring this season 10.8 ppg over last year, which is the largest increase for any player in the SEC.
• Two Ole Miss signees - Devontae Shuler and Jamarko Pickett - were recently ranked four-star prospects in thelatest release of the Rivals.com 150. Shuler was rated the No. 106 prospect in the nation, while Pickett checked in at No. 113. Pickett was also ranked the No. 93 player in the nation by ESPN.com
• Ole Miss boasts the 26th toughest strength of schedule this season according to the NCAA and the Rebels have played 10 teams ranked inside the RPI top 60.
REBELS HOST RVIAL BULLDOGS TUESDAY
Ole Miss wraps up a three-game homestand Tuesday when the Rebels welcome Mississippi State to Oxford. The meeting will be the 255th all-time meeting between the two schools and is the SEC’s most played rivalry. The Rebels have won five of the last six meetings against the Bulldogs, including four straight in Oxford.
MOST IMPROVED PLAYER IN THE SEC
Sophomore Terence Davis earned SEC Player of the Week honors last week after posting two double-doubles in Ole Miss’ wins over Tennessee and Missouri. Davis averaged 19.0 points, 11.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists in the two victories. He had a career-high 20 points in the win over the Vols, including 13 in the second half as the Rebels overcame a 13-point deficit, and added 19 points and 11 boards in the road win at Mizzou. Davis has increased his scoring 10.8 ppg this year over last season’s average (1.8 ppg to 12.6 ppg), which is the largest jump in scoring for any player in the SEC.
KENNEDY ADMINISTRATION BEGINS 11TH YEAR
In 11 seasons under Mississippi native Andy Kennedy, Ole Miss has a 224-135 record, one SEC Tournament championship, two SEC West championships, eight 20-win campaigns and seven postseason berths, which includes two NCAA Tournament appearances and pair of trips to the NIT Final Four. The all-time winningest coach in school history, Kennedy has averaged more than 21 wins per season in his 10 years in Oxford after the Rebels posted just three 21-win seasons in the 96 years before his arrival.
DEAN OF SEC COACHES
Entering his 11th season in the league, Ole Miss head coach Andy Kennedy is the Dean of SEC basketball coaches. This season, Kennedy will have faced 38 different head coaches in the SEC during his time in Oxford. He is also the longest tenured head coach in the league in both basketball and football having entered the league prior to Alabama football coach Nick Saban.
OLE MISS WINS 20 ... AGAIN
Ole Miss posted 20 wins last year for the eighth time in 10 seasons under Andy Kennedy. Ole Miss had seven 20-win campaigns in the 96 seasons prior to Kennedy’s arrival in Oxford. Kennedy is just the fifth coach in SEC history to guide his teams to 20+ wins in at least eight of his first 10 years in the league. The others: Billy Donovan (Florida), Joe. B. Hall (Kentucky), Nolan Richardson (Arkansas), Tubby Smith (Georgia/Kentucky). Kennedy is also the first coach in Ole Miss history to win 20 games in five-straight seasons. Ole Miss and Kentucky are also the only two schools to finish .500 or better in the SEC each of the last five seasons.
REBELS CONSISTENTLY UNDERRATED
The Rebels were predicted to finish ninth in the SEC this year by the media. Ole Miss finished tied for sixth in the league standings after being projected ninth in the preseason last year. The Rebels have not finished worse than sixth in the league and have finished above their preseason projected finish each of the last five seasons since the league moved away from a divisional format.
KENNEDY MOVING UP SEC COACHING WINS LIST
Ole Miss head coach Andy Kennedy moved past former Kentucky coach Rick Pitino for 19th in SEC history with 224 career victories. See complete list below:
1. Adolph Rupp (Kentucky) - 875
2. Billy Donovan (Florida) - 467
3. Dale Brown (LSU) - 448
4. C.M. Newtown (UA/VU) - 340
Harry Rabenhorst (LSU) - 340
6. Kevin Stallings (Vanderbilt) - 332
7. Tubby Smith (UGA/UK) - 308
8. Joe B. Hall (Kentucky) - 297
Hugh Durhman (Georgia) - 297
10. Rick Stansbury (MSU) - 293
11. Ray Mears (Tennessee) - 278
Roy Skinner (Vanderbilt) - 278
13. Wimp Sanderson (Alabama) - 265
John Mauer (UK/UT/UF) - 265
15. Hank Crisp (Alabama) - 264
16. Nolan Richardson (Arkansas) - 249
17. Norm Sloan (Florida) - 232
18. John Calipari (Kentucky) - 233
19. Andy Kennedy (Ole Miss) - 224
20. Rick Pitino (Kentucky) - 219
21. Joel Eaves (Auburn) - 214
SAIZ JOINS 1,000/800 CLUB
With 17 points and 10 rebounds against Tennessee, senior F Sebastian Saiz became just the sixth player in Ole Miss history to eclipse 1,000 points and 800 rebounds in his career. Saiz is the 38th player in Ole Miss history to break 1,000 career points and the 10th under head coach Andy Kennedy. He is also the seventh player in school history to post 800 career rebounds.
SAIZ SAYS DOUBLE-DOUBLE
Senior F Sebastian Saiz is the SEC active career leader in rebounding with 835 boards. He leads the league, and ranks sixth nationally, in rebounding this year pulling down 11.2 boards a game and is the only player in the SEC averaging a double-double this season. Saiz leads the SEC, and ranks fifth nationally, with 14 double-doubles this year and leads all active players in the conference with 23 career double-doubles.
NCAA Rebounding Leaders
1. Angel Delgado, Seton Hall 12.9 PRG
2. Caleb Swanigan, Purdue 12.7 PRG
3. Steve Taylor Jr., Toledo 12.2 RPG
4. Rokas Gustys, Hofstra 12.0 PRG
5. Bryce Washington, ULL 11.7 RPG
6. Sebastian Saiz, Ole Miss 11.2 PRG
7. Alec Peters, Valparaiso 11.0 RPG
8. Aubrey Williams, Kennesaw St. 10.9 RPG
9. James Thompson IV, E. Michigan 10.9 RPG
10. Jimmy Hall, Kent St. 10.8 RPG
OLE MISS NEARING .500 MARK AS A PROGRAM
With a 1271-1277 all time record, Ole Miss is nearing a .500 winning percentage as a program. The Rebels were 95 games under .500 when Andy Kennedy took over in Oxford and have not been .500 or better as a program since Ole Miss was 440-440 on Jan. 17, 1958.
REBELS RATE HIGHLY IN LATEST RPI RELEASE
Ole Miss checks in at No. 68 in the latest Ratings Percentage Index released by the NCAA, while Tuesday’s opponent MSU checks in at No. 122. Ole Miss is 4-9 against the RPI top 105 with wins over Tennessee (No. 41), Auburn (No. 60), Memphis (No. 83) and Saint Joe’s (No. 105). The Rebels’ nine losses this season have come against No. 1 Baylor, No. 8 Kentucky, No. 9 Florida, No. 15 Creighton, No. 19 South Carolina, No. 35 Middle Tennessee, No. 39 Virginia Tech, No. 54 Georgia and No. 80 Texas A&M. Ole Miss boasts the 26th toughest strength of schedule this season and the Rebels have played the 19th toughest non-conference schedule according to ESPN.com.
CONSISTENT WINNER
Andy Kennedy is one of nine active head coaches with 10 or more consecutive winning seasons to start a career. The list includes: Jim Boehiem (40), Roy Williams (28), Tom Izzo (21), Thad Matta (17), Mark Few (17), Jamie Dixon (13), Sean Miller (12) and Dave Rose (11).
KENNEDY’S FIRST 10 YEARS RANK AMONG ALL-TIME SEC GREATS ...
Last season, head coach Andy Kennedy moved past MSU’s Rick Stansbury for the fourth-most wins by a head coach in their first 10 years who took over an SEC program. See the list below:
1. Joe B. Hall (Kentucky) – 227
2. Bill Donovan (Florida) – 226
3. Wimp Sanderson (Alabama) – 216
4. Andy Kennedy (Ole Miss) - 212
5. Rick Stansbury (Mississippi State) – 208
6. Mark Gottfried (Alabama) – 198
7. Kevin Stallings (Vanderbilt) - 189
8. Cliff Ellis (Auburn) – 186
Ray Mears (Tennessee) – 186
10. Don Devoe (Tennessee) – 185
11. John Brady (LSU) – 184
Hugh Durham (Georgia) – 184
13. Dale Brown (LSU) – 175
14. Roy Skinner (Vanderbilt) – 173
16. Babe McCarthy (Mississippi State) – 169
... AND HE IS CLIMBING UP THE 11-YEAR LIST
Kennedy is also fifth on the list for most wins by a coach in their first 11 years in the league after taking over an SEC program. See the list below:
1. Bill Donovan (Florida) – 261
2. Joe B. Hall (Kentucky) – 250
3. Wimp Sanderson (Alabama) – 239
4. Rick Stansbury (Mississippi State) – 231
5. Andy Kennedy (Ole Miss) - 224
6. Kevin Stallings (Vanderbilt) - 213
7. Mark Gottfried (Alabama) – 210
8. Don Devoe (Tennessee) – 204
9. Ray Mears (Tennessee) – 201
10. Hugh Durham (Georgia) – 199
11. Dale Brown (LSU) – 194
12. John Brady (LSU) – 192
13. C.M. Newtown (Alabama) – 193
14. Roy Skinner (Vanderbilt) – 188
15. Adolph Rupp (Kentucky) – 185
REBELS SECURE WINNING SEASON
Ole Miss secured its 10th consecutive winning season last year, all under head coach Andy Kennedy, and is one of just two teams in the SEC and 16 programs in the nation to have 10 straight winning seasons. That list includes Syracuse (46), Kansas (33), Arizona (32), Kentucky (26), Maryland (23), Duke (21), Michigan State (20), Xavier (20), Wisconsin (18), Pittsburgh (16), Louisville (15), North Carolina (14), Ohio State (12), Georgetown (11) and Florida State (10).
REBELS DROP NAIL BITER TO NO. 5 BAYLOR
Ole Miss dropped a nail biter 78-75 to No. 5 Baylor in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge. Senior F Sebastian Saiz posted his 14th double-double of the year with 20 points and 10 rebounds and freshman Breein Tyree added a career-high 20 points, including 18 in the second half. Ole Miss made 22 of 23 attempts (.957) at the line, which is the second-best free throw percentage as a team in a game with 20 or more attempts in school history. The Bears were the highest ranked non-conference opponent to visit Oxford since the Rebels hosted No. 5 Memphis in 1984.
OLE MISS SECURES COMEBACK OVER VOLS
Senior F Sebastian Saiz and sophomore G Terence Davis each posted double-doubles to help erase a 13-point deficit in the second half as Ole Miss outlasted Tennessee 80-69. Davis scored a career-high 20 points and pulled down 11 boards, while Saiz added 17 points and 10 rebounds. Freshman G Breein Tyree and junior F Justas Furmanavicius both added a career-best 15 points. The Rebels held Tennessee without a field goal in the final 4:13 for their sixth win over the Vols in the last seven meetings.
DAVIS, SAIZ LEAD REBELS TO ROAD WIN AT MIZZOU
Senior F Sebastian Saiz picked up his 13th double-double of the year with 19 points and 10 rebounds and sophomore G Terence Davis recorded his second straight double-double 18 points and 11 rebounds as Ole Miss knocked off Missouri 75-71 on the road. Junior G Deandre Burnett added 14 points and hit three 3-pointers in his first action since the Georgia game.
REBELS RALLY FOR NINTH STRAIGHT OVER THE TIGERS
Ole Miss overcame an eight-point halftime deficit to knock off Auburn 88-85 on the road Saturday. It was the Rebels’ ninth-straight win over Auburn, which is the most consecutive wins over an SEC opponent in school history besting a pair of eight game streak against LSU and Mississippi State. Senior F Sebastian Saiz posted his sixth straight double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds and junior G Deandre Burnett added a team-high 18 points and a career-best eight assists. Ole Miss forced 16 Auburn turnovers, recorded eight steals and six Rebels scored in double figures.
BURNETT MAKING FREEBIES
Junior G Deandre Burnett made 25 consecutive free throws to start the season and finished just 12 shy of Dave Rhodes’ school record. Burnett is 119 of 135 (.881) from the charity stripe this season, which ranks fourth in the SEC, and no player in the nation made more consecutive free throws to start the season. As a team, the Rebels rank fourth in the SEC making 74.0 percent of its attempts this year and are 198 of 263 (.753) from the line over the last 10 games.
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
Mississippi State is 13-7 on the year and 4-4 in the SEC after a 71-62 road setback at Alabama Saturday. The Bulldogs have lost three of our their last four SEC games after starting conference play 3-1. MSU is led by sophomore G Quinndary Weatherspoon, who averaging a team-high 17.6 ppg this season. Weatherspoon also leads the squad in field goal percentage and 3-point percentage. Freshman G Lamar Peters is second on the team in scoring at 12.1 ppg and has dished out a team-high 54 assists. MSU ranks 13th in the league in rebounding at 34.8 rpg and last in the SEC in rebounding margin in conference play at -4.8.
SERIES HISTORY VS. MSU
The Bulldogs are Ole Miss’ most-played opponent, having met 254 times on the hardwood, which is also the SEC’s most-played rivalry. Mississippi State holds a 142-112 lead in the series, which began in 1914, but the Rebels have won five of the last six matchups. Ole Miss holds a 82-43 advantage in the series in Oxford and have won the last four meetings at home. Head coach Andy Kennedy is 10-11 against MSU in his career.
DEFENDING HOME COURT
Winning at home has been a trademark of Andy Kennedy’s squads since he took the reins in 2006-07. Ole Miss is 141-38 (.793 win pct.) in home games during Kennedy’s tenure. The Rebels are 15-7 all time in The Pavilion and just snapped an eight-game home winning streak earlier this year. Ole Miss has won 266 of its last 336 games (.794 win pct.) in Oxford dating back to the 1996-97 campaign.
REBELS CLEANING UP ON THE GLASS
The Rebels rank fifth in the SEC pulling down 38.7 rebounds a game this year and seventh the league with a +1.9 rebounding margin. Ole Miss has only been outrebounded by six opponents this year and are cleaning up on the offensive glass pulling down 12.2 offensive rebounds a game, which ranks sixth in the league.
REBELS COME UP SHORT AGAINST NO. 8 WILDCATS
Senior F Sebastian Saiz posted his fourth straight double-double with 23 points and 13 boards, but Ole Miss dropped its SEC opener 99-76 to No. 8 Kentucky. Junior G Deandre Burnett scored 19 points and senior G Rasheed Brooks added 15 for the Rebels, who finished the game 16 of 17 from the free throw line (.941), which is the third-best single game percentage in school history under 20 attempts.
REBELS STIFLE BRADLEY
Sophomore G Terence Davis tied his career high with 19 points and added 6 boards as Ole Miss knocked of Bradley 66-49. Senior G Sebastian Saiz recorded his sixth double-double of the year with 10 points and 13 rebounds, as the Rebels outscored the Braves 26-18 in the paint. Saiz also posted a career-high six blocked shots and Ole Miss tied a school record with 13 blocked shots against Bradley. The previous mark was set in 1993 against Loyola.
OLE MISS TAMES TIGERS
Senior F Sebastian Saiz posted a double-double with 20 points and 16 rebounds as Ole Miss knocked off Memphis 85-77. Junior G Deandre Burnett added 19 points and five assists as the Rebels racked up 17 assists against a season-low 11 turnovers. The win was head coach Andy Kennedy’s third straight victory over the Tigers and he is the first coach in school history to post three-straight wins over Memphis since R.L. Sullivan in 1923-25.
REBELS INK STAR-PACKED CLASS
The Rebels signed three high school standouts during the fall signing period, including two players - Jamarko Pickett and Devontae Shuler - ranked as four-star prospects in the latest release of the Rivals.com 150. The trio has the highest average player rating in school history according to 247 Sports. Pickett, a 6-9, 190-pound forward, comes to Oxford from Massanutten Military Academy in Virginia. Originally from Washington D.C., He averaged 17.0 points, 10.5 rebounds and 4.5 blocked shots a game last year as a senior at Eastern High School for coach Emmanual Kakula en route to first team All-DCIAA honors. The No. 113 player in the nation according to Rvials.com, Pick ett also played for DC Premier AAU squad and averaged 14 points per game, while shooting 46 percent from the field and 39 percent from 3-point range on the summer circuit. A composite four-star guard, Shuler is rated the No. 100 player in the nation by 247 Sports and Scout.com and No. 106 by Rivals.com. A native of Irmo, South Carolina, the same hometown as Rebel legend Murphy Holloway, Shuler attended Irmo High School before transferring to perennial powerhouse Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Virginia last season. As a junior, Shuler averaged 10.1 points per game and helped lead Oak Hill and legendary coach Steve Smith to a 45-1 record, including the Dick’s Sporting Goods National Championship. A 6-5 combo guard, Parker Stewart is one of the nation’s top shooters. He averaged 19 points, six boards and two steals a game while shooting 51 percent from the field and 39 percent from behind the arc last season for coach Shane Sisco at Union City High School. Parker is the son of UT Martin head coach Anthony Stewart.
Ole Miss (12-9, 3-5 SEC) vs. Mississippi State (13-7, 4-4 SEC)
Date: Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2017
Time: 6:00 p.m. CT
Location: Oxford, Miss.
Arena: The Pavilion at Ole Miss (9,051)
Television: SECN
Mike Morgan, play-by-play
Kyle Macy, analyst
Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network
David Kellum, play-by-play
Keith Carter, analyst
Live Audio: OleMissSports.com
Live Video: WatchESPN.com
Series: MSU Leads 142-112
In Oxford: OM Leads 82-43
Streak: OM, W1
Last Meeting: OM, W 86-78 (3/2/16)
TIP OFF
• Ole Miss wraps up a three-game homestand Tuesday when the Rebels welcome Mississippi State to Oxford. The Rebels and the Bulldogs are the SEC’s most-played rivalry, having met 254 times.
• With the win over Bradley, head coach Andy Kennedy moved past former Kentucky coach Rick Pitino into 19th on the SEC career coaching victories list and now has 224 wins at Ole Miss.
• Senior F Sebastian Saiz recorded his 23rd career double-double with 20 points and 10 boards versus No. 5 Baylor and now has 14 double-doubles this season, which leads the SEC and ranks fifth nationally. Saiz leads the SEC and ranks sixth in the nation pulling down 11.2 rebounds a game and is the only player in the SEC this season averaging a double-double. The league’s active career rebounding leader, he recently moved past Elston Turner into fourth in Ole Miss history with 835 rebounds. Saiz has topped both 1,000 points and 800 boards in his career and is just the sixth player in Ole Miss history accomplish that feat.
• Senior F Sebastian Saiz needs just 65 rebounds to join Rebel great Murphy Holloway as the only two players in Ole Miss history with 1,000 points and 900 rebounds.
• Sophomore G Terence Davis earned SEC Player of the Week honors last week after his second straight double- double in the win at Mizzou with 18 points and 11 rebounds. He is averaging 16.5 points and 6.8 rebounds a game over his last four games and has increased his scoring this season 10.8 ppg over last year, which is the largest increase for any player in the SEC.
• Two Ole Miss signees - Devontae Shuler and Jamarko Pickett - were recently ranked four-star prospects in thelatest release of the Rivals.com 150. Shuler was rated the No. 106 prospect in the nation, while Pickett checked in at No. 113. Pickett was also ranked the No. 93 player in the nation by ESPN.com
• Ole Miss boasts the 26th toughest strength of schedule this season according to the NCAA and the Rebels have played 10 teams ranked inside the RPI top 60.
REBELS HOST RVIAL BULLDOGS TUESDAY
Ole Miss wraps up a three-game homestand Tuesday when the Rebels welcome Mississippi State to Oxford. The meeting will be the 255th all-time meeting between the two schools and is the SEC’s most played rivalry. The Rebels have won five of the last six meetings against the Bulldogs, including four straight in Oxford.
MOST IMPROVED PLAYER IN THE SEC
Sophomore Terence Davis earned SEC Player of the Week honors last week after posting two double-doubles in Ole Miss’ wins over Tennessee and Missouri. Davis averaged 19.0 points, 11.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists in the two victories. He had a career-high 20 points in the win over the Vols, including 13 in the second half as the Rebels overcame a 13-point deficit, and added 19 points and 11 boards in the road win at Mizzou. Davis has increased his scoring 10.8 ppg this year over last season’s average (1.8 ppg to 12.6 ppg), which is the largest jump in scoring for any player in the SEC.
KENNEDY ADMINISTRATION BEGINS 11TH YEAR
In 11 seasons under Mississippi native Andy Kennedy, Ole Miss has a 224-135 record, one SEC Tournament championship, two SEC West championships, eight 20-win campaigns and seven postseason berths, which includes two NCAA Tournament appearances and pair of trips to the NIT Final Four. The all-time winningest coach in school history, Kennedy has averaged more than 21 wins per season in his 10 years in Oxford after the Rebels posted just three 21-win seasons in the 96 years before his arrival.
DEAN OF SEC COACHES
Entering his 11th season in the league, Ole Miss head coach Andy Kennedy is the Dean of SEC basketball coaches. This season, Kennedy will have faced 38 different head coaches in the SEC during his time in Oxford. He is also the longest tenured head coach in the league in both basketball and football having entered the league prior to Alabama football coach Nick Saban.
OLE MISS WINS 20 ... AGAIN
Ole Miss posted 20 wins last year for the eighth time in 10 seasons under Andy Kennedy. Ole Miss had seven 20-win campaigns in the 96 seasons prior to Kennedy’s arrival in Oxford. Kennedy is just the fifth coach in SEC history to guide his teams to 20+ wins in at least eight of his first 10 years in the league. The others: Billy Donovan (Florida), Joe. B. Hall (Kentucky), Nolan Richardson (Arkansas), Tubby Smith (Georgia/Kentucky). Kennedy is also the first coach in Ole Miss history to win 20 games in five-straight seasons. Ole Miss and Kentucky are also the only two schools to finish .500 or better in the SEC each of the last five seasons.
REBELS CONSISTENTLY UNDERRATED
The Rebels were predicted to finish ninth in the SEC this year by the media. Ole Miss finished tied for sixth in the league standings after being projected ninth in the preseason last year. The Rebels have not finished worse than sixth in the league and have finished above their preseason projected finish each of the last five seasons since the league moved away from a divisional format.
KENNEDY MOVING UP SEC COACHING WINS LIST
Ole Miss head coach Andy Kennedy moved past former Kentucky coach Rick Pitino for 19th in SEC history with 224 career victories. See complete list below:
1. Adolph Rupp (Kentucky) - 875
2. Billy Donovan (Florida) - 467
3. Dale Brown (LSU) - 448
4. C.M. Newtown (UA/VU) - 340
Harry Rabenhorst (LSU) - 340
6. Kevin Stallings (Vanderbilt) - 332
7. Tubby Smith (UGA/UK) - 308
8. Joe B. Hall (Kentucky) - 297
Hugh Durhman (Georgia) - 297
10. Rick Stansbury (MSU) - 293
11. Ray Mears (Tennessee) - 278
Roy Skinner (Vanderbilt) - 278
13. Wimp Sanderson (Alabama) - 265
John Mauer (UK/UT/UF) - 265
15. Hank Crisp (Alabama) - 264
16. Nolan Richardson (Arkansas) - 249
17. Norm Sloan (Florida) - 232
18. John Calipari (Kentucky) - 233
19. Andy Kennedy (Ole Miss) - 224
20. Rick Pitino (Kentucky) - 219
21. Joel Eaves (Auburn) - 214
SAIZ JOINS 1,000/800 CLUB
With 17 points and 10 rebounds against Tennessee, senior F Sebastian Saiz became just the sixth player in Ole Miss history to eclipse 1,000 points and 800 rebounds in his career. Saiz is the 38th player in Ole Miss history to break 1,000 career points and the 10th under head coach Andy Kennedy. He is also the seventh player in school history to post 800 career rebounds.
SAIZ SAYS DOUBLE-DOUBLE
Senior F Sebastian Saiz is the SEC active career leader in rebounding with 835 boards. He leads the league, and ranks sixth nationally, in rebounding this year pulling down 11.2 boards a game and is the only player in the SEC averaging a double-double this season. Saiz leads the SEC, and ranks fifth nationally, with 14 double-doubles this year and leads all active players in the conference with 23 career double-doubles.
NCAA Rebounding Leaders
1. Angel Delgado, Seton Hall 12.9 PRG
2. Caleb Swanigan, Purdue 12.7 PRG
3. Steve Taylor Jr., Toledo 12.2 RPG
4. Rokas Gustys, Hofstra 12.0 PRG
5. Bryce Washington, ULL 11.7 RPG
6. Sebastian Saiz, Ole Miss 11.2 PRG
7. Alec Peters, Valparaiso 11.0 RPG
8. Aubrey Williams, Kennesaw St. 10.9 RPG
9. James Thompson IV, E. Michigan 10.9 RPG
10. Jimmy Hall, Kent St. 10.8 RPG
OLE MISS NEARING .500 MARK AS A PROGRAM
With a 1271-1277 all time record, Ole Miss is nearing a .500 winning percentage as a program. The Rebels were 95 games under .500 when Andy Kennedy took over in Oxford and have not been .500 or better as a program since Ole Miss was 440-440 on Jan. 17, 1958.
REBELS RATE HIGHLY IN LATEST RPI RELEASE
Ole Miss checks in at No. 68 in the latest Ratings Percentage Index released by the NCAA, while Tuesday’s opponent MSU checks in at No. 122. Ole Miss is 4-9 against the RPI top 105 with wins over Tennessee (No. 41), Auburn (No. 60), Memphis (No. 83) and Saint Joe’s (No. 105). The Rebels’ nine losses this season have come against No. 1 Baylor, No. 8 Kentucky, No. 9 Florida, No. 15 Creighton, No. 19 South Carolina, No. 35 Middle Tennessee, No. 39 Virginia Tech, No. 54 Georgia and No. 80 Texas A&M. Ole Miss boasts the 26th toughest strength of schedule this season and the Rebels have played the 19th toughest non-conference schedule according to ESPN.com.
CONSISTENT WINNER
Andy Kennedy is one of nine active head coaches with 10 or more consecutive winning seasons to start a career. The list includes: Jim Boehiem (40), Roy Williams (28), Tom Izzo (21), Thad Matta (17), Mark Few (17), Jamie Dixon (13), Sean Miller (12) and Dave Rose (11).
KENNEDY’S FIRST 10 YEARS RANK AMONG ALL-TIME SEC GREATS ...
Last season, head coach Andy Kennedy moved past MSU’s Rick Stansbury for the fourth-most wins by a head coach in their first 10 years who took over an SEC program. See the list below:
1. Joe B. Hall (Kentucky) – 227
2. Bill Donovan (Florida) – 226
3. Wimp Sanderson (Alabama) – 216
4. Andy Kennedy (Ole Miss) - 212
5. Rick Stansbury (Mississippi State) – 208
6. Mark Gottfried (Alabama) – 198
7. Kevin Stallings (Vanderbilt) - 189
8. Cliff Ellis (Auburn) – 186
Ray Mears (Tennessee) – 186
10. Don Devoe (Tennessee) – 185
11. John Brady (LSU) – 184
Hugh Durham (Georgia) – 184
13. Dale Brown (LSU) – 175
14. Roy Skinner (Vanderbilt) – 173
16. Babe McCarthy (Mississippi State) – 169
... AND HE IS CLIMBING UP THE 11-YEAR LIST
Kennedy is also fifth on the list for most wins by a coach in their first 11 years in the league after taking over an SEC program. See the list below:
1. Bill Donovan (Florida) – 261
2. Joe B. Hall (Kentucky) – 250
3. Wimp Sanderson (Alabama) – 239
4. Rick Stansbury (Mississippi State) – 231
5. Andy Kennedy (Ole Miss) - 224
6. Kevin Stallings (Vanderbilt) - 213
7. Mark Gottfried (Alabama) – 210
8. Don Devoe (Tennessee) – 204
9. Ray Mears (Tennessee) – 201
10. Hugh Durham (Georgia) – 199
11. Dale Brown (LSU) – 194
12. John Brady (LSU) – 192
13. C.M. Newtown (Alabama) – 193
14. Roy Skinner (Vanderbilt) – 188
15. Adolph Rupp (Kentucky) – 185
REBELS SECURE WINNING SEASON
Ole Miss secured its 10th consecutive winning season last year, all under head coach Andy Kennedy, and is one of just two teams in the SEC and 16 programs in the nation to have 10 straight winning seasons. That list includes Syracuse (46), Kansas (33), Arizona (32), Kentucky (26), Maryland (23), Duke (21), Michigan State (20), Xavier (20), Wisconsin (18), Pittsburgh (16), Louisville (15), North Carolina (14), Ohio State (12), Georgetown (11) and Florida State (10).
REBELS DROP NAIL BITER TO NO. 5 BAYLOR
Ole Miss dropped a nail biter 78-75 to No. 5 Baylor in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge. Senior F Sebastian Saiz posted his 14th double-double of the year with 20 points and 10 rebounds and freshman Breein Tyree added a career-high 20 points, including 18 in the second half. Ole Miss made 22 of 23 attempts (.957) at the line, which is the second-best free throw percentage as a team in a game with 20 or more attempts in school history. The Bears were the highest ranked non-conference opponent to visit Oxford since the Rebels hosted No. 5 Memphis in 1984.
OLE MISS SECURES COMEBACK OVER VOLS
Senior F Sebastian Saiz and sophomore G Terence Davis each posted double-doubles to help erase a 13-point deficit in the second half as Ole Miss outlasted Tennessee 80-69. Davis scored a career-high 20 points and pulled down 11 boards, while Saiz added 17 points and 10 rebounds. Freshman G Breein Tyree and junior F Justas Furmanavicius both added a career-best 15 points. The Rebels held Tennessee without a field goal in the final 4:13 for their sixth win over the Vols in the last seven meetings.
DAVIS, SAIZ LEAD REBELS TO ROAD WIN AT MIZZOU
Senior F Sebastian Saiz picked up his 13th double-double of the year with 19 points and 10 rebounds and sophomore G Terence Davis recorded his second straight double-double 18 points and 11 rebounds as Ole Miss knocked off Missouri 75-71 on the road. Junior G Deandre Burnett added 14 points and hit three 3-pointers in his first action since the Georgia game.
REBELS RALLY FOR NINTH STRAIGHT OVER THE TIGERS
Ole Miss overcame an eight-point halftime deficit to knock off Auburn 88-85 on the road Saturday. It was the Rebels’ ninth-straight win over Auburn, which is the most consecutive wins over an SEC opponent in school history besting a pair of eight game streak against LSU and Mississippi State. Senior F Sebastian Saiz posted his sixth straight double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds and junior G Deandre Burnett added a team-high 18 points and a career-best eight assists. Ole Miss forced 16 Auburn turnovers, recorded eight steals and six Rebels scored in double figures.
BURNETT MAKING FREEBIES
Junior G Deandre Burnett made 25 consecutive free throws to start the season and finished just 12 shy of Dave Rhodes’ school record. Burnett is 119 of 135 (.881) from the charity stripe this season, which ranks fourth in the SEC, and no player in the nation made more consecutive free throws to start the season. As a team, the Rebels rank fourth in the SEC making 74.0 percent of its attempts this year and are 198 of 263 (.753) from the line over the last 10 games.
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
Mississippi State is 13-7 on the year and 4-4 in the SEC after a 71-62 road setback at Alabama Saturday. The Bulldogs have lost three of our their last four SEC games after starting conference play 3-1. MSU is led by sophomore G Quinndary Weatherspoon, who averaging a team-high 17.6 ppg this season. Weatherspoon also leads the squad in field goal percentage and 3-point percentage. Freshman G Lamar Peters is second on the team in scoring at 12.1 ppg and has dished out a team-high 54 assists. MSU ranks 13th in the league in rebounding at 34.8 rpg and last in the SEC in rebounding margin in conference play at -4.8.
SERIES HISTORY VS. MSU
The Bulldogs are Ole Miss’ most-played opponent, having met 254 times on the hardwood, which is also the SEC’s most-played rivalry. Mississippi State holds a 142-112 lead in the series, which began in 1914, but the Rebels have won five of the last six matchups. Ole Miss holds a 82-43 advantage in the series in Oxford and have won the last four meetings at home. Head coach Andy Kennedy is 10-11 against MSU in his career.
DEFENDING HOME COURT
Winning at home has been a trademark of Andy Kennedy’s squads since he took the reins in 2006-07. Ole Miss is 141-38 (.793 win pct.) in home games during Kennedy’s tenure. The Rebels are 15-7 all time in The Pavilion and just snapped an eight-game home winning streak earlier this year. Ole Miss has won 266 of its last 336 games (.794 win pct.) in Oxford dating back to the 1996-97 campaign.
REBELS CLEANING UP ON THE GLASS
The Rebels rank fifth in the SEC pulling down 38.7 rebounds a game this year and seventh the league with a +1.9 rebounding margin. Ole Miss has only been outrebounded by six opponents this year and are cleaning up on the offensive glass pulling down 12.2 offensive rebounds a game, which ranks sixth in the league.
REBELS COME UP SHORT AGAINST NO. 8 WILDCATS
Senior F Sebastian Saiz posted his fourth straight double-double with 23 points and 13 boards, but Ole Miss dropped its SEC opener 99-76 to No. 8 Kentucky. Junior G Deandre Burnett scored 19 points and senior G Rasheed Brooks added 15 for the Rebels, who finished the game 16 of 17 from the free throw line (.941), which is the third-best single game percentage in school history under 20 attempts.
REBELS STIFLE BRADLEY
Sophomore G Terence Davis tied his career high with 19 points and added 6 boards as Ole Miss knocked of Bradley 66-49. Senior G Sebastian Saiz recorded his sixth double-double of the year with 10 points and 13 rebounds, as the Rebels outscored the Braves 26-18 in the paint. Saiz also posted a career-high six blocked shots and Ole Miss tied a school record with 13 blocked shots against Bradley. The previous mark was set in 1993 against Loyola.
OLE MISS TAMES TIGERS
Senior F Sebastian Saiz posted a double-double with 20 points and 16 rebounds as Ole Miss knocked off Memphis 85-77. Junior G Deandre Burnett added 19 points and five assists as the Rebels racked up 17 assists against a season-low 11 turnovers. The win was head coach Andy Kennedy’s third straight victory over the Tigers and he is the first coach in school history to post three-straight wins over Memphis since R.L. Sullivan in 1923-25.
REBELS INK STAR-PACKED CLASS
The Rebels signed three high school standouts during the fall signing period, including two players - Jamarko Pickett and Devontae Shuler - ranked as four-star prospects in the latest release of the Rivals.com 150. The trio has the highest average player rating in school history according to 247 Sports. Pickett, a 6-9, 190-pound forward, comes to Oxford from Massanutten Military Academy in Virginia. Originally from Washington D.C., He averaged 17.0 points, 10.5 rebounds and 4.5 blocked shots a game last year as a senior at Eastern High School for coach Emmanual Kakula en route to first team All-DCIAA honors. The No. 113 player in the nation according to Rvials.com, Pick ett also played for DC Premier AAU squad and averaged 14 points per game, while shooting 46 percent from the field and 39 percent from 3-point range on the summer circuit. A composite four-star guard, Shuler is rated the No. 100 player in the nation by 247 Sports and Scout.com and No. 106 by Rivals.com. A native of Irmo, South Carolina, the same hometown as Rebel legend Murphy Holloway, Shuler attended Irmo High School before transferring to perennial powerhouse Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Virginia last season. As a junior, Shuler averaged 10.1 points per game and helped lead Oak Hill and legendary coach Steve Smith to a 45-1 record, including the Dick’s Sporting Goods National Championship. A 6-5 combo guard, Parker Stewart is one of the nation’s top shooters. He averaged 19 points, six boards and two steals a game while shooting 51 percent from the field and 39 percent from behind the arc last season for coach Shane Sisco at Union City High School. Parker is the son of UT Martin head coach Anthony Stewart.
