From UM Media Relations:
Ole Miss (11-7, 2-4 SEC) at Missouri (5-12, 0-5 SEC)
Date: Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017
Time: 2:30 p.m. CT
Location: Columbia, Mo.
Arena: Mizzou Arena (15,061)
Television: SEC Network
Dave Neal, play-by-play
Jon Sundvold, analyst
Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network
David Kellum, play-by-play
Keith Kessinger, analyst
Live Audio: OleMissSports.com
Live Video: WatchESPN.com
Series: OM leads 6-1
In Columbia: OM leads 2-1
Streak: OM, W5
Last Meeting: OM, W 85-76 (2/23/16)
TIP OFF
• Ole Miss heads to Columbia, Mo. Saturday to face the Missouri Tigers. The Rebels have won five straight and six of the seven all-time meetings against the Tigers.
• The Rebels rank third in the league pulling down 40.3 rpg and have outrebounded all but four opponents this year. Ole Miss ranks fourth in the SEC grabbing 12.7 offensive rpg this season.
• Ole Miss tied a school record with 13 blocked shots versus Bradley and ranks 20th in the nation averaging 5.6 blocked shots a game.
• With the win over Bradley, head coach Andy Kennedy moved past former UK coach Rick Pitino into 19th on the SEC career coaching victories list and now has 223 wins at Ole Miss.
• Senior F Sebastian Saiz recorded his 21st career double-double with 17 points and 10 boards in the win over Tennessee and now has 12 double-doubles this season, which leads the SEC and ranks sixth nationally. Saiz leads the SEC and ranks sixth in the nation pulling down 11.6 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 Rahim Lockhart into seventh in Ole Miss history with 808 rebounds.
• With 17 points and 10 rebounds against UT, Saiz topped both 1,000 points and 800 boards in his career and became is just the sixth player in Ole Miss history accomplish that feat.
• Sophomore G Terence Davis posted a double-double in the win over the Vols with a career-high 20 points and 11 rebounds. He is averaging 12.2 points and 5.4 rebounds a game this season after posting just 1.8 points, and 0.9 rebounds per game as a freshman.
• 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.
• Ole Miss boasts the eighth toughest strength of schedule this season according to ESPN.com and the Rebels have played seven teams ranked inside the RPI top 50 by the NCAA.
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 be seventh player in school history to post 800 career rebounds.
KENNEDY ADMINISTRATION BEGINS 11TH YEAR
In 11 seasons under Mississippi native Andy Kennedy, Ole Miss has a 223-133 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 andhave 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 223 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) - 223
20.Rick Pitino (Kentucky) - 219
21. Joel Eaves (Auburn) - 214
REBELS RATE HIGHLY IN LATEST RPI RELEASE
Ole Miss checks in at No. 44 in the latest Ratings Percentage Index released by the NCAA. The Rebels rank fifth in the SEC, while Saturday’s opponent Tennessee checks in at No. 277. Ole Miss is 5-7 against the RPI top 115 with wins over Tennessee (No. 68), Auburn (No. 79), UMass (No. 87), Saint Joe’s (No. 93), and Memphis (No. 115). The Rebels’ seven losses this season have come against , No. 4 Florida, No. 6 Creighton, No. 7 Kentucky, No. 23 Middle Tennessee, No. 29 South Carolina, No. 43 Georgia and No. 56 Virginia Tech. Ole Miss boasts the 15th toughest strength of schedule this season and the Rebels have played the 28th toughest non-conference schedule according to ESPN.com.
SAIZ SAYS DOUBLE-DOUBLE
Senior F Sebastian Saizis the SEC active career leader in rebounding with 808 boards. He leads the league, and ranks sixth nationally, in rebounding this year pulling down 11.6 boards a game and is the only player in the SEC averaging a double-double this season. Saiz leads the SEC with 12 double-doubles this year and leads all active players in the conference with 21 career double-doubles.
NCAA Rebounding Leaders
1. Rokas Gustys, Hofstra12.5 PRG
2. Caleb Swanigan, Purdue12.5 PRG
3. Bryce Washington, ULL12.2 RPG
4. Angel Delgado, Seton Hall12.0 PRG
5. Steve Taylor Jr., Toledo11.9 RPG
6. Sebastian Saiz, Ole Miss11.6 PRG
7. Ivan Rabb, Cal11.1 RPG
8. Alec Peters, Valparaiso10.9 RPG
9. Bonzie Colson, Notre Dame10.9 RPG
9. Jimmy Hall, Kent State10.9 RPG
OLE MISS NEARING .500 MARK AS A PROGRAM
With a 1270-1275 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.
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) - 223
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 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 111 of 122 (.910) from the charity stripe this season, which leads in the SEC, and no player in the nation made more consecutive free throws to start the season. As a team, the Rebels ranks fifth in the SEC making 73.3 percent of its attempts this year and are 148 of 200 (.740) from the line over the last eight games.
REBELS SECURE WINNING SEASON
Ole Miss secured its 10th consecutive winning season last year, all underhead 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).
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Mizzou is 5-12 on the year and 0-5 in the league after a 68-56 road setback at Alabama Wednesday night. The Tigers have lost nine-straight games and haven’t won since Dec. 6. Texas transfer Jordan Barnett, who became eligible six games ago, leads the team in scoring at 12.6 ppg and is one of only two player averaging in double figures this year. The junior forward also leads the team in rebounding pulling down 6.9 boards a game. Sophomore F Kevin Puryear is second on the squad in scoring (10.9 ppg) and rebounding (6.5 rpg). The Tigers rank last in the SEC in field goal percentage shooting just 39.0 percent from the floor this year and are 13th in the league in scoring at 69.9 ppg.
SERIES HISTORY VS. MIZZOU
Ole Miss and Missouri have play just seven times with seven meetings coming in since the Tigers joined the SEC in 2012-13. The Rebels lead the all-time series 6-1 and have won five straight, including a season sweep of the Tigers last season. The Rebels are 2-1 against Mizzou in Columbia including an 85-76 road win last season. Ole Miss’ only loss to the Tigers came in the first ever meeting in Columbia in 2013. Head coach Andy Kennedy is 6-1 in his career against Missouri.
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 141-36 (.797 win pct.) in home games during Kennedy’s tenure. The Rebels are 15-5 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 334 games (.796 win pct.) in Oxford dating back to the 1996-97 campaign.
REBELS CLEANING UP ON THE GLASS
The Rebels rank third in the SEC pulling down 40.3 rebounds a game this year and rank fifth the league with a +3.7 rebounding margin. Ole Miss has outrebounded all but four opponents this year and are cleaning up on the offensive glass pulling down 12.7 offensive rebounds a game, which ranks fourth 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 TAKE DOWN SAINT JOE’S BEHIND SAIZ’S CAREER NIGHT
Senior F Sebastian Saiz scored a career-high 26 points and added 12 rebounds, as Ole Miss advanced to the Paradise Jam championship game with an 81-68 victory over Saint Joseph’s Sunday. Junior G Deandre Burnett added 20 points, and Cullen Neal and Rasheed Brookshad 11 each for the Rebels, who pushed a 41-37 halftime lead to as many as 16 points in the second half. The double-double was Saiz’s second of the season and his 11th of his career.
BURNETT’S 41 LIFTS OLE MISS PAST ORAL ROBERTS
Junior G Deandre Burnett scored a career-high 41 points and nailed 9 of 12 from behind the arc as Ole Miss fought off Oral Roberts in overtime 95-88 in the opening round of the Paradise Jam. Burnett shot 12 of 19 from the field, was 8 of 8 from the line and added four assists and four rebounds. His nine 3s was the second most in school history, one shy of Marshall Henderson’s school record set in 2013 against Oregon. The 41-point outburst was the most by a Rebel in a game since Stefan Moody scored 43 versus Mississippi State last season, was a Paradise Jam tournament record and is the fourth most in the NCAA this season. Junior F Marcanvis Hymon pulled down a season-high 11 rebounds, as Ole Miss outrebounded the Golden Eagles 40-33.
REBELS FALL IN THE FINAL MINUTES TO NO. 12 CREIGHTON
Senior G Rasheed Brooks scored a career-high 22 points, but Ole Miss dropped a nail-bitter 86-77 to No. 12 Creighton in the final minutes of in the Paradise Jam championship. Brooks knocked down 9 of 14 shots from the field including four 3-pointers and added two rebounds and two steals. Junior G Deandre Burnett also added 22 points and senior F Sebastian Saiz pulled down 14 rebounds as Ole Miss dominated the glass with a 37-27 advantage, 17-7 in offensive rebounds and 20-4 edge in second-chance points. The Rebels jumped to a quick 5-0 lead and led by as many as 10 points in the second half before Creighton closed the game on a 12-3 run to secure the victory.
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, who has more than 15 years of college coaching experience. He chose Ole Miss over Georgetown, Kansas State, Nebraska and Wisconsin.
Ole Miss (11-7, 2-4 SEC) at Missouri (5-12, 0-5 SEC)
Date: Saturday, Jan. 21, 2017
Time: 2:30 p.m. CT
Location: Columbia, Mo.
Arena: Mizzou Arena (15,061)
Television: SEC Network
Dave Neal, play-by-play
Jon Sundvold, analyst
Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network
David Kellum, play-by-play
Keith Kessinger, analyst
Live Audio: OleMissSports.com
Live Video: WatchESPN.com
Series: OM leads 6-1
In Columbia: OM leads 2-1
Streak: OM, W5
Last Meeting: OM, W 85-76 (2/23/16)
TIP OFF
• Ole Miss heads to Columbia, Mo. Saturday to face the Missouri Tigers. The Rebels have won five straight and six of the seven all-time meetings against the Tigers.
• The Rebels rank third in the league pulling down 40.3 rpg and have outrebounded all but four opponents this year. Ole Miss ranks fourth in the SEC grabbing 12.7 offensive rpg this season.
• Ole Miss tied a school record with 13 blocked shots versus Bradley and ranks 20th in the nation averaging 5.6 blocked shots a game.
• With the win over Bradley, head coach Andy Kennedy moved past former UK coach Rick Pitino into 19th on the SEC career coaching victories list and now has 223 wins at Ole Miss.
• Senior F Sebastian Saiz recorded his 21st career double-double with 17 points and 10 boards in the win over Tennessee and now has 12 double-doubles this season, which leads the SEC and ranks sixth nationally. Saiz leads the SEC and ranks sixth in the nation pulling down 11.6 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 Rahim Lockhart into seventh in Ole Miss history with 808 rebounds.
• With 17 points and 10 rebounds against UT, Saiz topped both 1,000 points and 800 boards in his career and became is just the sixth player in Ole Miss history accomplish that feat.
• Sophomore G Terence Davis posted a double-double in the win over the Vols with a career-high 20 points and 11 rebounds. He is averaging 12.2 points and 5.4 rebounds a game this season after posting just 1.8 points, and 0.9 rebounds per game as a freshman.
• 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.
• Ole Miss boasts the eighth toughest strength of schedule this season according to ESPN.com and the Rebels have played seven teams ranked inside the RPI top 50 by the NCAA.
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 be seventh player in school history to post 800 career rebounds.
KENNEDY ADMINISTRATION BEGINS 11TH YEAR
In 11 seasons under Mississippi native Andy Kennedy, Ole Miss has a 223-133 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 andhave 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 223 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) - 223
20.Rick Pitino (Kentucky) - 219
21. Joel Eaves (Auburn) - 214
REBELS RATE HIGHLY IN LATEST RPI RELEASE
Ole Miss checks in at No. 44 in the latest Ratings Percentage Index released by the NCAA. The Rebels rank fifth in the SEC, while Saturday’s opponent Tennessee checks in at No. 277. Ole Miss is 5-7 against the RPI top 115 with wins over Tennessee (No. 68), Auburn (No. 79), UMass (No. 87), Saint Joe’s (No. 93), and Memphis (No. 115). The Rebels’ seven losses this season have come against , No. 4 Florida, No. 6 Creighton, No. 7 Kentucky, No. 23 Middle Tennessee, No. 29 South Carolina, No. 43 Georgia and No. 56 Virginia Tech. Ole Miss boasts the 15th toughest strength of schedule this season and the Rebels have played the 28th toughest non-conference schedule according to ESPN.com.
SAIZ SAYS DOUBLE-DOUBLE
Senior F Sebastian Saizis the SEC active career leader in rebounding with 808 boards. He leads the league, and ranks sixth nationally, in rebounding this year pulling down 11.6 boards a game and is the only player in the SEC averaging a double-double this season. Saiz leads the SEC with 12 double-doubles this year and leads all active players in the conference with 21 career double-doubles.
NCAA Rebounding Leaders
1. Rokas Gustys, Hofstra12.5 PRG
2. Caleb Swanigan, Purdue12.5 PRG
3. Bryce Washington, ULL12.2 RPG
4. Angel Delgado, Seton Hall12.0 PRG
5. Steve Taylor Jr., Toledo11.9 RPG
6. Sebastian Saiz, Ole Miss11.6 PRG
7. Ivan Rabb, Cal11.1 RPG
8. Alec Peters, Valparaiso10.9 RPG
9. Bonzie Colson, Notre Dame10.9 RPG
9. Jimmy Hall, Kent State10.9 RPG
OLE MISS NEARING .500 MARK AS A PROGRAM
With a 1270-1275 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.
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) - 223
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 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 111 of 122 (.910) from the charity stripe this season, which leads in the SEC, and no player in the nation made more consecutive free throws to start the season. As a team, the Rebels ranks fifth in the SEC making 73.3 percent of its attempts this year and are 148 of 200 (.740) from the line over the last eight games.
REBELS SECURE WINNING SEASON
Ole Miss secured its 10th consecutive winning season last year, all underhead 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).
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Mizzou is 5-12 on the year and 0-5 in the league after a 68-56 road setback at Alabama Wednesday night. The Tigers have lost nine-straight games and haven’t won since Dec. 6. Texas transfer Jordan Barnett, who became eligible six games ago, leads the team in scoring at 12.6 ppg and is one of only two player averaging in double figures this year. The junior forward also leads the team in rebounding pulling down 6.9 boards a game. Sophomore F Kevin Puryear is second on the squad in scoring (10.9 ppg) and rebounding (6.5 rpg). The Tigers rank last in the SEC in field goal percentage shooting just 39.0 percent from the floor this year and are 13th in the league in scoring at 69.9 ppg.
SERIES HISTORY VS. MIZZOU
Ole Miss and Missouri have play just seven times with seven meetings coming in since the Tigers joined the SEC in 2012-13. The Rebels lead the all-time series 6-1 and have won five straight, including a season sweep of the Tigers last season. The Rebels are 2-1 against Mizzou in Columbia including an 85-76 road win last season. Ole Miss’ only loss to the Tigers came in the first ever meeting in Columbia in 2013. Head coach Andy Kennedy is 6-1 in his career against Missouri.
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 141-36 (.797 win pct.) in home games during Kennedy’s tenure. The Rebels are 15-5 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 334 games (.796 win pct.) in Oxford dating back to the 1996-97 campaign.
REBELS CLEANING UP ON THE GLASS
The Rebels rank third in the SEC pulling down 40.3 rebounds a game this year and rank fifth the league with a +3.7 rebounding margin. Ole Miss has outrebounded all but four opponents this year and are cleaning up on the offensive glass pulling down 12.7 offensive rebounds a game, which ranks fourth 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 TAKE DOWN SAINT JOE’S BEHIND SAIZ’S CAREER NIGHT
Senior F Sebastian Saiz scored a career-high 26 points and added 12 rebounds, as Ole Miss advanced to the Paradise Jam championship game with an 81-68 victory over Saint Joseph’s Sunday. Junior G Deandre Burnett added 20 points, and Cullen Neal and Rasheed Brookshad 11 each for the Rebels, who pushed a 41-37 halftime lead to as many as 16 points in the second half. The double-double was Saiz’s second of the season and his 11th of his career.
BURNETT’S 41 LIFTS OLE MISS PAST ORAL ROBERTS
Junior G Deandre Burnett scored a career-high 41 points and nailed 9 of 12 from behind the arc as Ole Miss fought off Oral Roberts in overtime 95-88 in the opening round of the Paradise Jam. Burnett shot 12 of 19 from the field, was 8 of 8 from the line and added four assists and four rebounds. His nine 3s was the second most in school history, one shy of Marshall Henderson’s school record set in 2013 against Oregon. The 41-point outburst was the most by a Rebel in a game since Stefan Moody scored 43 versus Mississippi State last season, was a Paradise Jam tournament record and is the fourth most in the NCAA this season. Junior F Marcanvis Hymon pulled down a season-high 11 rebounds, as Ole Miss outrebounded the Golden Eagles 40-33.
REBELS FALL IN THE FINAL MINUTES TO NO. 12 CREIGHTON
Senior G Rasheed Brooks scored a career-high 22 points, but Ole Miss dropped a nail-bitter 86-77 to No. 12 Creighton in the final minutes of in the Paradise Jam championship. Brooks knocked down 9 of 14 shots from the field including four 3-pointers and added two rebounds and two steals. Junior G Deandre Burnett also added 22 points and senior F Sebastian Saiz pulled down 14 rebounds as Ole Miss dominated the glass with a 37-27 advantage, 17-7 in offensive rebounds and 20-4 edge in second-chance points. The Rebels jumped to a quick 5-0 lead and led by as many as 10 points in the second half before Creighton closed the game on a 12-3 run to secure the victory.
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, who has more than 15 years of college coaching experience. He chose Ole Miss over Georgetown, Kansas State, Nebraska and Wisconsin.
