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HOOPS: Ole Miss looks to get back to .500 in SEC Wednesday versus Arkansas

Neal McCready

All-Pro NFL
Staff
Feb 26, 2008
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Oxford, MS
From UM Media Relations:

OXFORD, Miss. – Returning home after a week away from their home court, the Ole Miss men's basketball team is prepared to host Arkansas on Wednesday night in the SJB Pavilion on ESPNU at 8 p.m.

TEAM FACTS
Ole Miss Rebels (15-3, 2-3 SEC)
Head Coach: Chris Beard • 1st Season at Ole Miss (15-3) • 252-101 career record (12th Season)

Arkansas Razorbacks (10-8, 1-4 SEC)
Head Coach: Eric Musselman • 5th Season at Arkansas (105-50) • 215-84 career record (9th Season)

ON THE AIR
Television/Online: ESPNU
Play-by-Play: Kevin Fitzgerald
Color: Jimmy Dykes

OLE MISS RADIO
Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network
Play-by-Play: David Kellum
Color: Marc Dukes

SERIES HISTORY VS. ARKANSAS
In 85 previous matchups, the Razorbacks lead the all-time series 52-33 over Ole Miss. A series that began in December of 1937, the two teams didn't meet in Oxford until 31 years later, and the Rebels lead the series playing on their home campus 20-9 since. However, it's Arkansas who has won the last two in Oxford, including nine of the last 10 overall contests.

LAST MEETING: JANUARY 21, 2023 (L, 57-69, FAYETTEVILLE, ARK.)
• Ole Miss trailed by three on the road at halftime but was unable to fuel a second-half comeback.
• The Rebels were led in scoring by forward Jayveous McKinnis with 10 points, while Daeshun Ruffin added 10 off the bench.
• A lottery pick in the 2023 NBA Draft and current member of the Orlando Magic, Anthony Black led the Razorbacks in scoring with 17 points while adding eight assists.

SCOUTING THE RAZORBACKS
Arkansas owns a record of 10-8 on the season overall, and has begun their conference schedule with a record of 1-4. Their non-conference schedule was highlighted by a run of tough opponents from late November to early December, beginning with a win over Stanford at the Battle 4 Atlantis, before falling to Memphis and No. 14 North Carolina in the Bahamas. The Razorbacks then hosted No. 5 Duke and picked up a statement win, before falling to No. 19 Oklahoma on Dec. 9. Arkansas started their SEC schedule off with losses to Auburn, Georgia, and Florida, before picking up a win over Texas A&M. Their most recent game was a 77-64 loss to South Carolina.

Ranking fifth in the SEC in points per game, Houston-transfer Tramon Mark averages 17.8 per game and is shooting 52.6 percent from the floor. He's helped guide one of the best teams in the nation at getting to the free throw line, ranking top-five in the SEC in free throw attempts and makes per outing. The team is led in rebounding by forward Trevon Brazile, who averages 6.7 boards per game and helps lead one of the better blocking teams in the country with 1.3 per game.

Ranking third in the NCAA, and just ahead of Ole Miss in the SEC, Arkansas averages 6.5 blocks per game. Three players on their roster average over a block per game in Brazile (1.33), Chandler Lawson (1.22), and Makhi Mitchell (1.17). The team also excels at getting to the charity stripe, ranking fourth in the NCAA in free throw attempts and fifth in free throws made per game.

In his fifth season at Arkansas, head coach Eric Musselman has won 105 games, and owns a career winning percentage of 71.9 percent. In his previous eight seasons as a head coach between Arkansas and Nevada, Musselman has won 20 or more games in each season.

"THE SMOOTH CRIMINAL ON BEAT BRAKES"
Since December 16, senior Jaemyn Brakefield has been in a unique state of mind. The forward from Jackson, Miss. has shot 56.7 percent from the field (51-90) and 46.9 percent from three (15-32), averaging 16.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game. He has set career-highs for points in a game twice during that stretch, first with 27 against Cal before scoring 28 in the Rebels' win over Florida.

ALL-AMERICAN DR. PARTY
The Rebels hosted a block party on January 10 in the SJB Pavilion, setting a school record with 16 team blocks. Breaking the previous best by three, their total against the Gators tied the SEC record for most blocks in a conference game all-time. Ole Miss was led in the paint by forward Jamarion Sharp, who set a program record of his own with a nine-block performance.

"TEN OUGHTA DO IT, DON'T YOU THINK?"
On December 19 against Troy, Matthew Murrell secured 10 steals to set a new program record for Ole Miss, adding 18 points for the first double-double involving steals in school history. His 10 steals also tied the SEC record for most in a game, the most since 1991, and tie him for the 25th-most in a game in NCAA history. Murrell helped Ole Miss collect 16 steals in the game against Troy, setting a new SJB Pavilion record.

With an average of 2.17 steals per game on the season, Murrell ranks fifth in the SEC and 33rd in the nation.

A NEW 1K KING
With 12 points in Ole Miss' win over NC State, Matthew Murrell surpassed the 1,000-career point mark, becoming the 42nd student-athlete in program history to do so. Now at 1,229 points in his career with the Rebels, Murrell is 29th in school history and sits three points behind next on the list, Dwayne Curtis (2005-08).

27. B.L. "Country" Graham: 1,259
28. Dwayne Curtis (2005-08): 1,232
29. Matthew Murrell (2020-): 1,229
30. Walter Actwood (1973-77): 1,216

A NEW ERA BEGINS
With the hiring of Chris Beard last March, the Ole Miss men's basketball program is prepared to take the next step forward, bringing in one of the most successful coaches of the last decade.

Compiling a record of 252-101 as an NCAA head coach since 2012, Beard holds one of the highest win percentages in the nation, ranking 11th among active head coaches with 10 or more years of experience at 71.4%.
The 2019 AP National Coach of the Year has led three different programs to the NCAA Tournament over the previous eight years, and is undefeated in the opening round at 5-0. His all-time record in the NCAA Tournament is 11-5 (.688).

"I CAN BE YOUR LONG LOST PAL"
After posting the third double-double of his career in the season opener (15 points, career-best 12 rebounds), Allen Flaniganfollowed it up with a career-best 29 points against Eastern Washington. The senior guard surpassed the 1,000 career-point mark against the Eagles, and played a key part in securing the victory by scoring eight of the last 11 points for the Rebels.

He once again led the team in scoring with 23 against Sam Houston, connecting on a career-best 14 makes from the free throw line. The senior helped lead Ole Miss to victory in their first road game at Temple with 26 points, the second-most scored in a game for his career, while tallying a then career-best seven assists. Flanigan added his second double-double of the year in a 20-point win over NC State in the ACC/SEC Challenge with 15 points and 10 rebounds and helped Ole Miss take down Memphis with 18. Against Troy, he increased his career-mark for most assists in a game with nine, following that up with his third double-double of the year against Southern Miss in Biloxi with 10 points and 11 boards.

Flanigan leads the team in rebounding at 6.8 per game and ranks second in scoring at 16.1 points per game, and is the only player in the SEC to sit in the top-10 in each category among conference teams.

THA BLOCK IS HOT
Ole Miss ranks fifth in college basketball averaging 6.4 blocks per game. The muscle in the paint for the Rebels has been Jamarion Sharp, who leads the SEC in blocks per game (2.83) and blocks (51), ranking fifth and sixth in the nation, respectively.

With 115 blocks through 18 games, Ole Miss is on pace to best the program record for blocks in a season at 185 set during the 2012-13 season. Sharp has also already entered the top-10 for most blocks in a single season at Ole Miss, now with 51 which ranks eighth.

Blocked Shots in a Single Season
1. 98, Reginald Buckner (36 games, 2013)
2. 95, Reginald Buckner (34 games, 2011)
3. 69, Aaron Jones (33 games, 2014)
69, Reginald Buckner (32 games, 2012)
5. 64, Reginald Buckner (31 games, 2010)
6. 56, David Dean (28 games, 1993)
7. 52, David Dean (22 games, 1994)
8. 51, Jamarion Sharp (18 games, 2024)
9. 49, Rahim Lockhart (35 games, 2001)
49, Sean Murphy (28 games, 1991)

*MIKE BREEN VOICE* "BANG!"
Shooting 38.3 percent from the three-point line this season, Ole Miss currently ranks 21st in the country in efficiency beyond the arc. Through 18 games, the Rebels have shot 50 percent or better from deep five times, the most in an entire season since they hit that mark or better five times during the 2014-15 campaign.

• Nov. 14 vs. Detroit Mercy: 9-18 (50.0%)
• Nov. 22 at Temple: 10-18 (55.6%)
• Dec. 2 vs. Memphis: 11-22 (50.0%)
• Dec. 16 vs. California: 12-21 (57.1%)
• Dec. 23 vs. Southern Miss: 11-19 (57.9%)

A RECORD START
Ole Miss matched the program record for best start to a season and longest overall win streak, going a perfect 13-0 in non-conference play (also in 2007-08). The Rebels were one of three teams in the nation to start 13-0, joined by James Madison and Houston.

Ole Miss is the third different program head coach Chris Beard has taken to a 10-0 start to begin a season during his nine years as a Division-I coach, having done so in 2015-16 with Little Rock and 2018-19 at Texas Tech.

"I TAKE THE WORK, FLIP IT, ACROBATIC"
Ole Miss has shown elite ball control and movement on the offensive side. With a total of 275 assists compared to 190 turnovers, the Rebels' ratio of 1.45 ranks No.46 in the nation.

The team is led in assists by Jaylen Murray (67 assists to 31 turnovers) and Allen Flanigan (58 assists to 38 turnovers). Murray ranks in the top-10 among SEC players in both assists per game (8th, 3.72) and assist-to-turnover ratio (10th, 2.16).

RUNNING THE COURT LIKE MCKENZIE LONG
Ole Miss is averaging just over 13 fastbreak points per game to begin the season, with their clip of 13.44 ranking No. 54 in the NCAA. Outscoring their opponents 243-119 in fastbreak points this year, the Rebels have scored equal or more fastbreak points in 17 of 18 games.

Ole Miss has created their opportunities for quick points by ranking fifth in the country in blocks per game and 36th in steals per game.

AMONG THE BEST
Forwards Jamarion Sharp and Moussa Cisse rank among the nation's best in active career leaders in a handful of statistical categories. After becoming the fifth player ever to lead the NCAA in blocks in two seasons, Sharp ranks first in both career blocks (330) and career blocked shots per game (4.02). Establishing himself as a premier shot blocker as well, Cisse ranks 18th in blocks per game (1.75) and 20th in total blocks (177). Cisse also ranks 76th among active players in total rebounds with 675.

Sharp ranks as the most efficient active shot maker in the nation as well, with a career field goal percentage of 67.1. While he doesn't qualify for the minimum made field goals for the all-time list, his career field goal percentage would rank as the fifth-highest in college basketball history.

PACING THE GAME LIKE VERSTAPPEN
Through 18 games this season in 12 hours of total gameplay, Ole Miss has held a lead for eight hours, 24 minutes, and 13 seconds, over 70 percent of action during the 2023-24 campaign. The Rebels have led their opponent for 30 or more minutes in 12 of 18 games so far, and for 38 minutes or more in seven games.

IT'S ELITE IN THE 'SIP
Ole Miss is one of just three FBS programs in the country to start at 10-0 in hoops and compile a 10-win season in football. They are joined by James Madison and Oklahoma.

The No. 11 Ole Miss football team defeated No. 10 Penn State 38-25 in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on December 30 in Atlanta.

CLIMBING THE LEADERBOARDS
Senior Matthew Murrell has been a consistent threat from three-point range throughout his four years at Ole Miss. This season, he has entered the top-10 career lists in school history for three-point field goals made and attempts.

Three-Point Field Goals Made
1. 334, Chris Warren (115 games, 2008-11)
2. 278, Aaron Harper (123 games, 2001-04)
3. 267, Marshall Henderson (66 games, 2013-14)
4. 249, Keith Carter (117 games, 1996-99)
5. 214, Joe Harvell (114 games, 1990-93)
6. 207, Breein Tyree (130 games, 2017-20)
7. 182, Matthew Murrell (107 games, 2020-)
8. 181, Stefan Moody (65 games, 2014-16)
9. 178, Devontae Shuler (124 games, 2018-21)
10. 176, Terence Davis (121 games (2016-19)

Three-Point Field Goals Attempted
1. 900, Chris Warren (115 games, 2008-11)
2. 771, Marshall Henderson (66 games, 2013-2014)
3. 720, Aaron Harper (123 games, 2001-04)
4. 686, Keith Carter (117 games, 1996-99)
5. 581, Breein Tyree (130 games, 2017-20)
6. 528, Joe Harvell (114 games, 1990-93)
7. 527, Matthew Murrell (107 games, 2020-)
8. 523, Devontae Shuler (124 games, 2018-21)
9. 519, Terence Davis (121 games, 2016-19)
10. 494, Stefan Moody (65 games, 2015-16)

"AROUND THE 'ARC', A PERIMETER CREATE"
Ole Miss has been strong at defending the three-point shot this season, holding opponents to 32.0% from deep. The Rebels have kept their foe to 20% or less in five games this year:

• Nov. 10 vs. Eastern Washington: 4-22 (18.2%)
• Nov. 28 vs. NC State: 3-25 (12.0%)
• Dec. 2 vs. Memphis: 3-18 (16.7%)
• Dec. 5 vs. Mount St. Mary's: 5-25 (20.0%)
• Dec. 10 at UCF: 4-22 (18.2%)

SKEE-LO'S HERO
Transfer forward Jamarion Sharp stands as the tallest student-athlete in NCAA Division I men's basketball this season at 7'5", a title he has held for three-straight seasons now, and is even listed as one of the tallest living humans on Wikipedia. After spending his first two college years at John A. Logan College, Sharp played two years at Western Kentucky from 2021 to 2023. In 64 games played, he averaged 7.8 points per game, 7.6 rebounds per game, and became just the fifth person ever to lead the NCAA in blocks twice. His margin of 4.02 blocks per game during his career is currently the 14th-best average in college basketball history, while his 330 total blocks rank 69th all time.

Against Vanderbilt on January 13, Sharp passed former Rebel-great Reginald Buckner who had 326 swats during his career.

With career block No. 300, Sharp became the 95th player in NCAA history to hit that mark. He is one of just 14 on that list to hit the 300-block mark in three years or less.

Career Blocked Shot Average (min. 225 blocks)
1. 5.87 - Keith Closs, Central Conn. St. (54 GP, 317 blks.)
2. 5.66 - Adonal Foyle, Colgate (87 GP, 492 blks.)
3. 5.34 - Shawn James, Northeastern/Duquesne (83 GP, 443 blks.)
4. 5.24 - David Robinson, Navy (67 GP, 351 blks.)
5. 4.66 - Mickell Gladness, Alabama A&M (85 GP, 396 blks.)
6. 4.65 - Wojciech Myrda, La.-Monroe (115 GP, 535 blks.)
7. 4.58 - Shaquille O'Neal, LSU (90 GP, 412 blks.)
8. 4.48 - Jerome James, Florida A&M (81 GP, 363 blks.)
9. 4.42 - Deng Gai, Fairfield (100 GP, 442 blks.)
10. 4.28 - Emeka Okafor, UConn (103 GP, 441 blks.)
11. 4.21 - Justin Williams, Wyoming (58 GP, 244 blks.)
12. 4.17 - Hasheem Thabeet, UConn (100 GP, 417 blks.)
13. 4.11 - Justin Rowe, Maine (55 GP, 226 blks.)
14. 4.02 - Jamarion Sharp, Western Ky./Ole Miss (82 GP, 330 blks.)

Career Blocked Shots
67. 334 - Elden Campbell, Clemson
68. 333 - Jerome Jordan, Tulsa
69. 330 - Jamarion Sharp, Western Ky./Ole Miss

HOW'S THE WEATHER?
The roster for Ole Miss this season has the tallest student-athlete in Division I in forward Jamarion Sharp, and has the shortest student-athlete in the country in guard Cam Brent. The two stand a full two feet apart in height, with Sharp at 7'5" and Brent at 5'5".

PREPARED FOR A CHALLENGE
The remainder of the Ole Miss schedule ranks as one of the toughest in the country, as their upcoming opponents win-percentage of 68.1% ranks 25th in the NCAA. Among their 13 games left on the schedule, 10 are against a top-100 NET team, and 7 against a top-50 team. ESPN's BPI ranks Ole Miss' remaining strength of schedule 26th-hardest in the nation.

VALUED LEADERSHIP
The Ole Miss men's basketball coaching staff is one of the more experienced around the country. In his 14th year as a collegiate head coach, Chris Beard is joined on the court by former head coaches Win Case (16 years), Brian Burg (three years), and Wes Flanigan (two years). Assistant coach Bob Donewald Jr. has 16 years of head coaching experience at the professional and national level, while assistant Al Pinkins has been an associate or assistant coach at six different NCAA Division-I programs, including four within the SEC. The Ole Miss coaching staff has experience at five other SEC programs: Auburn, Florida, LSU, Mississippi State, and Tennessee.

"IT AIN'T GON' NEVER STOP"
Head coach Chris Beard and staff continue to work on securing the future for Ole Miss basketball, and did so with a pair of signees in the NLI early signing period in November:

John Bol • F • 7-1 • Buma • Overtime Elite
Ranked as the second-highest recruit in program history according to 247Sports, Bol is a consensus four-star recruit, ranking as high as No. 38 in the nation by 247Sports and No. 40 by ESPN. He is an elite shot blocker and rebounder who stands at 7'1" and is able to affect the game on both ends of the floor. Ranked as the top player in the state of Georgia by ESPN, Bol has developed a reputation as one of the hardest playing big men in the country.

Eduardo Klafke • G • 6-5 • Fanca-Sao Paulo, Brazil • NBA Academy Latin America
A combo guard from the prestigious NBA Academy Latin America, Klafke will come to Oxford from Franca-Sao Paulo, Brazil. One of the top international players in his age group, he has consistently played above his age while representing Brazil on the national stage, playing in U19 games as a 17-year-old. Klafke will help bring a spark to the offense as an elite shooter and is excellent in playing both on and off the ball.

"WE BALLIN' LIKE THE MARCH MADNESS"
Among the seven transfers for the Rebels, over half have been to the NCAA Tournament during their collegiate career, with a total of five appearances. Brandon Murray (LSU, 2022 First Round), Austin Nunez (Arizona State, 2023 First Round), and Jaylen Murray(Saint Peter's, 2022 Elite Eight) have each been to the postseason once in their careers, while Allen Flanigan has been twice (Auburn, 2022 and 2023 Second Round).
 
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