I'll have some form of postgame coverage Saturday afternoon.
Here's a preview from UM Media Relations:
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Following a road win at South Carolina their last time out, the Ole Miss men's basketball team looks to keep it rolling when they take on No. 25 Arkansas Saturday, January 21 at 11 a.m. in Bud Walton Arena and on ESPN2.
TEAM FACTS
Ole Miss Rebels (9-9, 1-5 SEC)
Head Coach: Kermit Davis • 5th Season at Ole Miss (73-70) • 542-333 career record (28th Season)
No. 25 Arkansas Razorbacks (12-6, 1-5 SEC)
Head Coach: Eric Musselman • 4th Season at Arkansas (85-34) • 195-68 career record (8th Season)
ON THE AIR
Television/Online: ESPN2
Play-by-Play: Jordan Bernfield
Color: Brooke Weisbrod
OLE MISS RADIO
Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network
Play-by-Play: David Kellum
Color: Marc Dukes
SERIES HISTORY VS. ARKANSAS
This will be the 85th game in the all-time series between Ole Miss and Arkansas, and the 57th since the Razorbacks joined the SEC in 1991. Arkansas leads the all-time series overall at 51-33, as well as the matchups in Fayatteville at 19-11. The Rebels hold the lead in Oxford however, 20-9.
The first 16 games in the series, which began in December of 1950, were played at neutral sites (Arkansas leads series in neutral games 23-2), with the first on-campus matchup happening in on Dec. 9, 1967 in Fayetteville when the Razorbacks defeated the Rebels 64-62.
Recently, Arkansas has taken control of the series with Ole Miss, winning eight of the last 10. However, the two have been much closer over the last 20, as the Razorbacks lead 11-9 and 16-14 over the previous 30 matchups. During a 33-game stretch from January 2, 1997 to January 19, 2013, Ole Miss took over the series 24-9 over the 16-year period.
LAST MEETING: JANUARY 16, 2022 (L, 55-64, OXFORD, MISS., SJB PAVILION)
• The Razorbacks led at the halftime break by seven, 30-23, and held on for the nine-point victory to win their 15th game of the season and set Ole Miss' record at 10-10 overall.
• The Rebels were unable to pull out the victory despite winning the rebound battle 33-31, and going a perfect 13-13 from the free throw line.
• Ole Miss had four players score in double figures: Matthew Murrell (14), Nysier Brooks (10), Daeshun Ruffin (10), and Tye Fagan (10).
• Arkansas senior guard JD Notae led all scorers with 25 points, while current member of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Jaylin Williams, stuffed the box score with 18 points, eight rebounds, three assists, three blocks, and two steals.
SCOUTING THE RAZORBACKS
Arkansas opened up their 2022-23 regular season schedule with four-straight victories before falling to No. 10 Creighton 90-87 at the Maui Jim Maui Invitational. After bouncing back with a 78-74 win in overtime against No. 17 San Diego State, the Razorbacks won six consecutive games before dropping their conference opener at LSU 60-57. Their SEC schedule has consisted of one win over No. 20 Missouri, with losses at No. 22 Auburn, against No. 4 Alabama, and on the road against Vanderbilt and Missouri. They enter today's game with an identical SEC record to Ole Miss at 1-5.
The team has been led by junior transfer Ricky Council IV, who averages a team-best 18.3 points per game since joining the program from Wichita State. He is one of four current members of the team averaging 10 or more points per game; joined by Nick Smith Jr. (12.8 - hasn't played since Dec. 17), Anthony Black (12.4), and Trevon Brazile (11.8 - hasn't played since Dec. 6). They are led on the glass by senior transfer Makhi Mitchell at 5.8 per game, who joined the program from Rhode Island.
ANOTHER ONE
With an average of 12.1 offensive rebounds per game, the Rebels have been among the best in the country in earning second chances on the glass, currently ranking 53rd in the nation. The team is led by senior transfer Myles Burns with 40 offensive rebounds (2.2 per game, 7th in the SEC).
TAKING THE FREE ONES
Junior Matthew Murrell is shooting an impressive 84.4% (54-64) from the free throw line this season, which is tops in the SEC. As it stands, his current percentage would tie him for the 10th-best free throw percentage in a single season at Ole Miss.
Ole Miss Men's Basketball - Free Throw Percentage in a Season Top 10
1. Chris Warren, 2011: 92.8%
2. Stefan Moody, 2015: 90.3%
3. David Rhodes, 1972: 90.1%
4. Marshall Henderson, 2013: 88.3%
5. Deandre Burnett, 2017: 88.1%
6. Jack Waters, 1960: 87.3%
7. Zach Graham, 2011: 87.1%
8. Jason Harrison, 2002: 86.0%
9. David Rhodes, 1971: 84.9%
10. Don Kessinger, 1963: 84.4%
THROUGH THE FIRE
Ole Miss has faced off with some of the best competition college basketball has to offer, as the Rebels current strength of schedule ranks 10th in the nation. With a combined opponent record of 199-114 (0.636), they have taken on nine foes with a current NET ranking in the top-100, including six in the top-50 and two in the top-10.
WHEN IT COUNTS
Ole Miss has been especially strong in the second half this season, shooting 46.0 percent overall in the back half. Additionally, the Rebels have put up a +2.8 rebounding margin in the second half this season, while junior Matthew Murrell is averaging 9.4 points per second half this season. At the ESPN Events Invitational, Ole Miss shot a blistering 55 percent overall, led by 14.3 points per second half by Amaree Abram, who was also 5-of-6 from three and a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line in the back half.
BLOCK PARTY
The Ole Miss defense currently averages 65.3 points allowed per game, only letting their opponents top 70 points three times this year. A major part of their defensive identity has been enforcing the paint, as the Rebels rank 29th in the country and fifth in the SEC in blocks per game (4.9). They are led down low by senior transfers Theo Akwuba (24 total blocks, 1.3 per game) and Jayveous McKinnis (22 total blocks, 1.3 per game).
On January 3 at No. 7 Alabama, Akwuba and McKinnis combined for seven blocks, with Akwuba's four bringing his collegiate career total to 200. He and McKinnis (254 career blocks) are the only two teammates in college basketball with over 200 swats in their careers, and each rank among the top-10 in active career leaders.
THE MAGIC NUMBER IS 20
Junior guard Matthew Murrell has scored 20 or more points six times this season, and averages 15.6 per game. A large part of his offense has come from deep, as he has made 38 threes on the year and is shooting nearly 40 percent from the floor (39.5%). Over his last four games against Mississippi State, Auburn, Georgia, and South Carolina, Murrell is averaging 19.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game, while shooting 44.1% from the field and connecting on 10 threes.
DEEP POCKETS
The Rebels' depth has been on full display to begin the season, as the Ole Miss bench has accounted for over a third of the team's scoring through their first 16 games (36.2%, 440 of 1,216 points). The Rebs have topped their opponents in bench points in 12 of 18 contests, and are outscoring their foes' benches by 126 on the year (440 to 314). Their 24.4 points per game off the bench rank 70th across college basketball and fifth in the SEC.
RENAISSANCE MAN
Senior transfer Myles Burns has made an immediate impact for the Rebels on both ends of the floor with a unique talent blend as a defensive force and a go-getter on the offensive glass. Burns ranks 32nd in the NCAA with 39 steals, while also ranking seventh in the conference at 2.2 offensive boards per game.
Prior to Ole Miss, Burns had an extraordinary career at Loyola New Orleans, where he was a four-time NAIA All-American and three-time SSAC Defensive Player of the Year. With the Wolf Pack, Burns played in 120 career games with 111 starts, while setting career averages of 15.3 points (1,852), 8.8 rebounds (1,069), 3.0 steals (358), 2.5 assists (298) and 1.0 blocks (116). In Loyola's record book, Burns ranks No. 1 in steals (358), No. 2 all-time in points (1,852), No. 2 in rebounds (1,069), No. 4 in blocks (116) and No. 7 in assists (298), with his 358 steals resting 163 more than any other player in Loyola history.
Burns helped lead Loyola to the 2022 NAIA National Championship title, the first in school history since 1945, as the tournament MVP at 19.8 points, 11.8 rebounds and 5.2 steals with four double-doubles in six tournament games.
Burns is no stranger to dominating these two distinct statistical categories, as his 151 offensive rebounds and 152 steals in 2021-22 had no rival in all of college basketball, with the nearest Division I comparison being defending national player of the year Oscar Tshiebwe of Kentucky, who had 179 offensive rebounds and 60 steals last season. Furthermore, Burns' 152 steals last season earned him the 2022 Marques Haynes Award, which is given annually to the player with the most steals in all of college basketball, regardless of division.
BEST OF THE BEST
Ole Miss' four senior transfers are among some of the best returning big men in all of college basketball. Jayveous McKinnis stands as one of the best returners in the nation this year, currently fifth in total rebounds (1,079), fifth in total blocks (254), seventh in career double-doubles (39), 10th in rebounds per game (8.9), 10th in blocks per game (2.1) and 24th in field goal shooting (.610). McKinnis is one of just 10 active players in all of college basketball with 1,000 career rebounds alongside South Alabama's Kevin Samuel (1,211), North Carolina's Armando Bacot (1,203), Nicholls' Manny Littles (1,102), Kentucky's Oscar Tshiebwe (1,101), Lipscomb's Ahsan Asadullah (1,053), LSU's KJ Williams (1,011), Iowa's Filip Rebraca (1,012), Virginia's Jayden Gardner (1,006), and Texas Tech's Kevin Obanor (1,000). He is also just one of nine, alongside Samuel, Bacot, Tshiebwe, Asadullah, Williams, Rebraca, Obanor and Gardner with 1,000 career points (1,160) and 1,000 career rebounds.
Ole Miss ranks highly on the career blocks list with two top-10 entries. McKinnis ranks fifth at 254 swats, while Theo Akwuba is 10th at 206. Ole Miss stands as the only school with multiple top-10 active blockers and is the only school with two within the top-25. The Rebel trio of McKinnis (39, No. 7), Mballa (29, No. 17) and Akwuba (17) combine for 85 career double-doubles, with McKinnis and Mballa owning the second-most by a pair of teammates at 68 behind Texas Tech's Almaq (41) and Obanor (36) at 77.
* Note: Myles Burns' 1,069 career rebounds while at NAIA Loyola New Orleans do not transfer over to the NCAA records lists, but he would rank third in the nation at 1,182 if they did and give Ole Miss a combined 4,458 boards between Burns (1,182), McKinnis (1,079), Mballa (827), Akwuba (689) and Robert Allen (681). Burns' combined career total of 1,965 points would also rank No. 20 among all NCAA divisions.
CAN'T BRAKE HIS COMPOSURE
In Ole Miss' game against No. 7 Tennessee, Jaemyn Brakefield shot a perfect 4-4 from three-point range, setting a season-high with 18 points in the process. The junior from Jackson, Miss. became just the eighth Rebel in program history to remain perfect from deep in a game with a minimum of four attempts. The last to do so was Devontae Shuler on Dec. 10, 2020 against Jackson State when he went 5-5.
AIN'T WASTING TIME NO MORE
With eight new faces for Ole Miss this season, the Rebel newcomers have been seeing serious minutes, and contributing in all major stat categories.
Newcomer Splits:
Minutes: 52.7% (1,896 of 3,600)
Scoring: 45.5% (553 of 1,216)
Rebounding: 52.4% (355 of 677)
Assists: 44.7% (102 of 228)
Steals: 59.7% (77 of 129)
Blocks: 80.9% (712 of 89)
Newcomer Scoring:
vs. Alcorn State: 29 of 73 (39.7%)
vs. Florida Atlantic: 36 of 80 (45.0%)
vs. Chattanooga: 33 of 70 (47.1%)
vs. UT Martin: 35 of 72 (48.6%)
vs. Stanford: 48 of 72 (66.7%)
vs. Siena: 37 of 74 (50.0%)
vs. Stanford: 39 of 55 (70.1%)
at Memphis: 32 of 57 (56.1%)
vs. Valparaiso: 27 of 98 (27.6%)
vs. UCF: 38 of 61 (62.3%)
vs. Temple: 24 of 63 (38.1%)
vs. North Alabama: 26 of 65 (40.0%)
vs. Tennessee: 27 of 59 (45.8%)
vs. Alabama: 25 of 62 (40.3%)
at Mississippi State: 19 of 54 (35.2%)
vs. Auburn: 17 of 73 (23.3%)
vs. Georgia: 31 of 58 (53.5%)
at South Carolina: 30 of 70 (42.9%)
DYNAMIC DUO
Matthew Murrell and sophomore Daeshun Ruffin were a potent combo when on the court together last season, giving Ole Miss two of the SEC's top returning guards for 2022-23. Last year, the duo combined for 24.7 PPG, 5.1 APG, 3.1 SPG, shot a combined .408 from the field and .343 from 3PT.
So far this season the two rank first (Murrell) and third (Ruffin) on the team in scoring average, and have combined for 25.1 PPG, 5.1 APG, and 1.7 SPG in their nine games together.
YEAR FIVE FOR COACH DAVIS
Kermit Davis enters his fifth season at the helm of Ole Miss basketball. Over his first four seasons, Davis has led the Rebels to a pair of postseason appearances, going to the NCAA Tournament in 2019 and the NIT in 2021 (2020 postseason was cancelled due to COVID-19). With 73 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 has 476 career Division I wins over 25 seasons, including stints at Middle Tennessee, Idaho and Texas A&M. In 28 seasons as a college basketball head coach, he has amassed 542 wins.
DAVIS ERA TRENDS TO WATCH
• 59-24 when leading at half
• 6-0 when scoring 90+, 30-4 when scoring 80+, 57-23 when scoring 70+
• 52-21 when winning the rebounding battle
• 33-5 when at 50 percent shooting or better
• 21-8 when shooting 40 percent or better from three
• 40-9 when keeping opponents below 40 percent shooting
EXPERIENCE FROM THE PORTAL
Ole Miss went into the portal looking for experienced big men, and came away with four of the most well-seasoned options available. Those four senior transfers -- F Theo Akwuba, F Myles Burns, F Josh Mballa and F Jayveous McKinnis -- hold an incredible combined career stat lines across their respective careers prior to Ole Miss:
Combined Career Stats (NAIA included for Burns):
• 493 games played
• 377 games started
• 5,001 points
• 3,777 rebounds
• 668 steals (397 from Burns alone)
• 660 blocks
Here's a preview from UM Media Relations:
| OLE MISS (9-9, 1-5 SEC) at No. 25 Arkansas (12-6, 1-5 SEC) Saturday, Jan. 21 • 11:00 a.m. CT • Fayetteville, Ark. Bud Walton Arena (19,300) 
| 
|
| Watch • Live Stats • Listen Ole Miss Game Notes • Arkansas Game Notes • SEC Game Notes |
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Following a road win at South Carolina their last time out, the Ole Miss men's basketball team looks to keep it rolling when they take on No. 25 Arkansas Saturday, January 21 at 11 a.m. in Bud Walton Arena and on ESPN2.
TEAM FACTS
Ole Miss Rebels (9-9, 1-5 SEC)
Head Coach: Kermit Davis • 5th Season at Ole Miss (73-70) • 542-333 career record (28th Season)
No. 25 Arkansas Razorbacks (12-6, 1-5 SEC)
Head Coach: Eric Musselman • 4th Season at Arkansas (85-34) • 195-68 career record (8th Season)
ON THE AIR
Television/Online: ESPN2
Play-by-Play: Jordan Bernfield
Color: Brooke Weisbrod
OLE MISS RADIO
Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network
Play-by-Play: David Kellum
Color: Marc Dukes
SERIES HISTORY VS. ARKANSAS
This will be the 85th game in the all-time series between Ole Miss and Arkansas, and the 57th since the Razorbacks joined the SEC in 1991. Arkansas leads the all-time series overall at 51-33, as well as the matchups in Fayatteville at 19-11. The Rebels hold the lead in Oxford however, 20-9.
The first 16 games in the series, which began in December of 1950, were played at neutral sites (Arkansas leads series in neutral games 23-2), with the first on-campus matchup happening in on Dec. 9, 1967 in Fayetteville when the Razorbacks defeated the Rebels 64-62.
Recently, Arkansas has taken control of the series with Ole Miss, winning eight of the last 10. However, the two have been much closer over the last 20, as the Razorbacks lead 11-9 and 16-14 over the previous 30 matchups. During a 33-game stretch from January 2, 1997 to January 19, 2013, Ole Miss took over the series 24-9 over the 16-year period.
LAST MEETING: JANUARY 16, 2022 (L, 55-64, OXFORD, MISS., SJB PAVILION)
• The Razorbacks led at the halftime break by seven, 30-23, and held on for the nine-point victory to win their 15th game of the season and set Ole Miss' record at 10-10 overall.
• The Rebels were unable to pull out the victory despite winning the rebound battle 33-31, and going a perfect 13-13 from the free throw line.
• Ole Miss had four players score in double figures: Matthew Murrell (14), Nysier Brooks (10), Daeshun Ruffin (10), and Tye Fagan (10).
• Arkansas senior guard JD Notae led all scorers with 25 points, while current member of the Oklahoma City Thunder, Jaylin Williams, stuffed the box score with 18 points, eight rebounds, three assists, three blocks, and two steals.
SCOUTING THE RAZORBACKS
Arkansas opened up their 2022-23 regular season schedule with four-straight victories before falling to No. 10 Creighton 90-87 at the Maui Jim Maui Invitational. After bouncing back with a 78-74 win in overtime against No. 17 San Diego State, the Razorbacks won six consecutive games before dropping their conference opener at LSU 60-57. Their SEC schedule has consisted of one win over No. 20 Missouri, with losses at No. 22 Auburn, against No. 4 Alabama, and on the road against Vanderbilt and Missouri. They enter today's game with an identical SEC record to Ole Miss at 1-5.
The team has been led by junior transfer Ricky Council IV, who averages a team-best 18.3 points per game since joining the program from Wichita State. He is one of four current members of the team averaging 10 or more points per game; joined by Nick Smith Jr. (12.8 - hasn't played since Dec. 17), Anthony Black (12.4), and Trevon Brazile (11.8 - hasn't played since Dec. 6). They are led on the glass by senior transfer Makhi Mitchell at 5.8 per game, who joined the program from Rhode Island.
ANOTHER ONE
With an average of 12.1 offensive rebounds per game, the Rebels have been among the best in the country in earning second chances on the glass, currently ranking 53rd in the nation. The team is led by senior transfer Myles Burns with 40 offensive rebounds (2.2 per game, 7th in the SEC).
TAKING THE FREE ONES
Junior Matthew Murrell is shooting an impressive 84.4% (54-64) from the free throw line this season, which is tops in the SEC. As it stands, his current percentage would tie him for the 10th-best free throw percentage in a single season at Ole Miss.
Ole Miss Men's Basketball - Free Throw Percentage in a Season Top 10
1. Chris Warren, 2011: 92.8%
2. Stefan Moody, 2015: 90.3%
3. David Rhodes, 1972: 90.1%
4. Marshall Henderson, 2013: 88.3%
5. Deandre Burnett, 2017: 88.1%
6. Jack Waters, 1960: 87.3%
7. Zach Graham, 2011: 87.1%
8. Jason Harrison, 2002: 86.0%
9. David Rhodes, 1971: 84.9%
10. Don Kessinger, 1963: 84.4%
THROUGH THE FIRE
Ole Miss has faced off with some of the best competition college basketball has to offer, as the Rebels current strength of schedule ranks 10th in the nation. With a combined opponent record of 199-114 (0.636), they have taken on nine foes with a current NET ranking in the top-100, including six in the top-50 and two in the top-10.
WHEN IT COUNTS
Ole Miss has been especially strong in the second half this season, shooting 46.0 percent overall in the back half. Additionally, the Rebels have put up a +2.8 rebounding margin in the second half this season, while junior Matthew Murrell is averaging 9.4 points per second half this season. At the ESPN Events Invitational, Ole Miss shot a blistering 55 percent overall, led by 14.3 points per second half by Amaree Abram, who was also 5-of-6 from three and a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line in the back half.
BLOCK PARTY
The Ole Miss defense currently averages 65.3 points allowed per game, only letting their opponents top 70 points three times this year. A major part of their defensive identity has been enforcing the paint, as the Rebels rank 29th in the country and fifth in the SEC in blocks per game (4.9). They are led down low by senior transfers Theo Akwuba (24 total blocks, 1.3 per game) and Jayveous McKinnis (22 total blocks, 1.3 per game).
On January 3 at No. 7 Alabama, Akwuba and McKinnis combined for seven blocks, with Akwuba's four bringing his collegiate career total to 200. He and McKinnis (254 career blocks) are the only two teammates in college basketball with over 200 swats in their careers, and each rank among the top-10 in active career leaders.
THE MAGIC NUMBER IS 20
Junior guard Matthew Murrell has scored 20 or more points six times this season, and averages 15.6 per game. A large part of his offense has come from deep, as he has made 38 threes on the year and is shooting nearly 40 percent from the floor (39.5%). Over his last four games against Mississippi State, Auburn, Georgia, and South Carolina, Murrell is averaging 19.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game, while shooting 44.1% from the field and connecting on 10 threes.
DEEP POCKETS
The Rebels' depth has been on full display to begin the season, as the Ole Miss bench has accounted for over a third of the team's scoring through their first 16 games (36.2%, 440 of 1,216 points). The Rebs have topped their opponents in bench points in 12 of 18 contests, and are outscoring their foes' benches by 126 on the year (440 to 314). Their 24.4 points per game off the bench rank 70th across college basketball and fifth in the SEC.
RENAISSANCE MAN
Senior transfer Myles Burns has made an immediate impact for the Rebels on both ends of the floor with a unique talent blend as a defensive force and a go-getter on the offensive glass. Burns ranks 32nd in the NCAA with 39 steals, while also ranking seventh in the conference at 2.2 offensive boards per game.
Prior to Ole Miss, Burns had an extraordinary career at Loyola New Orleans, where he was a four-time NAIA All-American and three-time SSAC Defensive Player of the Year. With the Wolf Pack, Burns played in 120 career games with 111 starts, while setting career averages of 15.3 points (1,852), 8.8 rebounds (1,069), 3.0 steals (358), 2.5 assists (298) and 1.0 blocks (116). In Loyola's record book, Burns ranks No. 1 in steals (358), No. 2 all-time in points (1,852), No. 2 in rebounds (1,069), No. 4 in blocks (116) and No. 7 in assists (298), with his 358 steals resting 163 more than any other player in Loyola history.
Burns helped lead Loyola to the 2022 NAIA National Championship title, the first in school history since 1945, as the tournament MVP at 19.8 points, 11.8 rebounds and 5.2 steals with four double-doubles in six tournament games.
Burns is no stranger to dominating these two distinct statistical categories, as his 151 offensive rebounds and 152 steals in 2021-22 had no rival in all of college basketball, with the nearest Division I comparison being defending national player of the year Oscar Tshiebwe of Kentucky, who had 179 offensive rebounds and 60 steals last season. Furthermore, Burns' 152 steals last season earned him the 2022 Marques Haynes Award, which is given annually to the player with the most steals in all of college basketball, regardless of division.
BEST OF THE BEST
Ole Miss' four senior transfers are among some of the best returning big men in all of college basketball. Jayveous McKinnis stands as one of the best returners in the nation this year, currently fifth in total rebounds (1,079), fifth in total blocks (254), seventh in career double-doubles (39), 10th in rebounds per game (8.9), 10th in blocks per game (2.1) and 24th in field goal shooting (.610). McKinnis is one of just 10 active players in all of college basketball with 1,000 career rebounds alongside South Alabama's Kevin Samuel (1,211), North Carolina's Armando Bacot (1,203), Nicholls' Manny Littles (1,102), Kentucky's Oscar Tshiebwe (1,101), Lipscomb's Ahsan Asadullah (1,053), LSU's KJ Williams (1,011), Iowa's Filip Rebraca (1,012), Virginia's Jayden Gardner (1,006), and Texas Tech's Kevin Obanor (1,000). He is also just one of nine, alongside Samuel, Bacot, Tshiebwe, Asadullah, Williams, Rebraca, Obanor and Gardner with 1,000 career points (1,160) and 1,000 career rebounds.
Ole Miss ranks highly on the career blocks list with two top-10 entries. McKinnis ranks fifth at 254 swats, while Theo Akwuba is 10th at 206. Ole Miss stands as the only school with multiple top-10 active blockers and is the only school with two within the top-25. The Rebel trio of McKinnis (39, No. 7), Mballa (29, No. 17) and Akwuba (17) combine for 85 career double-doubles, with McKinnis and Mballa owning the second-most by a pair of teammates at 68 behind Texas Tech's Almaq (41) and Obanor (36) at 77.
* Note: Myles Burns' 1,069 career rebounds while at NAIA Loyola New Orleans do not transfer over to the NCAA records lists, but he would rank third in the nation at 1,182 if they did and give Ole Miss a combined 4,458 boards between Burns (1,182), McKinnis (1,079), Mballa (827), Akwuba (689) and Robert Allen (681). Burns' combined career total of 1,965 points would also rank No. 20 among all NCAA divisions.
CAN'T BRAKE HIS COMPOSURE
In Ole Miss' game against No. 7 Tennessee, Jaemyn Brakefield shot a perfect 4-4 from three-point range, setting a season-high with 18 points in the process. The junior from Jackson, Miss. became just the eighth Rebel in program history to remain perfect from deep in a game with a minimum of four attempts. The last to do so was Devontae Shuler on Dec. 10, 2020 against Jackson State when he went 5-5.
AIN'T WASTING TIME NO MORE
With eight new faces for Ole Miss this season, the Rebel newcomers have been seeing serious minutes, and contributing in all major stat categories.
Newcomer Splits:
Minutes: 52.7% (1,896 of 3,600)
Scoring: 45.5% (553 of 1,216)
Rebounding: 52.4% (355 of 677)
Assists: 44.7% (102 of 228)
Steals: 59.7% (77 of 129)
Blocks: 80.9% (712 of 89)
Newcomer Scoring:
vs. Alcorn State: 29 of 73 (39.7%)
vs. Florida Atlantic: 36 of 80 (45.0%)
vs. Chattanooga: 33 of 70 (47.1%)
vs. UT Martin: 35 of 72 (48.6%)
vs. Stanford: 48 of 72 (66.7%)
vs. Siena: 37 of 74 (50.0%)
vs. Stanford: 39 of 55 (70.1%)
at Memphis: 32 of 57 (56.1%)
vs. Valparaiso: 27 of 98 (27.6%)
vs. UCF: 38 of 61 (62.3%)
vs. Temple: 24 of 63 (38.1%)
vs. North Alabama: 26 of 65 (40.0%)
vs. Tennessee: 27 of 59 (45.8%)
vs. Alabama: 25 of 62 (40.3%)
at Mississippi State: 19 of 54 (35.2%)
vs. Auburn: 17 of 73 (23.3%)
vs. Georgia: 31 of 58 (53.5%)
at South Carolina: 30 of 70 (42.9%)
DYNAMIC DUO
Matthew Murrell and sophomore Daeshun Ruffin were a potent combo when on the court together last season, giving Ole Miss two of the SEC's top returning guards for 2022-23. Last year, the duo combined for 24.7 PPG, 5.1 APG, 3.1 SPG, shot a combined .408 from the field and .343 from 3PT.
So far this season the two rank first (Murrell) and third (Ruffin) on the team in scoring average, and have combined for 25.1 PPG, 5.1 APG, and 1.7 SPG in their nine games together.
YEAR FIVE FOR COACH DAVIS
Kermit Davis enters his fifth season at the helm of Ole Miss basketball. Over his first four seasons, Davis has led the Rebels to a pair of postseason appearances, going to the NCAA Tournament in 2019 and the NIT in 2021 (2020 postseason was cancelled due to COVID-19). With 73 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 has 476 career Division I wins over 25 seasons, including stints at Middle Tennessee, Idaho and Texas A&M. In 28 seasons as a college basketball head coach, he has amassed 542 wins.
DAVIS ERA TRENDS TO WATCH
• 59-24 when leading at half
• 6-0 when scoring 90+, 30-4 when scoring 80+, 57-23 when scoring 70+
• 52-21 when winning the rebounding battle
• 33-5 when at 50 percent shooting or better
• 21-8 when shooting 40 percent or better from three
• 40-9 when keeping opponents below 40 percent shooting
EXPERIENCE FROM THE PORTAL
Ole Miss went into the portal looking for experienced big men, and came away with four of the most well-seasoned options available. Those four senior transfers -- F Theo Akwuba, F Myles Burns, F Josh Mballa and F Jayveous McKinnis -- hold an incredible combined career stat lines across their respective careers prior to Ole Miss:
Combined Career Stats (NAIA included for Burns):
• 493 games played
• 377 games started
• 5,001 points
• 3,777 rebounds
• 668 steals (397 from Burns alone)
• 660 blocks
