TCU Horned Frogs at Ole Miss Rebels Game Preview

This Thursday, the Ole Miss Rebels (5-1) will host the TCU Horned Frogs (7-0). Yes, Rebel fans we are talking about Ole Miss basketball, and with the busyness of the Ole Miss football season, we have been delayed in providing coverage of the 2014-2015 Ole Miss Men’s Basketball season. This is actually our first article of the basketball season. So, expect this to be added with a preview of the season.

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The Rebels opened their season with a loss to Charleston Southern, 66-65 in overtime at home, and it seemed we’d have to prepare for a long struggle through the regular season. However, since the opening game loss, the Rebels have been on a bit of a hot streak. They’ve won four consecutive games. This included a 75-68 home win over #23 Creighton. The other wins come to very little credit against teams with team’s RPI Rankings. Yes, we are talking about RPI again. Basketball is the sport where strength of schedule. who you beat, and how bad you beat them is all that matters to rankings.

As far as the Rebels’ offense this season, they’re ranked 126th nationally in points per game (71.5), 67th in rebounds per game (39.2), 234th in assists per game (11.5), and 147th in field goal percentage (.440). Those stats are not something to ooh and aah over, but it is definitely not the worst in the league. On defense, the Rebels stand a little taller with an 8th national ranking in points allowed per game (60.7), 40th in rebounds per game (27.8), 85th in blocks per game (4.5), and 56th in steals per game (8.3). On Thursday, they will face a TCU team that’s ranked 17th nationally in points allowed per game (54.7).

Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports

The Rebels are coming off a 66-54 win over coach Andy Kennedy’s old team, Cincinnati, in the inaugural Emerald Coast Classic. Junior guard Stefan Moody led the Rebels with a career-high 26 points in the win. Moody was named the tournament’s most valuable player. hit 9 of 17 shots including 3 of 7 from 3-point range, and averaged just 10 points coming into the game. Coach Kennedy had this to say about Moody:

"“I’ve been telling people that this kid has got explosive scoring ability not unlike (the Denver Nuggets’) Nate Robinson in my opinion. Yet he has not played as well as he played tonight previously, but he stayed the course, stayed the course.”"

TCU is coming off a win over the Mississippi State Bulldogs (5-1). They are led by senior guard Kyan Anderson who is averaging 12.7 points per game.

Tip off between TCU and Ole Miss will be at 8:00 p.m. CST, and can be watched on ESPNU or WatchESPN.