Ole Miss Basketball: Rebels Host Coastal Carolina (Game Preview)
By Dave Bevan
OXFORD – There is a big question mark with this Ole Miss Rebels (6-3) basketball team. How good are they? This team is too inconsistent to make a prediction to the 2014-15 season. One minute, they beat Oregon (7-3), the next they lose to Western Kentucky (4-4).
To start the season, the Rebels lost in a heartbreaking overtime finish to Charleston Southern (5-4). Then they went on a five game win streak, which included a win over Cincinnati and crowned the Rebels the champions of the inaugural Emerald Coast Classic. However, the most impressive win for the Rebels in the tournament had to be against #23 Creighton. They would then come home to the Tad and put up a pathetic performance against TCU, losing by 12 to the Horned Frogs. Where is the consistency?
On Thursday, the Rebels are set to host the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (8-2). On paper, the Rebels should have a controlled win in this one. But, due to past performances, my gut feeling tells me it won’t be that easy. The problem for the Rebels this season is simple, scoring. They are ranked 257th nationally in field goal (.415) percentage. Total point average per game is just as depressing (70.7), which ranks the Rebels 134th in the nation in this area.
This Rebels team is all about defense. They’re allowing just 64.9 points per game, which ranks 150th in the nation. They average 4.1 blocks and 7.1 steals per game. This maybe one of the best Rebel teams at collecting rebounds. Offensively, they are holding 39.8 rebounds per game, and 26.8 on defense.
Dec 13, 2014; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels dance team member entertains the crowd during the game against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at C.M.Tad Smith Coliseum. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers defeat the Mississippi Rebels 79-72. Mandatory Credit: Spruce Derden-USA TODAY Sports
Game Info
Coastal Carolina Chanticleers (8-2) at Ole Miss Rebels (6-3)
Ole Miss (6-3) vs. Coastal Carolina (8-2)
Date: Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Oxford, Miss.
Arena: Tad Smith Coliseum
Television: SEC Network
Matt Stewart, play-by-play
Dane Bradshaw, analyst
Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network
David Kellum, play-by-play
Keith Carter, analyst
Satellite Radio: Sirius 119, XM 190
Live Video: WatchESPN.com
Series: Ole Miss leads 2-0
Streak: OM, W2
In Oxford: OM leads 1-0
Last Meeting: OM W, 72-70 (11/16/13)
December Feels Like Summer
Rebel senior guard Jarvis Summers has picked up where he left off in his successful previous season. Summers recently passed Cob Jarvis and is now ranked 17th on the Ole Miss all-scoring list with 1,338 career points. He also ranks fourth all time in 3-point percentage (.389) and sixth all time in assists (404). Summers ranks first among current SEC players in all of the above categories, including minutes played (3,178) and wins (72).
Moody’s Breakthrough
Rebel junior guard Stefan Moody is being recognized of having a breakthrough season thus far. The junior college transfer scored a career-high 26 points, including 17 in the second half, as the Rebels knocked off Cincinnati to claim the Emerald Coast Classic crown. Moody was 9-of-17 (.529) from the floor and hit 3-of-7 (.429) from behind the arc in the game after starting the season shooting just 28.9 percent from the floor and hitting only 3-of-21 from 3. scored 22 points in the Rebels win at Oregon and added 25 points, including a career-high 6 3-pointers against Western Kentucky. Moody is averaging 21.3 ppg and has hit 14-of-27 (.519) from 3-point range over his last four games.
Live Feed
Betsided
A Look at Coastal Carolina
This past Sunday, Coastal Carolina improved to 8-2 after beating South Carolina State, 57-43. The Chanticleers upset Auburn on the road this season and their only two losses have come to Chattanooga and UCLA. Senior Josh Cameron is Chanticleers’ scoring leader this season . He is averaging 14.1 points per game off the bench and has rung a team-high 25 three-pointers. Fellow senior Warren Gillis is second on the squad scoring 12.0 points per game. Junior Badou Diagne is averaging 7.6 ppg and a team-high 7.8 boards a game. Coastal Carolina is limiting opponents to just 51.9 points per game.
Dave’s Prediction of the Game
The Rebels are set right into their preseason prediction, finishing 6th in the SEC. They currently hold a RPI ranking of 87th. So, there is really no shocker to how this season has started. The wins over Oregon, Cincinnati, and Creighton are the most credited for the Rebels. However, they will need some big wins to strength their resume and even be consider for postseason tournaments.
A win over Coastal Carolina would not make a huge impact in the Rebels RPI, but it would boost a little confidence in a much needed win streak. There are just three games after this one left before conference play. The Rebels’ SEC opener couldn’t be anymore challenging, a road game against #1 Kentucky Wildcats (11-0) on January 6th.
The Rebels have a history this season of controlling the first half. Even in the loss to Western Kentucky, the Rebels led 45-32 at the end of the first half. If they can control the tempo in the first half against Coastal Carolina, I see the Rebels pulling off just their third win at home. The Rebels are 2-3 at the Tad Pad this season.
I see Jarvis Summers and/or Stefan Moody leading this team to victory. The only other Rebel who has shown to step it up this season is Ladarius White. Against Creighton, White came off the bench and posted 18 points (16 in the second half) in the Rebels 75-68 comeback win.
I predict Summers to post 18 points. Moody will lead with 21. Everyone else will remain quiet offensively, but will make huge stands on defense. The Rebels win, 73-65.