Ole Miss Rebels vs. MTSU Blue Raiders Preview

They’ve got an efficient offense – 107 pts/100 possessions and rank 5th in the country in eFG% at a blistering 57.9%. They shoot 56% (7th) on 2 points aided by the fact they get only 5.8% of their shots blocked (22nd). They don’t shoot many 3s, but shoot 42.3% on the ones they do take (10th). They also get to the FT line a lot (55% FTR, 3rd), but as JuCo pointed out, they don’t shoot them that well, which doesn’t make sense considering their other shooting numbers. They only score 23.2% of their points from the FT line, which should be much higher considering their FTR.

The key advantages we have to exploit are their high turnover rate and struggles to come down with a defensive rebound. They turn it over on 22.6% of their possessions. If we can control tempo (we average 70 possessions/game, MTSU 66) we may be able to get some easy transition baskets. The Rebels grab nearly 35% of their missed shots while MTSU gives up about that same number. If Terrance and Reggie can stay out of foul trouble and crash the boards on offense, there may be some easy points to be had. They also put teams on the FT line at a fairly high FTR (39.1%), so shooting like we did last Saturday will be paramount.

I’ll be there tonight, of course, but I truly have no clue how this game will go. MTUS’s SOS so far this season hasn’t exactly been full of high-RPI teams, but their offenseive numbers are impressive regardless of the opponent. We played so well at times Saturday, but looked lost on defense a lot more than we had since the Marquette disaster. Our defense has got to be sharp tonight. Like USM, if we miss an assignment on defense, MTSU will score it.

I’ll reluctantly say we pull out a solid win 76-68, but like USM, I’ll be disappointed/frustrated, but not shocked if we drop this one.

I can watch our games when they’re on the Big Ten Network but not when they’re on CSS. Dammit.

We are looking some kind of awful right now.

are the refs really as bad as the radio is making them out to be?

I’m so tired of out of control basketball. Mistakes mistakes mistakes free throws mistakes.

Fuck this team.

What was that ridiculously long break for?

How much of a douche is this emcee?

That’s right, I’m looking for distractions from the game.

…and a one-and-done in the NIT.

There. I just saved everyone three months’ worth of frustration.

Can we just FF through this shit now and get to baseball?

We have some of the worst fans.

Is it too early to start the fire Kennedy discussion?

Ole Miss basketball for the past 5 years has been like being at home alone with a girl in high school as she gives you a hand job (yes, nothing too great, mind you) and just as it starts to get good, her parents come home from the PTA meeting 30 minutes early and you have to jump out the window and hit your face on branches on the way down (Georgia in the SEC tourney, must win vs. Vanderbilt 2 years ago, blowing 10 point leads to State).

Only this year, the handjob wasn’t even that great. Her hand was dry and she had a cold. She promised she would go get some lube or something (Kendrick), but right when she did, her parents come home an hour early this time and you had to walk home dejected and go masturbate to a Playboy you found in the trash (Youtube videos of Chris Warren beating Kentucky last year).

The fun never stops ‘round here. Can’t wait until Dayton beats us by 30 fucking points.

Merry Christmas.

AP’s block quote of A fucking K:

“We put so much pressure on our defense because our offense is so inefficient,” Kennedy said. “It continues to be a recurring theme regardless of who we put in the game. Our inability to make basketball plays, our inability to make free throws (17-for-31 Wednesday), our inability to execute, it just kills us. It’s baffling to me.”

Baffles me too, coach. Not sure where the plays will come if Murf can’t pick them off the backboard. I still believe though – we can beat Dayton. Not sure how I see it happening without Holloway, but we can.