Ole Miss Rebels vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs Game Preview and Open Thread

by Juco All-American on Feb 9, 2012 4:50 PM EST in 2011 Ole Miss Rebels Basketball

The rivalry heats up again tonight, as the ~~TSFWCDAO Bullfrauds'~~ Mississippi State Bulldogs' will attempt to take advantage of a chance to split the 2012 Eggball series with our Ole Miss Rebels. It's a very important game for both teams with regards to SEC and NCAA Tournament footing. Ole Miss has had a few "must wins" on the schedule this year, with tonight's game being no exception to this. MSU's resume at this point is better than Ole Miss', but if they drop this one, they're not looking at many games remaining that will improve their RPI.

The Rebels are looking for a second big win to make bracketologists take us seriously enough to put us in the tournament for now. While things don't look good for our chances at a bid, they could be much brighter with a win tonight as it is a road win against a top-25 team. Were our Rebels to have bettered Florida, Auburn, or Alabama (all games were easily winnable), we'd be in much better shape today resume wise, but no use in rehashing that; we are where we are, and we need a win tonight in a place we, and most SEC teams, rarely win.

In order to defeat State, we've got to do what we did against them in game one. We have to minimize Dee Bost's contribution (by defending him primarily with Terrance Henry), see a bad night from Renardo Sidney (it's a spin of the wheel - I don't think it's something we have a lot of control over), and hope that Arnett Moultrie can't beat us alone.

That last point isn't a ridiculous one, either. Moultrie is an elite college basketballer. He can dominate both offensively and defensively, meaning that he himself can dictate Mississippi State's tempo and game style. He will be the focal point of this game for both teams tonight, something about which I have little doubt.

I don't expect Reggie Buckner to have the monster game he had in game one, but I would guess he'll put up good stats. If we can limit the shot selections of Jarvis Summers and Jelan Kendrick, making this a game about what happens around the rim, I think we can win. If not, we're in a tough situation. We're not a team which can score with a lot of range, so if that's the game we either choose to play or are pigeonholed into playing, this one could get ugly.

Predictions

1. Terrance Henry scores 15 or more.

2. Murphy Holloway registers 12 or more blocks.

3. Dee Bost has two or fewer turnovers on the night.

MSU 70 - Ole Miss 62

The Game is at 6:00 PM Central on ESPN2. OPEN THREAD is below.

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Comments

Woo-hoo!

I stopped being preoccupied with State’s football coach to get excited about this game. Fartnoise!

The spectator is compelled to look directly down the road and into the middle of the picture. -Baldessari

by Old HWY 6 on Feb 9, 2012 5:58 PM EST reply actions

well...

Three gut-punch losses and two swearing offs of this sport and here I am again getting excited to watch this game. Damn thee inner rebel fan!

by RebElitist on Feb 9, 2012 6:28 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions

Gird thy loins.

/youvebeenwarned’d

by OxpatchReb on Feb 9, 2012 6:30 PM EST up reply actions

For some reason I keep coming back for more!

Good luck to both teams! May the best black bears win!

by MCchoctaw76 on Feb 9, 2012 6:54 PM EST reply actions

I expect a loss as well. We'd need a miracle to pull it off.

Red Cup Rebellion - Changing the Culture of Ole Miss Athletics
Sports are chaotic and stupid; and we're bad at them.

by The Ghost of Jay Cutler on Feb 9, 2012 6:57 PM EST reply actions

I know the stove is hot, it has burned me several times...

But, I’ll be damned! I have the sudden urge to touch that stove again…
Hotty Toddy

by The Gunfather on Feb 9, 2012 6:57 PM EST reply actions

Red Cup Rebellion - Changing the Culture of Ole Miss Athletics
Sports are chaotic and stupid; and we're bad at them.

by The Ghost of Jay Cutler on Feb 9, 2012 7:05 PM EST reply actions

Has there ever been a basketball game where we’ve never scored a point? It might happen tonight. :(

Only two people in the world have the easy-flow elbow, and one of them happens to be named Bruce Willis...

by 7thYearJunior on Feb 9, 2012 7:08 PM EST via mobile reply actions

"The Man D seems to be working,

I know what I’ll do, go to zone" -Andy Kennedy

by The Gunfather on Feb 9, 2012 7:12 PM EST reply actions

On the bright side,

it doesn’t look like we’ll have to watch us piss away a big lead tonight…

I always say 'beer me.' It gets a laugh, like, a quarter of the time.

by BeerMeAHottyToddy on Feb 9, 2012 7:13 PM EST reply actions

There's always that.

Also, we can focus entirely on baseball after tonight.

Red Cup Rebellion - Changing the Culture of Ole Miss Athletics
Sports are chaotic and stupid; and we're bad at them.

by The Ghost of Jay Cutler on Feb 9, 2012 7:14 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs

True.

Since I’m moving to Oxford this Spring, I’ve got my own baseball tickets for the first time in my life. I’m looking forward to it.

I always say 'beer me.' It gets a laugh, like, a quarter of the time.

by BeerMeAHottyToddy on Feb 9, 2012 7:18 PM EST up reply actions

How did you find a decent job in Oxford?

by WrigleyvilleReb on Feb 9, 2012 7:33 PM EST up reply actions

I got a full scholarship to law school

so after this tax season I’m done with public accounting, and I’ll finally get to live in Oxford. Thank Jeebus.

I always say 'beer me.' It gets a laugh, like, a quarter of the time.

by BeerMeAHottyToddy on Feb 9, 2012 7:35 PM EST up reply actions

Damn

I was hoping a major Accounting firm opened up shop in Oxford.
/getmeoutoftexas

by WrigleyvilleReb on Feb 9, 2012 7:39 PM EST up reply actions

No luck there.

I think finding a decent job in Oxford is akin to finding a decent job in Hollywood. The difference is that Oxford has better looking wimmins. /Justified

I always say 'beer me.' It gets a laugh, like, a quarter of the time.

by BeerMeAHottyToddy on Feb 9, 2012 7:53 PM EST up reply actions

Our wimmins have more original equipment that's for sure

Looks like I picked the wrong week to stop sniffing airplane glue

by The next, next Dex on Feb 9, 2012 8:26 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions 1 recs

Jeebus. The denizens of Starkville are an ugly bunch aren't they

Looks like I picked the wrong week to stop sniffing airplane glue

by The next, next Dex on Feb 9, 2012 7:20 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions

Maroon! Black!

Who the hell thought this looked good

by WVTNRebel on Feb 9, 2012 7:20 PM EST reply actions

Have you seen Starkville? Have you seen their campus?

Aesthetics isn’t their thing.

Red Cup Rebellion - Changing the Culture of Ole Miss Athletics
Sports are chaotic and stupid; and we're bad at them.

by The Ghost of Jay Cutler on Feb 9, 2012 7:22 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Valid point sir

by WVTNRebel on Feb 9, 2012 7:23 PM EST up reply actions

Probably the same assclown that put orange and purple together

Looks like I picked the wrong week to stop sniffing airplane glue

by The next, next Dex on Feb 9, 2012 7:25 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions

Maroon?

I prefer to think of it as “poopoo brown”

by MCchoctaw76 on Feb 9, 2012 7:34 PM EST up reply actions

Good god. Sidney is overflowing the armholes of that uniform.

I’ve never seen a muffintop at the top of a shirt before

Looks like I picked the wrong week to stop sniffing airplane glue

by The next, next Dex on Feb 9, 2012 7:27 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions

It's like he's wearing a corset.

Red Cup Rebellion - Changing the Culture of Ole Miss Athletics
Sports are chaotic and stupid; and we're bad at them.

by The Ghost of Jay Cutler on Feb 9, 2012 7:28 PM EST up reply actions

HAHA. Add that to the list of things I've never seen. A man wearing spanx.

Looks like I picked the wrong week to stop sniffing airplane glue

by The next, next Dex on Feb 9, 2012 7:30 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions

My feelings about this game

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bcy8bvhewtU

by WVTNRebel on Feb 9, 2012 7:33 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

Haha Love that show

And yes. This. Is Bullshit.

by WrigleyvilleReb on Feb 9, 2012 7:34 PM EST up reply actions

Summers with the clutch three

We need more of those things

by WrigleyvilleReb on Feb 9, 2012 7:40 PM EST reply actions

Quick execution tonight

by RebElitist on Feb 9, 2012 7:45 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions

That was an awesome alley-oop by state

Followed by an exciting dunk to end the half.

/WAOM’nformystate

by WrigleyvilleReb on Feb 9, 2012 7:45 PM EST reply actions

....If by exciting dunk to end the half

you really mean a jump ball that wasn’t called….

Holding a snocone sign...

by hottytoddy07 on Feb 9, 2012 7:59 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Fertile Recruiting Area

Big name conference, new facilities showing dedication to the program, and I’d like to think Oxford is a little nicer than Wichita. I think he would. I sure as hell hope he would

by WVTNRebel on Feb 9, 2012 7:55 PM EST up reply actions

We can't sleep on him though.

South Carolina is probably gonna get rid of Darrin Horn and Marshall has connections to South Carolina from his time at Winthrop. If it comes down to South Carolina vs. us, I don’t like our odds

by WVTNRebel on Feb 9, 2012 7:57 PM EST up reply actions

Isn't he busy being "Mayhem" on all of those Allstate commercials?

I always say 'beer me.' It gets a laugh, like, a quarter of the time.

by BeerMeAHottyToddy on Feb 9, 2012 7:57 PM EST up reply actions

Radio says we won the doubles point in tennis.

So we got that going for us.

by rpmjr on Feb 9, 2012 7:57 PM EST reply actions

Forgot about that

Is singles tomorrow?

by WrigleyvilleReb on Feb 9, 2012 8:00 PM EST up reply actions

So, I slept through the first half.

And apparently so did our basketball team.

See you, Space Cowboy

by Evil Betty on Feb 9, 2012 8:03 PM EST reply actions

I really want to make a Grape Ape joke but I'm not sure if it's in good taste

Looks like I picked the wrong week to stop sniffing airplane glue

by The next, next Dex on Feb 9, 2012 8:04 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions

Haha

Announcer: “[Sydney] is not in shape, and he doesn’t play hard all the time, but when he gives effort on both ends of the floor he is one of the most skilled big guys in the country.”

Well put.

by WrigleyvilleReb on Feb 9, 2012 8:05 PM EST reply actions