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Changing the Culture of Ole Miss Athletics The original Air Kiffin shirt is available here

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Basketball Open Thread - Ole Miss vs. Bama

By One Man To Beat
Feb 28, 2012; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Mississippi Rebels forward Terrance Henry (1) dribbles the ball during a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Bud Walton Arena. Mississippi defeated Arkansas 77-75. Mandatory Credit: Beth Hall-US PRESSWIRE
Feb 28, 2012; Fayetteville, AR, USA; Mississippi Rebels forward Terrance Henry (1) dribbles the ball during a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Bud Walton Arena. Mississippi defeated Arkansas 77-75. Mandatory Credit: Beth Hall-US PRESSWIRE

It's senior day for the Rebels as Terrance Henry will enter his final regular season game for Ole Miss.

They're giving out a bunch of t-shirts with 1K on them in honor of Henry's 1,000 points as a Rebel. He also has recorded more than 100 blocks in his career.

At stake for the Rebels is a 6 or 7-seed in the SEC Tournament, neither of which would secure a bye – the only real advantage in the tournament – and the chance to break even in conference play.

Remember, earlier this season, ESPN predicted the Rebels had a chance for the Big Dance if they won 10 or 11 SEC games including the tournament. With eight conference victories including Bama today, the Rebels would still need a deep run in the SECT to have a shot at being a bubble team.

So, essentially, let's win this one for Terrance. And apparently it's Steadman Short's last game too, so um, him too.

Ole Miss (17-12, 7-8) vs. Alabama (20-9, 9-6)

3 p.m. at Tad Smith Coliseum

Video feed will be on ESPN3 and you can follow the action on the radio with your local affiliate.

Obviously, a win here will help Andy Kennedy's chances at returning for another season in Oxford. It's not impressive to win 18 and lose 12, but he's at least consistent and would have returning talent next season. I'm not hoping we lose, don't get me wrong, but it also wouldn't crush me if we did and had a first round loss in the tournament.

It's likely the Rebels will end up in the NIT unless they get extremely hot. It'll all depend on Henry and Nick Williams getting open looks and creating offense for the usually anemic Rebel attack.

The Rebels wasted an opportunity to beat Bama in Tuscaloosa in an overtime heartbreaker. If I'm Kennedy, I show my players the final two minutes of that game in the locker room and hope that pumps them up to go out with a big upset on our home court.

Final prediction

Ole Miss 74

Alabama 69