Rebels Leave the Mainland

The Ole Miss basketball team has left Oxford and landed in Puerto Rico for a three day tournament this weekend. It will be the biggest challenge for the Rebels thus far. This weekend will really tell us where the team is. The Rebels enter the tourney undefeated, I am hoping they leave with only one loss, however that is going to be a challenge. Not only are the Rebels playing out of their comfort zone, but they will be going up against #15 ranked Clemson on Saturday. Should be an interesting few days for Rebel basketball fans.

(UMAA Notes)

SCOUTING THE BLUE DEMONS DePaul is 2-5 on the year after their most recent defeat vs. UIC. The Blue Demons are looking to break a three-game losing streak, which includes losses to Kansas and Vanderbilt, both of which are still undefeated. DePaul is averaging 75.0 points per game, with Draelon Burns leading four players in double figures with 18.6 ppg. The team is allowing 79.0 points per contest, however, while opponents are also making shots at a .470 clip.

OLE MISS-DePAUL SERIES The Rebels and Blue Demons have met just once before, with DePaul prevailing by a 75-67 score on March 25, 1983.

SCOUTING THE EXPLORERS La Salle enters the week with a 3-4 record. The Explorers are 2-1 at home, but 1-3 on the road. La Salle scores 67.9 points per game shooting at a .419 clip from the field and .375 from behind the arc. Darnell Harris leads the club with 17.0 points per contest, while Rodney Green and Ruben Guillandeaux put up over 11 points per game.

OLE MISS-LA SALLE SERIES Friday’s game will be the first meeting between the Rebels and Explorers.

SCOUTING THE TIGERS Clemson is one of 14 unbeaten teams in the country with an 8-0 record. The Tigers are No. 15 in both national polls this week. Clemson is scoring 79.9 points per game and holding opponents to just 63.0 points. The Tigers are shooting .448 from the field and .412 from the 3-point line, while they also rank among the nation’s top 15 in both steals and blocked shots. K.C. Rivers leads four Tigers in double figure scoring with 15.9 ppg. James Mays, a preseason All-America pick who is listed as questionable with a sprained hip, put up 14.8 ppg through five games.

OLE MISS-CLEMSON SERIES The Rebels dropped an 89-68 decision to the Tigers in last year’s second round of the NIT with Tiger center Trevor Booker scoring a career-high 21. Clemson went on to play in the championship game. The Tigers hold a 3-1 advantage in the all-time series with Ole Miss winning 53-49 in the first round of the NIT at Clemson on March 12, 1982 and the Tigers prevailing in ‘65 and ‘74.