By Bert Leeson
OLE MISS GAME NOTES
https://olemisssports.com/documents/2024/1/4/14_-_Tennessee.pdf
TENNESSEE GAME NOTES
https://olemisssports.com/documents/2024/1/4/G14_1-6-24_OleMiss.pdf
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Entering their SEC schedule with a perfect 13-0 record for the second time in program history, the No. 19 Ole Miss men’s basketball team will look to continue their momentum into conference action, beginning with a road test at No. 5 Tennessee on Saturday, January 6 on the SEC Network.
TEAM FACTS
Ole Miss Rebels (13-0)
Head Coach: Chris Beard • 1st Season at Ole Miss (13-0) • 250-98 career record (12th Season)
Tennessee Volunteers (10-3)
Head Coach: Rick Barnes • 9th Season at Tennessee (185-95) • 789-409 career record (37th Season)
ON THE AIR
Television/Online: SEC Network
Play-by-Play: John Schriffen
Color: Dane Bradshaw
OLE MISS RADIO
Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network
Play-by-Play: David Kellum
Color: Marc Dukes
SERIES HISTORY VS. TENNESSEE
This will be the 124th meeting between Ole Miss and Tennessee, with the Rebels picking up the win in game one nearly 100 years ago on January 29, 1924. Overall, the Volunteers own the better series record at 78-45, and lead in both Knoxville (44-12) and Oxford (28-26). Tennessee has had Ole Miss’ number as of late, winning 13 of the last 20 and eight of the last 10. Current Volunteer head coach Rick Barnes holds an 8-3 against the Rebels during his time at Rocky Top.
LAST MEETING: MARCH 9, 2023 (L, 55-70, SEC TOURNAMENT, NASHVILLE, TENN.)
• Entering as the fifth seed in the 2023 SEC Tournament and ranked No. 17 nationally, Tennessee defeated Ole Miss in their last meeting 70-55 in a second round matchup.
• Ole Miss was led offensively by Myles Burns with 14 points, while Matthew Murrell and Jaemyn Brakefield each scored 12.
• Josiah-Jordan James led the team with 20 points and seven rebounds, while Santiago Vescovi added 15.
SCOUTING THE VOLUNTEERS
Out of the gate, Tennessee passed a major test in their season-opener with a win at No. 4 Michigan State, rolling to five more wins after against Lenoir-Rhyne, Tennessee Tech, Wisconsin, Wofford, and Syracuse. The Volunteers were then matched up with two of the nation’s best at the Maui Invitational, falling by just four points to No. 2 Purdue before dropping a 69-60 game with No. 1 Kansas.
Since returning to the mainland, they have gone 6-1, falling to No. 16 UNC in the ACC/SEC Challenge, while defeating George Mason, No. 18 Illinois, Georgia Southern, NC State, Tarleton State, and Norfolk State.
Ranked as one of the top transfers in the country this past summer, guard Dalton Knecht leads the Volunteers in scoring after coming to Knoxville from Northern Colorado. Starting in all 13 games for UT thus far, he averages 15.6 points and 4.2 rebounds, and is tied for the team-lead in three-pointers made with 21. Joining Knecht with 21 makes from deep is Josiah-Jordan James, who leads the Volunteers with 7.0 rebounds per contest and is second in scoring at 11.3 per game.
Like any other team led by head coach Rick Barnes, Tennessee currently ranks among some of the country’s best in numerous defensive categories. Holding their opponent’s to just 37.2 percent shooting this year (sixth-best in the nation), the Volunteers average 4.9 blocks per game (No. 36 in NCAA), 64.3 points allowed per game (No. 38 in NCAA), and are holding foe’s to 29.0 percent from three (No. 36 in NCAA).
Tennessee also ranks among the best in assist-turnover ratio (1.58, No. 24 NCAA), assists per game (16.8, No. 37 NCAA), free throw percentage (77.4, No. 17 NCAA), and scoring margin (+13.5, No. 45 NCAA).
A figurehead among college basketball head coaches, Rick Barnes is in his ninth season at Tennessee and his 37th of his career overall. His 789 career victories are the third most among all active head coaches and rank 15th in college basketball history.
THE LAST OF THE UNBEATENS
Ole Miss is one of just three teams in the country who remain unbeaten (Houston and James Madison), and are the only one in the SEC, at 13-0. This marks just the second time in program history the Rebels have gone undefeated through their first 13 games of the season, with the other occurrence coming in 2007-08. Their 13-0 run is also tied for the longest overall win streak in program history, coming from that 2007-08 campaign.
Ole Miss is the third different program head coach Chris Beard has taken to a 10-0 start to begin a season during his nine years as a Division-I coach, having done so in 2015-16 with Little Rock and 2018-19 at Texas Tech.
“TEN OUGHTA DO IT, DON’T YOU THINK?”
On December 19 against Troy, Matthew Murrell secured 10 steals to set a new program record for Ole Miss, adding 18 points for the first double-double involving steals in school history. His 10 steals also tied the SEC record for most in a game, the most since 1991, and tie him for the 25th-most in a game in NCAA history. Murrell helped Ole Miss collect 16 steals in the game against Troy, setting a new SJB Pavilion record.
With an average of 2.31 steals per game on the season, Murrell ranks third in the SEC and No. 27 in the nation.
A NEW ERA BEGINS
With the hiring of Chris Beard last March, the Ole Miss men’s basketball program is prepared to take the next step forward, bringing in one of the most successful coaches of the last decade.
Compiling a record of 250-98 as an NCAA head coach since 2012, Beard holds one of the highest win percentages in the nation, ranking 10th among active head coaches with 10 or more years of experience at 71.8%.
The 2019 AP National Coach of the Year has led three different programs to the NCAA Tournament over the previous eight years, and is undefeated in the opening round at 5-0. His all-time record in the NCAA Tournament is 11-5 (.688).
A NEW 1K KING
With 12 points in Ole Miss’ win over NC State, Matthew Murrell surpassed the 1,000-career point mark, becoming the 42nd student-athlete in program history to do so. Now at 1,146 points in his career with the Rebels, Murrell is 33rd in school history and sits 13 points behind next on the list, Ken Turner (1966-1969).
30. Rod Barnes (1984-88): 1,201
31. Rahim Lockhart (1997-2001): 1,160
32. Ken Turner (1966-69): 1,159
33. Matthew Murrell (2020-): 1,146
34. Jack Marshall (1945-50): 1,137
REAL RECOGNIZE REAL
In the latest top-25 polls, Ole Miss ranks No. 19 in the USA Today Coaches Poll and No. 22 in the AP Top 25. The Rebels sit in the top-25 of both polls for the first time since January of 2019.
Ole Miss has earned a spot in the USA Today Coaches Poll for four straight weeks for the first time since January 2010, and for three consecutive weeks in the AP Top 25 for the first time since January and February 2010.
“I CAN BE YOUR LONG LOST PAL”
After posting the third double-double of his career in the season opener (15 points, career-best 12 rebounds), Allen Flanigan followed it up with a career-best 29 points against Eastern Washington. The senior guard surpassed the 1,000 career-point mark against the Eagles, and played a key part in securing the victory by scoring eight of the last 11 points for the Rebels.
He once again led the team in scoring with 23 against Sam Houston, connecting on a career-best 14 makes from the free throw line. The senior helped lead Ole Miss to victory in their first road game at Temple with 26 points, the second-most scored in a game for his career, while tallying a career-best seven assists. Flanigan added his second double-double of the year in a 20-point win over NC State in the ACC/SEC Challenge with 15 points and 10 rebounds and helped Ole Miss take down Memphis with 18. He leads the team in rebounding at 7.5 per game and ranks second in scoring at 16.7 points per game, and is one of two in the SEC to sit in the top-10 in each category among conference teams.
THA BLOCK IS HOT
Averaging 6.2 blocks per game, Ole Miss ranks sixth in the country and is keeping opponents to just 40.2 percent shooting from the floor which ranks No. 57 in the nation. The muscle in the paint for the Rebels has been Jamarion Sharp, who leads the SEC in blocks per game (2.54) and blocks (33), ranking eighth and ninth, respectively, in each category nationally.
Sharp’s six blocks against Troy on December 19th are tied for the seventh-most in a game in school history.
AMONG THE BEST
Forwards Jamarion Sharp and Moussa Cisse rank among the nation’s best in active career leaders in a handful of statistical categories. After becoming the fifth player ever to lead the NCAA in blocks in two seasons, Sharp ranks first in both career blocks (312) and career blocked shots per game (4.05). Establishing himself as a premier shot blocker as well, Cisse ranks 13th in blocks per game (1.80) and 16th in total blocks (173).
Averaging 7.1 rebounds per game in his career, Sharp ranks No. 44 in the country, while Cisse’s 648 career boards rank No. 76.
*MIKE BREEN VOICE* “BANG!”
Shooting 40.3 percent from the three-point line this season, Ole Miss currently ranks No. 9 in the country in efficiency beyond the arc. Through 13 games, the Rebels have already shot 50 percent or better from deep five times, the most in an entire season since they hit that mark or better five times during the 2014-15 campaign.
• Detroit Mercy: 9-18 (50.0%)
• Temple: 10-18 (55.6%)
• Memphis: 11-22 (50.0%)
• California: 12-21 (57.1%)
• Southern Miss: 11-19 (57.9%)
Their current clip of 40.3 percent from three would set a new school record for shooting percentage from deep in a season. The Rebels are one of just nine teams in the country averaging 40 percent or better from deep.
PACING THE GAME LIKE VERSTAPPEN
Through 13 games this season in eight hours and 40 minutes of total gameplay, Ole Miss has held a lead for six hours, 58 minutes, and 27 seconds, over 80 percent of action during the 2023-24 campaign.
IT’S ELITE IN THE ‘SIP
With their 13-0 record in basketball, Ole Miss is one of just three FBS programs in the country to start at 10-0 in hoops and compile a 10-win season in football. They are joined by James Madison and Oklahoma.
The No. 11 Ole Miss football team defeated on No. 10 Penn State 38-25 in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on December 30 in Atlanta.
BIG GAME DATA
A look at some facts on the Ole Miss program in ranked games:
Last Ranked Win: 76-72 at #25 LSU (2/1/2022)
Last Ranked Road Win: 76-72 at #25 LSU (2/1/2022)
Last Win Over Top-10 Team: 80-59 vs. #10 Missouri (2/10/2021)
Last Win Over Top-5 Team: 74-69 vs. #5 Florida (3/10/2001)*
Last Win in Ranked vs. Ranked Game: #22 Ole Miss def. #19 Vanderbilt 74-58 (1/30/2008)
*Semifinal game at 2001 SEC Tournament
“AROUND THE ‘ARC’, A PERIMETER CREATE”
Ole Miss has been one of the best in the country at defending the three-point shot this season, holding opponents to 30.4% from deep through nine games, the 86th-best mark in the nation. The Rebels have kept their foe to 20% or less in five games this year:
• Eastern Washington: 4-22 (18.2%)
• NC State: 3-25 (12.0%)
• Memphis: 3-18 (16.7%)
• Mount St. Mary’s: 5-25 (20.0%)
• UCF: 4-22 (18.2%)
CLIMBING THE LEADERBOARDS
Senior Matthew Murrell has been a consistent threat from three-point range throughout his four years at Ole Miss. This season, he has entered the top-10 career lists in school history for three point field goals made and attempts.
Three-Point Field Goals Made
1. 334, Chris Warren (115 games, 2008-11)
2. 278, Aaron Harper (123 games, 2001-04)
3. 267, Marshall Henderson (66 games, 2013-14)
4. 249, Keith Carter (117 games, 1996-99)
5. 214, Joe Harvell (114 games, 1990-93)
6. 207, Breein Tyree (130 games, 2017-20)
7. 181, Stefan Moody (65 games, 2014-16)
8. 178, Devontae Shuler (124 games, 2018-21)
9. 176, Terence Davis (121 games (2016-19)
10. 171, Matthew Murrell (102 games, 2020-)
Three-Point Field Goals Attempted
1. 900, Chris Warren (115 games, 2008-11)
2. 771, Marshall Henderson (66 games, 2013-2014)
3. 720, Aaron Harper (123 games, 2001-04)
4. 686, Keith Carter (117 games, 1996-99)
5. 581, Breein Tyree (130 games, 2017-20)
6. 528, Joe Harvell (114 games, 1990-93)
7. 523, Devontae Shuler (124 games, 2018-21)
8. 519, Terence Davis (121 games, 2016-19)
9. 496, Matthew Murrell (102 games, 2020-)
10. 494, Stefan Moody (65 games, 2015-16)
“I TAKE THE WORK, FLIP IT, ACROBATIC”
Through the first 12 games of the season, Ole Miss has shown elite ball control and movement on the offensive side. With a total of 211 assists compared to 136 turnovers, the Rebels’ ratio of 1.55 ranks No. 28 in the nation.
The team is led in assists by Jaylen Murray (48 assists to 24 turnovers) and Allen Flanigan (43 assists to 26 turnovers).
HOW’S THE WEATHER?
The roster for Ole Miss this season has the tallest student-athlete in Division I in forward Jamarion Sharp, and has the shortest student-athlete in the country in guard Cam Brent. The two stand a full two feet apart in height, with Sharp at 7’5″ and Brent at 5’5″.
SKEE-LO’S HERO
Transfer forward Jamarion Sharp stands as the tallest student-athlete in NCAA Division I men’s basketball this season at 7’5″, a title he has held for three-straight seasons now, and is even listed as one of the tallest living humans on Wikipedia. After spending his first two college years at John A. Logan College, Sharp played two years at Western Kentucky from 2021 to 2023. In 64 games played, he averaged 7.8 points per game, 7.6 rebounds per game, and became just the fifth person ever to lead the NCAA in blocks twice. His margin of 4.05 blocks per game during his career is currently the 14th-best average in college basketball history, while his 312 total blocks rank 83rd all time.
With career block No. 300, Sharp became the 95th player in NCAA history to hit that mark. He is one of just 14 on that list to hit the 300-block mark in three years or less.
Career Blocked Shot Average (min. 225 blocks)
1. 5.87 – Keith Closs, Central Conn. St. (54 GP, 317 blks.)
2. 5.66 – Adonal Foyle, Colgate (87 GP, 492 blks.)
3. 5.34 – Shawn James, Northeastern/Duquesne (83 GP, 443 blks.)
4. 5.24 – David Robinson, Navy (67 GP, 351 blks.)
5. 4.66 – Mickell Gladness, Alabama A&M (85 GP, 396 blks.)
6. 4.65 – Wojciech Myrda, La.-Monroe (115 GP, 535 blks.)
7. 4.58 – Shaquille O’Neal, LSU (90 GP, 412 blks.)
8. 4.48 – Jerome James, Florida A&M (81 GP, 363 blks.)
9. 4.42 – Deng Gai, Fairfield (100 GP, 442 blks.)
10. 4.28 – Emeka Okafor, UConn (103 GP, 441 blks.)
11. 4.21 – Justin Williams, Wyoming (58 GP, 244 blks.)
12. 4.17 – Hasheem Thabeet, UConn (100 GP, 417 blks.)
13. 4.11 – Justin Rowe, Maine (55 GP, 226 blks.)
14. 4.05 – Jamarion Sharp, Western Ky./Ole Miss (77 GP, 312 blks.)
Career Blocked Shots
80. 317 – Keith Closs, Central Connecticut State
t-81. 314 – Jordan Bachynski, Arizona State
t-81. 314 – Moussa Badiane, East Carolina
83. 312 – Jamarion Sharp, Western Ky./Ole Miss
EYES UP HIGH
On October 27th, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced their 20-member watch list for the 2024 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year award. For the second consecutive year, Jamarion Sharp saw his name on that list.
“I’M 22 AND A VET IN THE GAME”
The Ole Miss men’s basketball team returned a plethora of NCAA experience to the court to begin the year. Between their returners and transfers, the Rebels’ roster included:
Games Played: 624
Minutes Played: 14,975
Points: 5,220
Rebounds: 2,644
Assists: 801
Steals: 425
Blocks: 524 (441 from Cisse and Sharp alone)
ADAPT TO THE TIMES
The new age of the NCAA often sees heavy roster turnover from year-to-year. While Ole Miss returns five members of last year’s team, they added 11 strong newcomers through the transfer portal and the high school recruiting trail:
Returners (5): Jaemyn Brakefield, Cam Brent, TJ Caldwell, Robert Cowherd, Matthew Murrell
Transfers (7)
Moussa Cisse – Oklahoma St.; 61 GP, 7.0 PPG, 7.3 RPG
Allen Flanigan – Auburn; 114 GP, 8.5 PPG, 4.2 RPG
Cole McGrath – Blue Mountain; 53 GP, 6.5 PPG, 1.8 RPG
Brandon Murray – Georgetown; 27 GP, 13.7 PPG, 3.9 RPG
Jaylen Murray – St. Peter’s; 62 GP, 8.9 PPG, 2.2 RPG
Austin Nunez – Arizona St.; 28 GP, 4.5 PPG, 1.1 RPG
Jamarion Sharp – Western Ky.; 65 GP, 7.8 PPG, 7.6 RPG
Freshman (4)
Cameron Barnes – Three-star (ESPN, 247, Rivals), No. 147 national (Rivals)
Jacob Gazzo – Three-star (ESPN), No. 3 in Mississippi (ESPN)
Rashaud Marshall – Four-star (ESPN, 247, Rivals), No. 83 national (247)
Gavin Murphy – His high school’s fourth-leading all-time scorer
“WE BALLIN’ LIKE THE MARCH MADNESS”
Among the seven transfers for the Rebels, over half have been to the NCAA Tournament during their collegiate career, with a total of five appearances. Brandon Murray (LSU, 2022 First Round), Austin Nunez (Arizona State, 2023 First Round), and Jaylen Murray (Saint Peter’s, 2022 Elite Eight) have each been to the postseason once in their careers, while Allen Flanigan has been twice (Auburn, 2022 and 2023 Second Round).
VALUED LEADERSHIP
The Ole Miss men’s basketball coaching staff is one of the more experienced around the country. In his 14th year as a collegiate head coach, Chris Beard is joined on the court by former head coaches Win Case (16 years), Brian Burg (three years), and Wes Flanigan (two years). Assistant coach Bob Donewald Jr. has 16 years of head coaching experience at the professional and national level, while assistant Al Pinkins has been an associate or assistant coach at six different NCAA Division-I programs, including four within the SEC. The Ole Miss coaching staff has experience at five other SEC programs: Auburn, Florida, LSU, Mississippi State, and Tennessee.
“IT AIN’T GON’ NEVER STOP”
Head coach Chris Beard and staff continue to work on securing the future for Ole Miss basketball, and did so with a pair of signees in the NLI early signing period in November:
John Bol • F • 7-1 • Buma • Overtime Elite
Ranked as the second-highest recruit in program history according to 247Sports, Bol is a consensus four-star recruit, ranking as high as No. 38 in the nation by 247Sports and No. 40 by ESPN. He is an elite shot blocker and rebounder who stands at 7’1″ and is able to affect the game on both ends of the floor. Ranked as the top player in the state of Georgia by ESPN, Bol has developed a reputation as one of the hardest playing big men in the country.
Eduardo Klafke • G • 6-5 • Fanca-Sao Paulo, Brazil • NBA Academy Latin America
A combo guard from the prestigious NBA Academy Latin America, Klafke will come to Oxford from Franca-Sao Paulo, Brazil. One of the top international players in his age group, he has consistently played above his age while representing Brazil on the national stage, playing in U19 games as a 17-year-old. Klafke will help bring a spark to the offense as an elite shooter and is excellent in playing both on and off the ball.
For the latest news and updates regarding Ole Miss Men’s Basketball, follow the Rebels on X at @OleMissMBB, on Facebook at Ole Miss Men’s Basketball and on Instagram at olemissmbb.
COURTESY OLE MISS ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
