The Rebels and Golden Eagles haven’t played since 1995. Here’s a look at Southern Miss guard Jeremy Wise, the fourth-leading scorer in Conference USA.
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com
/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071227/SOUTHERNMISS/712270309
– PA
Sometimes slow is good, and I welcome it. I am finishing up Christmas at my in-laws in Meridian and will head back to Tupelo and on to Southaven tomorrow.
Right now I’m awaiting a call from Dwayne Curtis. Maybe it will come.
Curtis has been a big part of Ole Miss’ early success. Rebels coach Andy Kennedy has always called him an “angles scorer,” an apt description of a talented player who not only uses his body positioning for scoring but really relies on that positioning. I’m not sure Curtis could jump over a dollar bill. He tells us all the time he can dunk, but a Curtis dunk is as rare as an Elvis sighting.
Anyway, leaping may not be a specialty, but Dwayne does a lot of things well, and he’s really been helped this season by the Rebels’ athletes on the perimeter. They demand attention, and it’s made it much easier for Curtis to get the room to operate that he needs.
He will be the best big man on the floor against Southern’s guard-oriented lineup Friday night.
Maybe Curtis can continue his recent success, and Ole Miss can set a school record with a 12th straight win and its best start to a season.
– PA
Just spoke to Andy Kennedy a little while ago. He hasn’t had the team together since the rankings came out. The players all flew together from San Juan to Atlanta on Saturday, but many had different connecting flights after that as they scattered for a short Christmas break.
Players report back to campus this afternoon.
This team has responded strong in some tough spots in several games … South Al, UCF, Winthrop, Clemson. Southern Miss won’t be a pushover in Southaven Friday, but it’s conceivable Ole Miss could be 13-0 going into its SEC opener at Tennessee, which appears to be the class of the league this year.
I am still in holiday mode, using up some vacation days that will expire Jan. 1. I’ll be back in the saddle Friday, then I’ll help Gregg with the Liberty Bowl on Saturday.
I saw where the hotel was pretty deserted when he checked in at Memphis last night.
One final tidbit of interest from Ole Miss’ very successful run in San Juan was the fact that Kenny Williams required Congressional assistance to get back in the country. Seems he had an expired ID of sorts, and wasn’t cleared to return until US Rep. Roger Wicker placed a call to the Department of Homeland Security.
Kenny eventually got back in the country and should not have the same trouble getting into Southaven.
– PA
Ole Miss debuts at No. 22 in the AP Top 25. That’s one spot behind now No. 21 Clemson, which was No. 15 when it lost to Ole Miss in San Juan on Saturday, and one spot ahead of West Virginia and coach Bob Huggins, who was Andy Kennedy’s mentor during their days at Cincinnati.
– PA
Tonight and tomorrow are special times if you’re a believer, and I am one. I was raised to believe in Christ, questioned it for a time, then decided I do believe.
As I’ve grown older, and especially since kids have come on the scene, I’ve come to appreciate His birth and sacrifice more than ever.
Egad! That can only be described as maturity! My senior English teacher, Kathy Wesley, would never have believed it possible.
Here’s a link to the Houston Nutt feature that appeared in today’s print edition. http://www.djournal.com/pages/story.asp?ID=262954&pub=1&div=Sports
Merry CHRISTmas to all.
– PA
So what will it take to make it to the NCAA tournament, a place the Rebels haven’t been in six years?
No doubt beating No. 15 Clemson was huge and will pay March dividends, but I’m thinking Ole Miss needs a minimum eight wins.
Eight didn’t get the Rebels in the NCAA last year, but if they do no falter in remaining non-SEC games against Alabama A&M, Southern Miss and Presbyterian, they would have 22 overall wins if they go 8-8 in the SEC.
Even with an impressive non-conference record of potentially 14-0, a 7-9 conference mark may not get it, because the SEC is viewed as being down this season. In the most recent simulated RPI release, the SEC ranked seventh among major conferences behind the ACC, Big 12, PAC 10, Big East, Big 10 and Missouri Valley. The SEC ranked ahead of only the Atlantic 10, West Coast and Horizon Conferences.
Eight wins would likely be the bare minimum.
With an 11-0 start expectations have risen for this team. It’s OK to start thinking beyond the SEC minimum, especially if the league is in fact down.
If the Rebels continue to play at home as well as they have in Andy Kennedy’s 1 ½ seasons as coach, they should be able to make a run in the conference. If the SEC is in fact down that would only set the table better.
There is still plenty of room to grow on this team, but, generally, that’s what young teams do.
– PA
Biggest win of Andy Kennedy’s brief tenure at Ole Miss. What’s interesting is this team still isn’t clicking the way it can. The Rebels shot 27 percent in the second half and beat the No. 15 team in the country.
It looks like David Huertas has picked up the pace, and Eniel Polynice contributed more today.
One guy who has been there just about every game of this 11-0 start is center Dwayne Curtis. He’s always been a guy that can score when he can use his big body to get an edge in position. With more weapons on the perimeter, he’s getting that position more often.
A win over Southern Miss in Southaven Friday would set a school record with a 12th-straight win to open the season.
– PA
Rebels move to 10-0. Nice to see continued contributions from David Huertas, who had 14 points. Good game from Eniel Polynice — who lost his spot in the lineup to Huertas — 20 points. Good ball-handling from Chris Warren with nine assists to two turnovers.
A win tomorrow against Clemson could have March implications.
– PA
Ole Miss led by 11 at one point in the second half. … Men tip off in San Juan against La Salle in about an hour.
– PA
Her second appearance this season. Ross’ first, I’m told. NC State 32, Ole Miss 29 with 1:55 left in the first half.
– PA
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