HOOPS: MSU game thread

About 40 minutes to tip here. Not everybody on opposite sides of the Ole Miss-State thing hate each other. Just saw former MSU AD Larry Templeton emerge from the tunnel with his arm on the shoulder of Ole Miss radio man David Kellum. Don’t know what they were chatting about, but it seemed pleasant.

Andy Kennedy hasn’t come out yet, so the cat calls and whatever else is planned to celebrate his legal problems haven’t surfaced yet. Most of it hasn’t. There are four guys in the baseball-type three-quarter sleeve shirts behind me. The sleeves are yellow, and they’ve written “Taxi Service of Cincinnati” on them.

There was some mild heckling of David Huertas in the shoot-around about his days at Florida. He smiled back at a small group of students. It was good-natured.

Leave comments and observations below as the day rolls along.

– PA

FYI: The enrollment process

In light of Friday’s Bo Tillman saga, a mini-Jerrell Powe episode on the topic of a recruit being enrolled — or not being enrolled — by the university, here is a blog by Ole Miss athletics director for NCAA compliance David Wells. It is posted on the school’s website.

– PA

HOOPS: Today’s Game

Ole Miss at Mississippi State
When: Noon today, Humphrey Coliseum, Starkville.
TV: Raycom. Live Internet streaming at ESPN360.com.
XM: Channel 199.
Series: MSU leads 133-104.
Last year: MSU, 88-68 in Starkville; Ole Miss, 74-63 in Oxford.
Coaches: Ole Miss – Andy Kennedy (77-46, fourth year; 56-44, third year at Ole Miss). MSU – Rick Stansbury (222-121, 11th year).
Notes: The Rebels’ last win in Starkville was Feb. 21, 1998. Keith Carter, now a radio analyst with the Ole Miss network, had 20 points and 10 rebounds to lead an 82-78 victory. … Rebel freshman Terrico White is averaging 14.7 points in SEC games, second on the team and 11th in the league. … David Huertas is averaging 19.6 points. If he maintains that pace he finish as the highest-scoring Ole Miss player since Joe Harvell’s 25.0 points per game in 1992. … MSU freshman Dee Bost is third in the SEC with 4.5 assists per game. … Junior center Jarvis Varnado continues to lead the nation with 4.9 blocks per game.

Probable Starters
Ole Miss (11-9, 2-4 SEC)
C – Malcolm White 6-9 So. 6.4 ppg
G – David Huertas 6-5 So. 19.6 ppg
G – Terrico White 6-5 Fr. 9.9 ppg
G – Zach Graham 6-6 So. 7.4 ppg
F – DeAundre Cranston 6-9 Jr. 3.1 ppg
Top Reserves: G Will Bogan, F Terrance Henry, F Murphy Holloway.

Mississippi State (14-6, 4-1 SEC)
C – Jarvis Varnado 6-9 Jr. 13.0 ppg
G – Ravern Johnson 6-7 So. 12.5 ppg
G – Dee Bost 6-2 Fr. 9.7 ppg
G – Barry Stewart 6-2 Jr. 10.6 ppg
G – Phil Turner 6-3 So. 7.7 ppg
Top Reserves: F Romero Osby, F Elgin Bailey, G Riley Benock.

Rebels not short on talent, short on home-grown talent

Young teams defy low expectations

– PA

FOOTBALL: Bo Tillman update

The Ole Miss Spirit reports this morning, confirming Oxford Rebel’s post below, that a noon deadline has been set by Bo Tillman’s representatives for the school to admit the prospect, or he will play elsewhere. Tillman is the brother of rising senior defensive end Marcus Tillman.

– PA

HOOPS: That Humphrey feeling

It hasn’t been good for Ole Miss, regardless of circumstances, at Mississippi State’s Humphrey Coliseum of late.

The Rebels have beaten the Bulldogs in the last three Oxford games but haven’t won in Starkville in 11 years, their last victory an 82-78 decision in 1998. The Rebels have lost 10 straight and are 1-14 in their last 15 games at MSU. They get another chance Saturday in a noon tip.

It’s been four years since the Rebels have played the Bulldogs to a single-digit margin of defeat. Ole Miss lost 71-68 in 2005. In 2004 the Rebels lost by 24 points. From 2006-2008 they lost by 29, 10 and 20.

It’s a thin Ole Miss team that visits Humphrey this week, but it’s one which has had a higher energy level since a humbling home loss to LSU on Jan. 17. It’s also one that had an impressive upset win at home against Kentucky Tuesday night.

The road, of course, is a different place.

This could be a situation where youth works in the favor of Ole Miss. Most of the Rebels’ key players have no point of reference for past struggles at State. Junior guard David Huertas will be the only Ole Miss player who will see significant playing time who has been to Humphrey Coliseum with the Rebels more than once.

– PA

FOOTBALL: Following Nutt

Rivals national football writer Tom Dienhart followed Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt on a recent one-day recruiting trip with multiple stops capped by a call on quarterback Raymond Cotton.

– PA

HOOPS: Odds and ends from last night

DeAundre Cranston put up a few 3-pointers early in the non-conference schedule, but he looks much more comfortable now taking that shot when it’s open. He’s 5-for-12 from the arc, a 41.6 percentage that ranks as the team’s best, though you can’t really put a 12-shot guy in the discussion. … While Trevor Gaskins and Eniel Polynice participated in post-game high-fives, Chris Warren is on crutches right now and didn’t get out on the floor. “How you doing, Chris?” I asked. “Fine,” he smiled. … Freshman forward Terrance Henry remains an athletic and energetic player who is feast or famine in productivity. In eight first-half minutes Henry had five rebounds and three fouls. He’s an aggressive player, and he’s going to be good. … The Rebels are now 4-6 against Top 25 teams under Andy Kennedy. Kentucky was the second ranked team the Rebels have faced this season. … The Rebels are now 41-5 at home under Kennedy. … Ole Miss has won five of its last eight games played on ESPN.

– PA

FOOTBALL: Gaining on Gaines?

Looks like Auburn is working hard on DL Corey Gaines, though Gaines remains impressed with Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt and the atmosphere he experienced in Oxford.

– PA

FOOTBALL: Recruiting update

A roundup of how things stand one week from Signing Day.

– PA

HOOPS: Kentucky game coverage

Lots of excitement in the Ole Miss camp from an improbable win last night. The Rebels finished with three players — Terrico White, Malcolm White and David Huertas — at or over 20 points and guarded Kentucky’s Jodie Meeks better than anyone in the SEC has so far.

Game Story

Notebook

– PA