The Tigers are on top after two games.
Missouri basketball has opened SEC play with a marvelous pair of wins, first knocking off the reigning national champions, Florida, at home, before heading on the road and beating Kentucky for its first win at Rupp Arena in 10 historic attempts.
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After a wretched non-conference run in December, Mizzou (12-3, 2-0 SEC) is one of five SEC teams to open league play with two wins.
To go 3-0, the Tigers are taking a visit to an Ole Miss team that is yet to find its stride after making the Sweet 16 last year (5 p.m., CT, SEC Network).
The Rebels (8-7, 0-2) are on the other end of the SEC standings after losses to Oklahoma and Arkansas to open league play. Head coach Chris Beard’s team also lost four straight over a stretch of non-conference play.
Can Mizzou keep its perfect start intact?
Here’s what you need to know about Ole Miss before the Saturday evening game in Oxford, Mississippi.
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Ole Miss HC Chris Beard wants his team to play faster
Jan 25, 2025; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Mississippi Rebels head coach Chris Beard talks with guard Sean Pedulla (3) during the first half against the Missouri Tigers at Mizzou Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
After a loss to Arkansas on Wednesday, Beard said he hadn’t had as much fun in a game since the stars who brought Ole Miss to the second weekend of March — Sean Pedulla, Matthew Murrell and more — last season were playing for his team.
That’s because he saw some aggressiveness, as the Rebels cut a 16-point deficit to just four late in the game.
“This is one of the slowest-paced teams we’ve ever had, and we’re just pleading with the guys to play faster,” Beard said, per the Clarion Ledger. “I think tonight we did a better job of that.”
That speaks to a larger trend that will be worth paying attention to when Mizzou shows up.
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In the Rebels’ seven losses this season, they’ve been in bottom half of the country for offensive rebounding rate (28.3%) and in just the 28th percentile nationwide for defensive rebounding rate (64.0%), according to CBB Analytics. They’ve been in the bottom half of the league for free-throw attempt rate and 2-point field goal attempts. Those are all, to a degree, based around showing some hustle.
And Beard wants to see more of that.
How can Mizzou hurt Ole Miss?
The biggest disparity between the two teams is what they do in the paint.
Mizzou scores more than 45 points per game in that category, which is nearly 15 more per outing than Ole Miss, which is last in the conference for paint points.
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The Rebels also haven’t been particularly effective at getting shots off, which is line with Beard’s pace comments. They rank in the 50th percentile or lower for both 2- and 3-point field goal attempts per game.
The more Mizzou can force the ball out of Ole Miss’s hands, or force it late into the shot clock, seemingly the better.
What is Ole Miss’s strength?
There isn’t one category that stands out above the others in Ole Miss’s wins.
Over their eight victories this season, the Rebels stats rank among the 45th and 55th percentile, essentially right in the middle of all D-I teams, nationwide in the following: 2-point percentage; 3-point attempt rate; 3-point percentage; free-throw attempts; opponent turnovers; and offensive rebounding percentage.
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The one Mississippi metric that is far higher in their wins that their average game is ball security.
Over the season, the Rebels have a 13.8% turnover rate. In wins, that drops to 11.9%, which is in the top 12% in the country. The better Beard’s team keeps a hold of the ball, the more chance it will have to win Saturday.
Player to watch: Ilias Kamardine
OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI – JANUARY 07: Ilias Kamardine #6 of the Ole Miss Rebels drives against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the second half at The Pavilion at Ole Miss on January 07, 2026 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Wes Hale/Getty Images)
The combo guard leads Ole Miss in assists and steals. He takes just about as many 3-point attempts as any player on the roster and makes about 34.5%. He’s the Rebels’ second-leading scorer with 11.3 points per game.
Kamardine, who is from Marseille, France, is also one of the more turnover-prone players in the league, averaging 2.4 per game.
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How Missouri contains or affects him could be the difference.
Score prediction: Missouri 75, Ole Miss 66
More: What Missouri basketball coach Dennis Gates said after upsetting Kentucky
More: Missouri basketball year has changed with 2 SEC wins. The Tigers disagree
Missouri is on a heater. The return of Trent Pierce and Jayden Stone changed the offense (and has had an underrated impact on the defense, too). Wins over the preseason No. 1 and 2 teams in the SEC, including a win in Rupp Arena, is a remarkable answer to a poor December.
And Ole Miss? It’s been a disappointing season that hasn’t shown any immediate signs of getting better.
We’ll take the Tigers to make it three in a row.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Missouri basketball at Ole Miss score prediction, scouting report
