Ole Miss Returns to Action Quickly, Hosting UNCW Saturday

			OLE MISS (1-0, 0-0 SEC) vs. UNCW (3-2, 0-0 CAA) Saturday, Dec. 12 • 4 p.m. • Oxford, Miss. The Pavilion at Ole Miss
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GAME 2
Date: Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020
Time: 4 p.m. CT
Location: Oxford, Miss.
Arena: The Pavilion at Ole Miss (9,500)
Television: SEC Network Alternate
   Seth Austin, play-by-play
   John Stroud, analyst
Radio: Ole Miss Sports Network (XM-389)
   David Kellum, play-by-play
   Marc Dukes, analyst
Live Video: ESPN.com/ESPN app
Live Audio: OleMissSports.com/TuneIn app
Series: First Meeting

TIPOFF TIDBITS
- Ole Miss is in the midst of a stretch of playing four games in seven days, the most games in a one-week span since 2016; the first three games (over five days) are at home.
- The Rebels are coming off an 80-45 season-opening victory over Jackson State (Dec. 10); the 35-point win was the largest margin of victory since a 91-45 win over Lipscomb (Nov. 23, 2012).
- The 45 points were the second-fewest allowed under Kermit Davis and the 10th-fewest points surrendered this century (22 seasons).
- Ole Miss is 1-0 for the 16th time in the last 17 seasons.
- Devontae Shuler leads the nation in field goal percentage (90.0 percent) and three-point field goal percentage (100 percent); Shuler went 9 of 10 from the field and 5 of 5 from beyond the arc, scoring a game-high 23 points against Jackson State.
- Shuler became the first Rebel this century to not miss a three-pointer (minimum five attempts).
- Shuler ranks 10th in Ole Miss history with 145 career steals.
- The Rebels rank No. 1 in the nation in scoring defense (45.0), while ranking second in field goal percentage defense (30.0), turnover margin (+14.0) and turnovers forced (26.0).
- Ole Miss leads the SEC in scoring defense (45.0), field goal defense (30.0 percent), 3-point field goal defense (20.0 percent), assists (21.0 per game), turnover margin (+14.0) and assist/turnover ratio (1.8).
- Six Rebels made their debut in an Ole Miss uniform Thursday night: Robert Allen, Jarkel Joiner, Matthew Murrell, Shon Robinson, Dimencio Vaughn and Romello White.
- The Rebels ranked 15th nationally in defending the three-point line last season; opponents shot 29.2 percent; Thursday night, Jackson State was limited to 20 percent to put the Rebels at sixth nationally this season.
- Twelve Rebels scored in the season-opening victory over the Tigers.
- The media predicted the Rebels to finish ninth in the SEC; Ole Miss has finished higher than the preseason projection in seven of the last nine seasons.

LEADING THE NATION
- The Rebels rank in the top 10 nationally in six categories and hold the top spot in scoring defense, allowing 45.0 ppg.
- Ole Miss ranks second nationally in field goal percentage defense (30.0), turnover margin (+14.0) turnovers forced (26.0).
- Devontae Shuler leads the nation in field goal and three-point field goal percentage after shooting 90 percent from the field (9 of 10) and 100 (5 of 5) percent from beyond the arc against Jackson State.
- Khadim Sy ranks fourth nationally in field goal percentage, shooting 83.3 percent from the field.

SEC LEADERS
- Ole Miss leads the SEC in scoring defense (45.0), field goal defense (30.0 percent), three-point field goal defense (20.0 percent), assists (21.0 per game), turnover margin (+14.0) and assist/turnover ratio (1.8).
- Along with pacing the SEC in field goal and three-point field goal percentage, Devontae Shuler also leads the conference in steals per game (3.0) and three-point field goals made (5.0).
- Shuler ranks second in the SEC in scoring (23.0 ppg).
- Luis Rodriguez leads the conference in assist/turnover ratio (4.0).

LATE START
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the start of the college basketball season was pushed back to November 25. Then, the virus hit the Rebels, forcing the cancellation of the Justin Reed Ole Miss Classic (Nov. 25-27) as well as a matchup against Memphis (Dec. 5). The program paused team activities until December 7. When the Rebels tipped off their season Thursday night (Dec. 10), Ole Miss was the final Power 5 team (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, SEC) to start its season. It's been 72 years since the Rebels started a basketball this season this late, defeating Mississippi College to start the 1948-49 campaign (Dec. 11, 1948).

AND HERE. WE. GO.
Ole Miss will waste no time trying to get in non-conference games, scheduling four games in a span of seven days (Dec. 10-16). Playing every other day, it will be the first time the Rebels have played four games over a one-week span since Nov. 18-24, 2016. That week featured the Rebels advancing to the finals of the Paradise Jam in the U.S. Virgin Islands before returning home to beat Montana on Thanksgiving.

SCOUTING UNCW
- UNCW enters the game with a 3-2 record following a 116-66 win over St. Andrews (Dec. 9).
- The matchup with the Rebels begins a three-game road trip.
- Jaylen Sims leads the CAA and ranks fifth in the country with 27.0 ppg.
- The Seahawks are the CAA's leaders in scoring (83.8 ppg), blocks (19), rebounds (167) and steals (41).
- Takakyo Siddle is in his first season as head coach after spending three seasons as NC State's assistant coach.

REBELS VS. CAA
Ole Miss is just 3-2 all-time against the current members of the Colonial Athletic Association. Although this is the first matchup against UNCW, the Rebels have faced Charleston (2-0), Hofstra (0-1), James Madison (0-1) and Towson (1-0).

DEVONTAE'S BIG NIGHT
With Terence Davis (Toronto Raptors) and Breein Tyree (Miami Heat), All-SEC guards from the previous two seasons, graduated and in the NBA, senior Devontae Shuler has taken the role of team leader. He showcased the ability in the season opener with a game-high 23 points, making 9 of 10 from the field with a career-high five three-pointers. It was a Rebel's best field goal percentage in a game (minimum 10 shots) since Marcanvis Hymon went 10 of 11 (90.9 percent) against Towson (Nov. 20, 2015). Shuler also became the first Rebel this century to not miss a three (5 of 5) when shooting at least five of them.

DOMINATING DEFENSE
Ole Miss put together a dominating defensive performance in the team's season-opening win over Jackson State (Dec. 10). Along with forcing 26 turnovers, the Rebels held the Tigers to 45 points. It was the second-lowest opposing output by a Kermit Davis-coach Ole Miss squad, finishing only behind last season's opener versus Arkansas State (43). The 45 points were tied for the 10th-fewest by an Ole Miss opponent over the last 21 years, and it marked the 13th time the Rebels held an opponent to 45 points or less during that span.

Points	Opponent	Date
33	LSU	Feb. 7, 2001
38	Southern	Nov. 20, 2014
38	Arkansas-Pine Bluff	Dec. 28, 2002
41	Nicholls	Jan. 3, 2009
43	Arkansas State	Nov. 8, 2019
43	Nicholls	Dec. 15, 2005
43	ULM	Nov. 29, 2005
43	ULM	Dec. 3, 2001
44	Alabama State	Dec. 30, 2003
45	Jackson State	Dec. 10, 2020
45	Lipscomb	Nov. 23, 2012
45	Arkansas	March 6, 2004
45	Morris Brown	Nov. 28, 2001

HISTORIC NIGHT UNDER DAVIS
Ole Miss produced some of its best numbers in the Kermit Davis era Thursday night versus Jackson State.
- Largest margin of victory (35)
- Fewest points allowed in a half (12)
- Largest halftime lead (29)
- Second-fewest points allowed (45)
- Second-lowest field goal percentage (30.0)

SHULER SHINES IN SEASON OPENERS
Senior guard Devontae Shuler led the Rebels 23 points in the season opener, knocking down 9 of his 10 shot attempts. It was the seventh 20-point game of Shuler's career. Averaging 9.5 ppg as a Rebel, Shuler has scored 17.5 ppg over his four season openers in an Ole Miss uniform. Last season, he scored a team-high 20 points on 7 of 11 shooting. As a freshman, he tallied 14 points in a win over Louisiana; his performance was the most points scored by a Rebel freshman in his debut since Trevor Gaskins in 2007.

OLE MISS DEBUTS
In the season-opening win over Jackson State, six Rebels made their debut in an Ole Miss uniform: Robert Allen, Jarkel Joiner, Matthew Murrell, Shon Robinson, Dimencio Vaughn and Romello White. The newcomers scored 27 of the teams 80 points (33.8 percent) led by eight from White.

HOME COOKIN'
When the Rebels were victorious at home last season, they won in dominating fashion. Eleven of Ole Miss' 12 wins in The Pavilion were by double digits, outscoring the opposition by an average of 18.5 ppg (77.5-59.0). The Rebels shot 49.9 percent in home victories. Meanwhile, Ole Miss held the opposition to 36.8 percent, including just 24.3 percent from three-point range. The Rebels finished with a 12-5 record at home last season. That trend continued into the 2020-21 season with the 35-point win over Jackson State, limiting the Tigers to 30 percent from the floor.

PROTECTING CRADDOCK COURT
Winning at home has been a trademark at Ole Miss. Over the past 15 seasons, the Rebels are 167-52 (.763 win pct.) in home games. In five-plus seasons (opened January 2016) playing in the $96.5 million Pavilion at Ole Miss, the Rebels hold a 54-26 (.675) advantage against the opposition. Ole Miss has won 292 of its last 376 games (.777 win pct.) in Oxford dating back to the 1996-97 campaign. Under head coach Kermit Davis, the Rebels are 24-10 (.706 win pct.) at home.

DEFENDING THE LONG BALL
Ole Miss was one of the best teams in defending the three-point line last season. The Rebels ranked 15th nationally as opponents shot just 29.2 percent from long distance. Ole Miss kept opponents under 25 percent in 10 games last year. This year, the trend continued by limiting Jackson State to 2 of 10 (20 percent) from beyond the arc to rank the Rebels sixth in the country in defending the long ball.

SHULER TABBED PRESEASON SECOND TEAM ALL-SEC
For the second consecutive season, Devontae Shuler was named Preseason All-SEC by the conference coaches. After ranking fifth in the SEC in steals (1.7 per game) and assist/turnover ratio (1.7) a season ago, one of only two players conference-wide to finish top five in both categories, Shuler was tabbed Second Team All-SEC heading into his senior season. Shuler, the only fourth-year senior on the team, is the Rebels' leading returning scorer (11.7 ppg) following the graduation of First Team All-SEC honoree Breein Tyree (19.7 ppg). Along with pacing Ole Miss in steals on the defensive end of the court, he also produced a team-best 3.3 assists per game. The Irmo, South Carolina, native put together five 20-point games throughout the 2019-20 season, including a career-high 28 points at LSU (Feb. 1). Playing in 98 games as a Rebel, Shuler has racked up 930 points as he nears the milestone of 1,000 career points. With 145 steals over his career, he already ranks 10th in school history on the career steals list.

NEW, BUT EXPERIENCED BUNCH
The Rebels have several new faces on this year's team, but that doesn't mean they don't lack experience. Four of the six newcomers are transfers, making the Rebels the most experienced team in the SEC in terms of Division I minutes (15,861) entering the 2020-21 season. Graduate transfers Dimencio Vaughn (Rider) and Romello White (Arizona State) played three seasons apiece at their previous schools, while Robert Allen (Samford) and Jarkel Joiner (CSU Bakersfield) already boast two years of experience at the Division I level.

REPLACING TYREE
The Rebels have a big void to fill with the graduation of Breein Tyree, who signed with the Miami Heat on Sunday (Nov. 22). The Somerset, New Jersey, native ranked second in the SEC in scoring a season ago by averaging 19.7 ppg (36th nationally). Tyree put the team on his back at times, producing 15 games of at least 20 points that included a career-high 40 points against rival Mississippi State (Feb. 11). Earning First Team All-SEC accolades twice, Tyree etched his name in the Ole Miss record book for several categories.

Category	Rank	Stat
Points	6th	1,797
3-Pointers Made	6th	207
Free Throws Made	9th	384
Field Goals Made	10th	603
Assists	10th	325
Minutes Played	10th	3,634

GREAT GRAD TRANSFERS
Ole Miss added a pair of superb grad transfers in Dimencio Vaughn (Rider) and Romello White (Arizona State). Vaughn rated as high as the No. 4 graduate transfer according to 247Sports, while White ranked fourth on ESPN's grad transfer list. Over 95 games for the Broncs, Vaughn scored 1,239 points and shot 47.4 percent from the floor while earning First Team All-MAAC honors twice. This past season, Vaughn averaged a team-high 14.8 points per game and 6.6 rebounds per game to rank fifth in the conference in both categories. The New York City native added 1.8 steals per game to lead the Broncs (second in the league), and his 48.4 field goal percentage ranked eighth in the MAAC. Over three seasons at Arizona State, White started 92 of the 95 games he played for the Sun Devils. He tallied 927 points during his ASU career, averaging 9.8 ppg and shooting 60.5 percent from the floor (second on the program's all-time list). During the 2019-20 campaign, White ranked second in the Pac-12 with 8.8 rebounds per game.

OXFORD'S OWN
Having to sit out a year after transferring from CSU Bakersfield, it's been a long wait for Jarkel Joiner to play for his hometown school. Joiner brings an electric game to the Ole Miss backcourt, having led the WAC in scoring (18.6 ppg) and breaking the CSU Bakersfield single season scoring record (532 points) during the 2018-19 campaign. Before taking his talents out west, Joiner starred in Ole Miss' backyard at Oxford High School. As a senior, he ranked fourth in the nation in scoring (36.5 ppg) to lead the Chargers to the state semifinals. Joiner was often found throwing alley-oops to fellow Oxford native and current Seattle Seahawks wide receiver D.K. Metcalf.

LUIS IS BACK
Luis Rodriguez saw his 2019-20 campaign cut short just five games into the season, suffering a foot fracture during a pregame shootaround. At the time, he was a starter and ranked second on the team in rebounds (5.2 per game). The Los Angeles, California, native is back this season and was even granted a medical hardship by the NCAA, retaining his sophomore status.

ALLEN GRANTED IMMEDIATE ELIGIBILITY
After transferring to Ole Miss from Samford in the spring, forward Robert Allen was declared immediately eligible for the 2020-21 season. Allen was one of Samford's leading scorers and rebounders over a pair of seasons. Playing 65 games for the Bulldogs, he averaged 12.0 ppg and 7.7 rebounds per game to go along with 11 double-doubles. Wrapping up his sophomore season, Allen finished with a team-high 43 blocks through 32 games. He scored 14.1 ppg and pulled down 7.0 rpg, ranking second on the team in both categories. His 1.3 blocks per game was third in the Southern Conference, while his rebounding average ranked fifth.

UNDERRATED REBELS
For the SEC's annual preseason poll, a panel consisting of SEC and national media members picked the Rebels to finish ninth in the conference standings this season. That shouldn't worry Ole Miss fans, as the Rebels have placed higher than the media's projection in seven of the last nine seasons since the SEC went away from the divisional format. That includes the 2018-19 campaign when Ole Miss was predicted to finish last in the SEC, only to tie for sixth and return to the NCAA Tournament under first year head coach and 2019 SEC Coach of the Year Kermit Davis.

YEAR THREE OF THE DAVIS ERA
Kermit Davis is in his third season at the helm of Ole Miss Basketball. A nine-time conference coach of the year, Davis is 39th among active Division I head coaches with 439 career wins over 23 seasons, including stints at MT, Idaho and Texas A&M. In 26 seasons as a college basketball head coach, he has amassed 505 wins. Davis wasted no time making an impact in Oxford. With the Rebels coming off a last-place finish in 2017-18, the media picked Ole Miss to land at the bottom of the SEC standings again in 2018-19. However, the Rebels posted a 20-13 record to earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in four years. With a return to March Madness for the sixth time in his career, Davis joined a list of 63 coaches in college basketball history to take three different schools to the NCAA Tournament. Davis was named SEC Coach of the Year by his peers and the Associated Press, earning conference coach of the year accolades for the ninth time in his career. He became just the third active coach (Dana Altman, Bob Huggins) to be named coach of the year in four different conferences.

PAVILION ATTENDANCE
In accordance with the State of Mississippi's most recent executive order in response to COVID-19, capacity at The Pavilion at Ole Miss will be reduced to 10 percent for Rebel basketball games, beginning with Saturday's doubleheader and extending through at least January 15.

NEXT ON THE HARDWOOD
The Rebels will continue the start to their season that includes a game every other day. The three-game homestand wraps up Monday night (Dec. 14) by hosting Central Arkansas. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. CT on SEC Network.

RebelsCalendar

Players Mentioned

Robert Allen

Jarkel Joiner

Matthew Murrell

Shon Robinson

Luis Rodriguez

Devontae Shuler

Khadim Sy

Breein Tyree

Dimencio Vaughn

Romello White

The University of Mississippi Athletics