The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss
Tennessee
Men's Basketball Prepares for Second-Round Clash with Tennessee
3/9/2023 | Men's Basketball
The No. 13 seed Rebels take on the No. 5-seeded Vols in the 2023 SEC Tournament
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2023 SEC TOURNAMENT #13 OLE MISS (12-20, 3-15 SEC) vs. #5 TENNESSEE (#17/19) (22-9, 11-7 SEC) Thursday, March 9 • 2 p.m. CT • Nashville, Tenn. Bridgestone Arena (20,000)  |
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Ole Miss Game Notes • Tennessee Game Notes • SEC Game Notes |
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Following a first-round victory over South Carolina, the Ole Miss men's basketball team is set to take on the No. 5 seed Tennessee in the second round of the 2023 SEC Tournament on Thursday, March 9 at 2 p.m. in Bridgestone Arena and on the SEC Network.
TEAM FACTS
Ole Miss Rebels (12-20, 3-15 SEC)
Acting Head Coach: Win Case • 1st Season at Ole Miss (2-2) • 394-171 career record as head coach across all NCAA divisions, NAIA, and NJCAA (17th Season)
Tennessee Volunteers (22-9, 11-7 SEC)
Head Coach: Rick Barnes • 8th Season at Tennessee (172-90) • 776-404 career record (36th Season)
ON THE AIR
Television/Online: SEC Network
Play-by-Play: Karl Ravech
Color: Jimmy Dykes
Sideline: Marty Smith
OLE MISS RADIO
Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network
Play-by-Play: David Kellum
Color: Marc Dukes
SERIES HISTORY VS. TENNESSEE
This will be the second game between Ole Miss and Tennessee this season, after the two opened up their SEC schedule in Oxford on December 28, where the seventh-ranked Volunteers inched out a four-point win. While Tennessee holds advantages in Oxford (28-26) and Knoxville (44-12), it's the Rebels who hold the series lead at neutral sites and in the postseason at the SEC Tournament, 7-5.
The two programs first met in the SEC Tournament back in one of its first years, as the Rebels won 45-40 in 1938 before defeating LSU and falling to Georgia Tech in the championship round. However, Tennessee would get their revenge in the postseason during the next three games, eliminating Ole Miss in 1945, 1948, and 1949. The Rebels then won the next four SEC Tournament matchups with the Vols in 1980, 1981, 1986, and 1990. Tennessee would win in 1991 and 2010, with the Rebels claiming victories in the 2001 and most recently, the 2012 tournament.
LAST MEETING: DECEMBER 28, 2022 (L, 59-63, OXFORD, MISS.)
• Ole Miss took an early lead and held a six-point advantage at the half 34-28, before falling by four at the final buzzer in their SEC opener.
• Jaemyn Brakefield led the Rebels in scoring with 18 points, while Amaree Abram scored 10 off the bench.
• The Volunteers were paced offensively by Santiago Vescovi with 22 points.
SCOUTING THE VOLUNTEERS
Tennessee enters the SEC Tournament with an overall record of 22-9 and conference record of 11-7, giving them the five seed and a first-round bye. The Volunteers are currently ranked No. 17 in the nation by the AP and No. 19 in the USA Today Coaches' Poll. Holding a national ranking throughout the season, the Vols have picked up victories over ranked foes numerous times including: No. 2 Gonzaga, No. 3 Kansas, No. 13 Maryland, No. 10 Texas, No. 25 Auburn, and No. 1 Alabama.
Tennessee owns one of the most dominant defenses in the nation, leading the NCAA in opponent three point percentage and field goal defense, while ranking third in college basketball at 57.5 points allowed per game. They have dominated the paint and rank 17th in the country at 38.9 rebounds per game and No. 12 in rebound margin at +6.7.
OLE MISS ALL-TIME AT THE SEC TOURNAMENT
• 33-57 (60 total tournaments since 1933)
• vs. Tennessee: 7-5 (last: W, 77-72 (OT), March 6, 2012, quarterfinals)
• Two SEC Tournament titles (1981, 2013)
• First Round: 12-23 (last win: March 8, 2023, vs. South Carolina, 67-61)
• Second Round: 13-22 (last win: March 11, 2021, vs. South Carolina, 76-59)
• Quarterfinals: 1-3 (last win: March 15, 2013, vs. Missouri, 64-62)
• Semifinals: 5-6 (last win: March 16, 2013, vs. Vanderbilt, 61-51)
• Championship Game: 2-3 (last win: March 17, 2013, vs. Florida, 66-63)
ALL NOTES BELOW HERE CONTAIN STATS ENTERING THE SEC TOURNAMENT
IT'S MISTER STEAL-YOUR-PASS
Fifth-year transfer Myles Burns has been a defensive powerhouse this season for the Rebels, collecting 71 steals. He stepped into the top-10 for most in a single season at Ole Miss in style on February 18, recording seven steals to tie for the third-most in a single game in school history. Combined with six steals at Auburn, his 13 steals in back-to-back games are the most ever in school history in a two-game stretch.
Entering the SEC Tournament, Burns currently ranks third in program history for the most steals in a single season at Ole Miss.
Ole Miss Basketball - Most Steals in a Single Season
1. 89 Gerald Glass (30 games, 1989)
2. 73 Jason Smith (33 games, 1999)
3. 71 Myles Burns (31 games, 2023)
4. 70 Gerald Glass (30 games, 1990)
5. 58 Murphy Holloway (36 games, 2013)
Rod Barnes (29 games, 1988)
7. 57 Stefan Moody (34 games, 2015)
8. 56 Devontae Shuler (33 games, 2019)
9. 55 Rahim Lockhart (33 games, 2000)
Ervin Garnes (27 games, 1994)
Eric Laird (28 games, 1984)
A DEFENSIVE GOAT
Recording a steal in the closing moments of the first half against Missouri on Jan. 24, senior transfer Myles Burns collected the 400th steal of his collegiate career. Joining the Ole Miss program from Loyola New Orleans of the NAIA, Burns brought 358 steals from his four-time NAIA All-American career and has collected 71 since coming to Oxford. Counting his stats from the NAIA, Burns would become just the sixth person in NCAA men's basketball history across all divisions to collect 400 career steals, and would rank fourth all time.
400 Career NCAA Steals List
1. Calvin Cheek, New England Col. (DIII), 2017-22: 580 steals
2. Jacob Gilyard, Richmond (DI), 2017-22: 466 steals
3. Tennyson Whitted, Ramapo (DIII), 1999-2003: 448 steals
4. Jonte Flowers, Winona St. (DII), 2004-08: 414 steals
5. John Gallogly, Salve Regina (DIII), 1994-98: 413 steals
*Myles Burns - 429 steals (including stats from NAIA)
BLOCK PARTY
The Ole Miss defense has only let their opponents top 70 points 11 times this year. A major part of their defensive identity has been enforcing the paint, as the Rebels average 3.9 blocks per game. They are led down low by senior transfers Theo Akwuba (31 total blocks, 1.1 per game) and Jayveous McKinnis (30 total blocks, 1.0 per game).
On January 3 at No. 7 Alabama, Akwuba and McKinnis combined for seven blocks, with Akwuba's four bringing his collegiate career total to 200 (now at 213). He and McKinnis (262 career blocks) are the only two teammates in college basketball with over 200 swats in their careers, and each rank among the top-25 in active career leaders.
MB2K
Myles Burns scored 1,852 points during his career at Loyola New Orleans, and surpassed the 2,000-career points mark on February 4 at Vanderbilt with a dunk on an alley-oop. If his NAIA stats transferred to the NCAA, he would be one of just five active players across all divisions in college basketball with at least 2,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds. Other active student-athletes with at least 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds are Jayden Gardner (Virginia), KJ Williams (LSU), Kevin Obanor (Texas Tech), and Jordan Janssen (Wayne St. (NE)).
Burns would also be just one of three active players across all divisions with at least 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, 100 steals, and 100 blocks in their career. Janssen of Wayne St. (NE) and Williams of LSU would be the only other active members of that club.
Myles Burns Collegiate Career Totals
Games Played: 151
Games Started: 139
Points: 2,095 (13.9/game)
Rebounds: 1,258 (8.3/game)
Steals: 429 (2.8/game)
Assists: 342 (2.3/game)
Blocks: 129 (0.9/game)
THEM REBS MOVE FAST
Ole Miss has been quick to react on defensive rebounds and turnovers, outscoring their opponents on fast-break opportunities by 115 this season (323-208). The Rebels have recorded more fast-break points than the other team in 22 of their 31 games.
THROUGH THE FIRE
Ole Miss has faced off with some of the best competition college basketball has to offer, as the Rebels strength of schedule ranks 31st in the nation. With a combined opponent record of 540-385 (0.584), they have played against foes with a current NET ranking in the top-100 19 times, including 14 games against a foe in the top-50 and two in the top-five.
BEEN STEPH CURRY WITH THE SHOT
On February 28 against Texas A&M, Matthew Murrell connected on eight makes from three, setting a career high and tying the SJB Pavilion record for most threes in a single game. His eight three pointers tied him for the third-most in a single game in school history, with the most recent occurrence coming in December 2019 by Breein Tyree. Murrell's performance also marks the most shots from deep by a player in the SEC this season.
