Mississippi is back in the Big Dance for the first time since since 2002 after winning the SEC championship by defeating Florida on Sunday afternoon. Here are five things you need to know about the Rebels:
1. Marshall Henderson is their heart and soul. He’s crazy, outspoken and brash, but Henderson’s tongue-wagging enthusiasm is what makes the Rebels tick. He averages 20.1 points per game and virtually carried Ole Miss to the SEC title.
2. They score a lot of points. The Rebels average 78.2 per game, which is good for 7th in the nation. Besides Henderson, forward Murphy Holloway can fill it up, averaging 14.6 per contest.
3. Their administration has shown patience. Head coach Andy Kennedy left Cincinnati six seasons ago to take the job at Ole Miss, and it seemed as though the Rebels were on the wrong side of the bubble every year. They were probably going to miss out on the NCAAs had they not at least advanced into the SEC title game, but the Rebs removed all doubt by upending Florida and will now ride a five-game winning steak into the dance.
4. They have some terrible losses. Ole Miss was ranked in early February, but put themselves in a bad position by losing at lowly South Carolina and putrid Mississippi State. The loss to the Bulldogs may have sealed an NIT fate had they not come back with five consecutive wins.
5. They rebound the ball well. Mississippi ranks 19th in rebounding (38.8 per game). They don’t have much size up front (their tallest player is 6-9), but they take after Henderson in terms of tenacity and effort on the glass.
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