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Ole Miss vs. Memphis: How to watch, start time, TV channel

Ben Garrettby: Ben Garrett12/27/24SpiritBen

Fifteen of the SEC’s 16 basketball teams are currently ranked in the Top 75 in the NET.

Ole Miss is No. 31. 

The Rebels climbed as high as No. 21 on December 19 — the highest ranking in program history. Fourteen SEC teams are inside the Top 50. Seven are in the Top 25. Four are in the Top 10. 

Ole Miss is ranked No. 16 in the Associated Press Top 25. The Rebels have one final non-conference tune-up, at Memphis, before embarking on the SEC gauntlet. 

The Rebels tip off against Georgia January 4.

“I absolutely feel we could be (a contender),” second-year Ole Miss head coach Chris Beard said. Beard was joining the ‘Field of 68’ podcast. “I’m biased. I’ve never coached a team where I couldn’t tell you, ‘Hey, we’re going to be a part of the fight.’ Now, some years your margin for error is much smaller than other years. 

“The SEC doesn’t come down to talent. It comes down to discipline, chemistry and winning close games. Our team this year is similar. I don’t believe there will be a game this year where we walk off the court saying we just didn’t have enough talent to beat those guys.”

Ole Miss is at Memphis on Saturday, December 28. The Rebels have won 11 of their first 12 games for the seventh time in history. They renew their rivalry with the Tigers in FedEx Forum at 1 p.m. CT on ESPN2.

RELATED: No. 16 Ole Miss has an offense that boasts several options for Chris Beard

HOW TO WATCH

Television/Online: ESPN2
Play-by-Play: John Schriffen
Color: Daymeon Fishback

HOW TO LISTEN

Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network
Play-by-Play: David Kellum
Color: Marc Dukes

SERIES HISTORY

Ole Miss and Memphis have been playing for some 114 years. They first faced off back in 1910 and in just the second season of Ole Miss basketball. 

The Rebels won six straight after Memphis took the first two games of the series. Memphis owns an all-time record of 29-16. However, Ole Miss has won six of the last 10, including five of the last seven.

Memphis' head coach Penny Hardaway signals to his players during the game between the University of Charlotte and the University of Memphis at FedExForum - © Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal / USA TODAY NETWORK
Memphis’ head coach Penny Hardaway signals to his players during the game between the University of Charlotte and the University of Memphis at FedExForum – © Chris Day/The Commercial Appeal / USA TODAY NETWORK

SCOUTING MEMPHIS

Memphis is 9-3 on the season. The Tigers picked up wins over UConn, Michigan State, Missouri, Louisiana Tech, Clemson, Virginia, UNLV, Ohio and San Francisco. Their losses came against No. 2 Auburn, Arkansas State and No. 25 Mississippi State.

The Tigers are led by Tulsa transfer PJ Haggerty. Haggerty averages a team-high 22.5 points per game — the sixth-best mark in all of college basketball. He’s second on the team in rebounding (5.8 per game). 

Haggerty tops the nation in free throws made (96). He’s attempted the third-most (115) in the NCAA. Memphis is No. 14 in the country in free throws attempted per game (25.8). The Tigers have made the 12th-most (19.1) on average. 

They’re also making 40.5 percent of their threes, 10th-best nationally.

Penny Hardaway is in his seventh season as Memphis head coach. Hardaway has led Memphis to 20 or more wins in five of the last six years. Hardaway was a four-time NBA All-Star and twice named first-team All-NBA. He was an All-American at Memphis. The school retired his No. 25 jersey.

Hardaway has led Memphis to a postseason tournament in four seasons. The Tigers won the NIT Championship in 2021. They made back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in 2022 and 2023.

Ole Miss has danced nine times in its 100-plus-year history. The Rebels are looking to get back for the first time in five years.

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