The Quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament takes place today and we will see the Missouri Tigers take on the Mississippi Rebels. The game is scheduled for a 10:00 pm (Eastern) start time and will be televised on the SEC Network. Currently the Odds for the game have Missouri favored by 5 points while the total sits at 153.5.
Analysis: Ole Miss got off the to the best start in program history this season, as it was 17-2 and 6-0 in the SEC in late January, and although it faltered in five of its next seven games, it wrapped up the season nicely with wins in four of five, including an 81-67 triumph at LSU last Saturday to give the team its highest regular-season finish since 1997-98. The Rebels would greatly benefit from a strong showing in this event, as they are still considered on the bubble for an NCAA Tournament bid.The Rebels weren't a very strong road team this season (6-6), but they had little problem dismissing LSU in their regular-season finale, shooting 52.5 percent from the floor in the 14-point victory. Marshall Henderson was the catalyst with 22 points, five assists and five steals, while Murphy Holloway tallied 16 points and eight rebounds. On the season, Ole Miss has the SEC's top-ranked scoring offense with 79.2 ppg (sixth in the nation), and it is able to score 11.1 ppg more than its opponents on average. Henderson is the league's leading scorer (19.7 ppg) and is among the nation's leaders in 3-pointers (121), but his overall field goal percentage hasn't been strong (.380). Holloway nets 14.6 ppg and grabs an SEC-best 9.6 rpg, while Reginald Buckner joins Holloway in the frontcourt with 9.4 ppg (on 58.4 percent from the field), 7.5 rpg and 2.7 bpg.
The Tigers advanced to the quarterfinals with a 62-50 victory over Texas A&M on Thursday in the second round. The two teams split their two games in the regular season, with Missouri having a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde reaction to playing the Rebels. In the first meeting, the Tigers scored 49 points and lost. In the second encounter, Missouri won by scoring 98 points, the most Mississippi allowed all season. The Tigers took care of business in the second round by beating Texas A&M by 12 points. It was far from their best offensive performance, as they shot just 44.7 percent from the field and committed 19 turnovers, but they made up for it by playing outstanding defense, holding the Aggies to a lowly 24.1 percent from the floor. Missouri is usually much more potent at the offensive end, pouring in 76.7 ppg on greater than 46 percent accuracy from the floor. Pacing six teammates in double figures is Bowers with 14.6 ppg to go along with 6.1 rpg, and Oriakhi (11.4 ppg, 8.5 rpg) teams up with him for one of the top frontcourt duos in the country. Phil Pressey scores 11.5 ppg and hands out an SEC-best 7.1 apg, while Brown (13.9 ppg), Keion Bell (11.4 ppg) and Earnest Ross (10.2 ppg) are all solid shooting guards.
Pick: These are the two highest scoring teams in the SEC and that has me clearly looking at the over in this one. Both teams push tempo and in the last meeting these teams combined for 177 points. Missouri has scored 89+ points in 3 of their last 5 games, while Ole Miss has put up 80+ points in 4 of their last 5 games. This one should be fun.
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