Ole Miss vs. California: How to watch, live stream, start time, TV channel
When Chris Beard was assembling the schedule for his first season at Ole Miss he wanted to make sure he prepared the team for any and all scenarios, including a taste of what a NCAA Tournament game environment would be like.
Saturday’s game against California is just that.
A neutral site game in San Antonio against a Power 5 opponent in a prime time setting. For Ole Miss it is a true first test after putting together a solid start to its NCAA Tournament resumé, winning its first nine games.
With victories over Memphis and Central Florida this month the Rebels are in a good spot and in a position to end the non-conference slate in a very good place if they can navigate Saturday’s game and next weekend’s game against Southern Mississippi, also in a neutral site in Biloxi.
For Beard it is just about continuing on the path that Ole Miss put itself on with its undefeated streak. A streak that continues to see the Rebels receive more and more votes in the Associated Press poll, but still not crack the Top 15.
“We’re just trying to trend in the right direction,” Beard said. “Certainly to win these nine games to start the season, I think it’s a credit to our guys. I do think we’re a team that’s going to have to demand some respect. We’ve won a lot of games. Not many undefeated teams left.
“Just not a lot of narrative on our team right now.”
Ole Miss basketball vs. California game info
Teams: Ole Miss Rebels (9-0) vs. California Golden Bears (3-6)
Date: December 16, 2023
Location: Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas
Time: 6:30 p.m. CT
Television: SEC Network (Kevin Fitzgerald, Carolyn Peck)
Fun Facts
- Saturday’s game is only the second meeting between the two programs during the regular season. The first meeting between Ole Miss and California took place during the 2011 NIT with the Rebels traveling to Berkeley where the Bears edged them out, 77-74.
- Ole Miss is one of just seven teams in the country who remain unbeaten, and are the only one in the Southeastern Conference. This marks just the fourth time in program history the Rebels have gone undefeated through their first nine games of the season, with the last coming in 2007-08.
- Averaging 6.7 blocks per game, Ole Miss ranks sixth in the country and is keeping opponents to just 39.5 percent shooting from the floor which ranks No. 42 in the nation.
