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

The first two months of the 2024-25 Ole Miss basketball season have already been historic. 

The Rebels have their highest ranking in national polls in over a decade (No. 15). Ole Miss is one of three schools nationally currently holding a spot in the AP 25 in football and men’s and women’s basketball. The women are No. 22.

Ole Miss is No. 29 in the NET. The Rebels climbed as high as No. 24 earlier this month, their highest-ever NET ranking. They’re 1-1 in Quad l games, 1-0 in both Quad ll and Quad lll and 5-0 in Quad lV.

“I think we’ve got (roles) mapped out. Now it’s a matter of executing,” second-year Ole Miss head coach Chris Beard said of his eight-man rotation. “You put a plan on paper, whether it’s basketball or life or business or whatever, then everybody’s got to feel good about the plan. Nobody can be fighting the plan. Everybody has to believe in the plan.

“First thing with roles is we need everybody to be a defensive player. We need everybody to be a defensive rebounder in their own way. We spend a lot of time with our players emphasizing that and on the offensive side of the ball we have a lot of guys who can do a lot of different things.”

Next for Beard’s Rebels is Southern Miss Saturday at 3 p.m. CT on SEC Network+. 

The teams are meeting at Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi.

“It’s good for basketball in the state of Mississippi,” Beard said. “A lot of sneaky tradition in this state with basketball. The Southern Miss game is something the fans enjoy, so I think it’s good for basketball, this game. We have a lot of alumni and Ole Miss fans on the coast. It’s a cool place for fans to go take a weekend road trip.”

HOW TO WATCH

Television/Online: SEC Network+
Play-by-Play: Jake Hromada
Color: Kermit Davis

HOW TO LISTEN

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

SERIES HISTORY

Saturday will be the 26th all-time meeting between Ole Miss and Southern Miss. The Rebels lead the the series, 19-6, and have won six of the last eight on a neutral court. The Rebels are 2-1 in Biloxi. Ole Miss holds a 6-4 lead in the last 10 matchups. Ole Miss defeated Southern Miss, 89-72, in Biloxi last season.

SCOUTING SOUTHERN MISS

Southern Miss is 4-5 on the season, with wins over Bowling Green, Loyola New Orleans, Milwaukee and Alabama State. The Golden Eagles took losses to Andy-Kennedy-led UAB, South Dakota State, Montana State, Abilene Christian and Tulane.

Denijay Harris leads the team in scoring and rebounding. He’s averaging 14.7 and 9.1, respectively, per game. He’s recorded three double-doubles, including a 20-20 game against Alabama State on December 5. Harris also owns a team-best 14 blocks. The Golden Eagles average 4.8 per game, a Top 50 mark in college basketball.

Jay Ladner is in his sixth season as Southern Miss head coach. He’s 69-94 with the Golden Eagles, including a win percentage of over 60 percent during the past three years, including a Sun Belt Conference title. 

Ladner spent five seasons at Southeastern Louisiana prior to Southern Miss. He won 76 games. Ladner got his first college head-coaching opportunity at Jones County Junior College. He went 17-8 during his first season before winning the NJCAA National Championship in 2014.

“Jay is a friend,” Beard said. “We’ve played his teams before. He’s always had a championship team. Jay’s teams are well-coached and have an identity on both sides of the floor. They always compete in their conference for championships and NCAA Tournament bids. I think two seasons ago might have been one of the best seasons in Southern Miss basketball history. Jay’s teams will get you better.”