BILOXI —
One-third of the way through the SEC schedule, it s become clear that Ole Miss and Mississippi State are headed in opposite directions. But that trend could hit the curb for this week, at least.
The No. 23 Rebels (17-2, 6-0 SEC), off to their best league start in school history, could be brought back to Earth this week. On Tuesday, reigning national champion Kentucky visits Oxford, and then Ole Miss travels to No. 8 Florida on Saturday.
As for MSU (7-11, 2-4), which has lost four consecutive games, a pair of winnable home games are on tap, against Texas A&M and LSU. The Aggies have lost four in a row, while LSU is 1-5 in SEC play.
But MSU has some issues to work out after another blowout loss, by 35 points to Florida. First-year coach Rick Ray said the inexperience of this group is showing through.
They ve always had success doing things the way they ve done them in high school and in the past, Ray said. After the Arkansas game, when we turned the ball over 29 times, to me if that s not a wake-up call that you need to play a different way.
Instead of trying to play fast, you need to slow the basketball down.
The issues facing Ole Miss are less glaring, and but even after Saturday s 63-61 win at Auburn, coach Andy Kennedy had some concerns. Namely, the free throw shooting the Rebels made just 4 of 17 at the line.
Kennedy was happy with the way his team defended down the stretch. Auburn shot just 28 percent in the second half.
We were up five or six points and had the chance to stretch it, Kennedy said. Our inability to make foul shots kept them in the game.
Ole Miss shot up the national basketball rankings Monday, jumping to No. 16 in both the Associated Press media poll and USA Today coaches poll. The Rebels are 17-2 overall and 6-0 in the SEC following victories last week over Tennessee and Auburn. Ole Miss was previously ranked No. 24 by the AP and No. 23 by the coaches. Southern Miss also received votes in the coaches poll, but did not crack the Top 25. The Golden Eagles are 17-4 overall, 6-0 in Conference USA. Ole Miss hosts defending national champion Kentucky at 8 p.m. Tuesday in a game to be televised live by ESPN. Southern Miss is at UAB at 7 p.m. Saturday.
Sports
Rebels face huge tests, MSU looks to rebound
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Saints ready to practice with Payton again
Even as Sean Payton tried to make the best of his one-season bounty banishment from the NFL by spending time with his children, getting in shape and playing golf, he often compared his punishment to prison time.
He missed his work that much, his players say, adding that his return has infused Saints headquarters with a fresh intensity leading up to Tuesday’s opening of voluntary offseason practices. -
Wildcats honored for efforts
Ten Pearl River Community College baseball standouts have earned 2013 post-season honors with center fielder Braxton Lee and catcher-designated hitter Krisjon Wilkerson leading the way with All-Region 23 and All-MACJC first- team accolades.
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Season ends for Maroon Tide
Picayune’s magical playoff run came up just short of a spot in the state finals.
Homestanding Pascagoula, the defending Class 5A state champs, took a hard-fought 5-3 win over the Maroon Tidee in game three of the best of three South State finals here Saturday before a capacity crowd at Ingalls Field. -
Season ends for Maroon Tide
The season came to an end for the Picayune baseball team Saturday afternoon with a 5-3 loss to homestanding Pascagoula here at Ingalls Field in the third and deciding game of the Class 5A South State championship series.
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Tide stays alive
And it all comes down to this.
Picayune and Pascagoula will face off in a one game, winner take all
showdown today at 2 p.m., at Ingalls Field for the Class A South State
prep baseball championship and the right to play for the state title. -
Wildcats tring to win Region 23 title
Host Pearl River opened Region 23 Tournament play in dominating fashion here Thursday in Wildcat Stadium, demolishing top-seeded East Central 12-1 in eight innings and now faces second-seeded LSU-Eunice (La.) in Friday’s second round at 7 p.m.
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Panther pitcher shuts out Maroon Tide
Pascagoula’s Andrew Crane continued his dominance of Picayune Thursday night.
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Season ends for Lady Hornets
Poplarville's season came to and end in the Class 4A South state finals Tuesday night.
The visiting Lady Hornets fell to Newton County 10-2 in game two of the best-of-three series. -
Lady Hornets face Newton County
Two more wins, and Poplarville will be playing for the Class 4A state championship in fast-pitch softball.
The Lady Hornets have a chance at getting that first victory today. -
Polderman’s, Mitchell win titles
The Picayune Maroon Tide and the Pearl River Central Blue Devils both competed in the Class 5A South State track and field championships this past Saturday at Long Beach High School.
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