No. 22 Ole Miss Faces Arkansas in Key SEC Basketball Showdown

OXFORD, Miss. — The No. 22 Ole Miss Rebels (12-2, 1-0 SEC) will face the Arkansas Razorbacks (11-3, 0-1 SEC) in a highly anticipated Southeastern Conference matchup on Wednesday at 6 p.m. CT. The game, set to air on ESPN2, marks Ole Miss’ first SEC road game of the season and pits them against legendary coach John Calipari in his first year at Arkansas.

Both teams are projected to make the NCAA tournament, with ESPN‘s Joe Lunardi listing Ole Miss and Arkansas as No. 9 seeds. The Rebels enter the contest fresh off a 63-51 victory over Georgia, while Arkansas looks to rebound from a 76-52 loss to No. 1 Tennessee in their SEC opener.

Ole Miss head coach Chris Beard emphasized the challenge of facing Calipari’s Razorbacks, noting their athleticism and size. “We’ve got to have strategy with their length and size,” Beard said. “Legitimate size and athleticism around the basket. Absolutely that’s a focal point of the gameplan.”

Arkansas boasts a mix of portal players, young talent, and veterans, including standout freshman guard Boogie Fland, who averages 15.6 points per game. Fland, a 2024 McDonald’s All-American, has started all 14 games this season and is a key player to watch. The Razorbacks also feature Adou Thiero, a 6-foot-8 forward who transferred from Kentucky and averages 16.9 points per game.

Defensively, Ole Miss will need to contain Arkansas’ interior presence, led by 6-foot-11 Jonas Aidoo and 6-foot-10 Trevon Brazile, who both average at least 17 minutes per game. The Rebels, meanwhile, may adjust their lineup to counter Arkansas’ size advantage.

Arkansas associate head coach Chin Coleman highlighted the physicality of Ole Miss, stating, “Ole Miss is one of those teams that is really tough. They recruit to their system. Another game in which we’re going to have to be more physical than them.”

Historically, Arkansas holds a 52-34 advantage in the series, including an 18-11 record in Fayetteville. However, Ole Miss won the last matchup 77-51 and has the experience edge this season. The game is expected to be a close contest, with BetSaracen odds favoring Arkansas by 3.5 points.

Fans can stream the game via ESPN2 or through the ESPN app, which offers a free trial for new subscribers. The matchup will be a critical test for both teams as they aim to solidify their NCAA tournament resumes.