OXFORD - One of the most obvious story lines in the season's first meeting between Ole Miss and Mississippi State is the one buried most deeply by the chief participants.
The Bulldogs have won the last eight meetings, their second-longest streak in the 231-game series and longest since winning nine from 1914-1917.
Fans on both sides are aware of the trend and find it either disturbing or delightful depending on their colors.
The streak will either end or advance at Ole Miss' Tad Smith at noon today in a game televised by Jefferson-Pilot sports.
MSU leads the overall series 130-101.
"I'm not sure exactly what may happen or what to expect," said Ole Miss coach Rod Barnes, who is 3-12 against MSU. "We just want to play well and end the streak for our own sake."
The last eight games haven't all been one-sided. State won by two in Starkville in 2002 and by one in Oxford the next season. There was an overtime game later in 2003 and a three-point MSU win in Starkville last year.
The common denominator has been defeat for the Rebels.
"I don't get into that streak much, and I don't think Rod gets into either," MSU coach Rick Stansbury said. "That's for you (media) guys and the fans."
Ole Miss fans have had more to cheer about this season from the Rebels (12-3, 2-0 SEC), who have won six straight and have the early lead in the SEC's Western Division.
They pulled a stunner at Alabama, winning 71-61, and followed that up with a solid 68-63 win at home against South Carolina on Wednesday.
Sophomore center Dwayne Curtis (6-8, 290), the Auburn transfer, has evolved into the go-to post presence Barnes thought he would. Curtis has had at least 15 points in each of his last five games.
Jeremy Parnell (6-8, 245), another sophomore, gives the Rebels a big body to play alongside Curtis.
The emergence of Bam Doyne as an inside-outside threat has been another plus. With Doyne as a double-figure scorer, Barnes has been able to bring along talented freshmen like Trey Hampton and Xavier Hansbro more slowly.
"It's a different kind of guy you're facing in Parnell rather than (Kendrick) Fox," Stansbury said. "Then you've got (Todd) Abernethy, a junior, Bam Doyne, a junior and Curtis, a third-year sophomore. Those guys have been through the wars now."
State (11-4, 1-1), meanwhile, could be without its leading scorer in point guard Jamall Edmondson (14.5 ppg) for the third straight game.
They won without Edmondson - who is suffering from a pulled groin - in a 69-67 decision at home against Arkansas but lost 85-70 on Wednesday at No. 2 and undefeated Florida.
If he doesn't play, point guard duties will start with Dietric Slater, then switch to freshman Richard Delk as the backup. Freshman Jamont Gordon, the team's second-leading scorer, could run the point also.
Edmondson was 3-for-5 from 3-point range when No. 18 MSU won 87-76 at Ole Miss last year.
The Rebels have no Mississippians on the roster, so ending the streak isn't about state pride. It's about reaching goals.
"Whoever we're scheduled to play, we're just trying to beat them. I'm from Arkansas," Doyne said. "Mississippi State is just a name, another opponent."
The Bulldogs have won the last eight meetings, their second-longest streak in the 231-game series and longest since winning nine from 1914-1917.
Fans on both sides are aware of the trend and find it either disturbing or delightful depending on their colors.
The streak will either end or advance at Ole Miss' Tad Smith at noon today in a game televised by Jefferson-Pilot sports.
MSU leads the overall series 130-101.
"I'm not sure exactly what may happen or what to expect," said Ole Miss coach Rod Barnes, who is 3-12 against MSU. "We just want to play well and end the streak for our own sake."
The last eight games haven't all been one-sided. State won by two in Starkville in 2002 and by one in Oxford the next season. There was an overtime game later in 2003 and a three-point MSU win in Starkville last year.
The common denominator has been defeat for the Rebels.
"I don't get into that streak much, and I don't think Rod gets into either," MSU coach Rick Stansbury said. "That's for you (media) guys and the fans."
Ole Miss fans have had more to cheer about this season from the Rebels (12-3, 2-0 SEC), who have won six straight and have the early lead in the SEC's Western Division.
They pulled a stunner at Alabama, winning 71-61, and followed that up with a solid 68-63 win at home against South Carolina on Wednesday.
Sophomore center Dwayne Curtis (6-8, 290), the Auburn transfer, has evolved into the go-to post presence Barnes thought he would. Curtis has had at least 15 points in each of his last five games.
Jeremy Parnell (6-8, 245), another sophomore, gives the Rebels a big body to play alongside Curtis.
The emergence of Bam Doyne as an inside-outside threat has been another plus. With Doyne as a double-figure scorer, Barnes has been able to bring along talented freshmen like Trey Hampton and Xavier Hansbro more slowly.
"It's a different kind of guy you're facing in Parnell rather than (Kendrick) Fox," Stansbury said. "Then you've got (Todd) Abernethy, a junior, Bam Doyne, a junior and Curtis, a third-year sophomore. Those guys have been through the wars now."
State (11-4, 1-1), meanwhile, could be without its leading scorer in point guard Jamall Edmondson (14.5 ppg) for the third straight game.
They won without Edmondson - who is suffering from a pulled groin - in a 69-67 decision at home against Arkansas but lost 85-70 on Wednesday at No. 2 and undefeated Florida.
If he doesn't play, point guard duties will start with Dietric Slater, then switch to freshman Richard Delk as the backup. Freshman Jamont Gordon, the team's second-leading scorer, could run the point also.
Edmondson was 3-for-5 from 3-point range when No. 18 MSU won 87-76 at Ole Miss last year.
The Rebels have no Mississippians on the roster, so ending the streak isn't about state pride. It's about reaching goals.
"Whoever we're scheduled to play, we're just trying to beat them. I'm from Arkansas," Doyne said. "Mississippi State is just a name, another opponent."
