OXFORD, Miss. -- The Ole Miss Rebels were supposed to be kicking back, taking it easy today.
They probably would have had practice at some point to prepare for Monday's home game against Arkansas State. But other than that, it would have been a fairly leisurely Saturday.
Instead, at 2:30 p.m., Ole Miss (6-2) will host fifth-ranked Memphis two days after playing Nicholls, and four days after hosting Saint Louis.
The Arkansas State game is still on for Monday, and Southeastern Louisiana visits Tad Smith Coliseum next Wednesday, leaving Ole Miss with five games in nine days.
It wasn't supposed to be that way.
"The verbal agreement was to play Memphis on Dec. 4," Ole Miss coach Rod Barnes said about the deal that had to be changed because the UofM played on ESPN at Cincinnati on Dec. 3.
"That's why we didn't have a game on Dec. 4. That's why we're playing this one at this particular time. If you move this game to Dec. 4, then we've got the kind of time that we need. It's what it is now, and we've just got to deal with it."
After months of trying to work out a more suitable date, they were left with the game today.
And while neither will admit it publicly, it's added a little intensity to the annual rivalry game.
The highly touted Tigers (7-1), who have had a week off to prepare for Ole Miss, come to Oxford looking to atone for last year's stunning, 65-53 home loss to a Rebel team that finished 14-17. Having already come close to knocking off top-ranked Duke in the championship game of the NIT and putting away such teams as Alabama and UCLA, the UofM has taken the approach that this is just another non-conference game.
"I heard (Memphis) coach (John) Calipari make a statement about how they're not even thinking about this game," said Ole Miss senior Londrick Nolen, who prepped at Raleigh-Egypt.
"That's pretty much (how) everybody (thinks of) Ole Miss. We're trying to turn that around this year."
Barnes declined to get involved in any pregame banter.
"We don't worry about that," he said.
"I don't know about our players, but that doesn't even concern me. This is a good game for Ole Miss fans and Memphis fans, and I'm about the University of Mississippi. It's a good game for our fans, and the rest of it ... whatever."
Barnes was much more concerned about having his team prepared to take on what clearly is Calipari's most talented Tiger team, one that's filled with quality depth.
Because of their loaded-down stretch of games, the Rebels couldn't practice Friday. Instead, they held a film session to help prepare.
But while it's a concern for the coaching staff, the players look forward to their stiffest challenge to date as they put their 4-0 home record on the line.
"I don't think there will be any fatigue," junior guard Bam Doyne said. ''People hear that, but it's really not as serious as they think it is. As players, we love that."
The Rebels view today's game as a chance to see where they stack up against a quality opponent, with the Southeastern Conference season just around the corner.
Ole Miss has been led by 6-8 sophomore center Dwayne Curtis, who's averaging 12.3 points and 7.3 rebounds, while shooting 62.5 percent from the floor.
Nolen, who has come off the bench the last two games, is next at just under 10 points a game and five boards, while shooting 50 percent.
As a team, the Rebels are shooting 47 percent from the floor, including 37.7 percent from 3-point range.
Defensively, they're holding teams to 41 percent shooting, 32 percent from 3-point land.
Barnes knows his team must be at its absolute best on both ends of the floor to make it two in a row over the Tigers.
"We've got to play our best game with those guys having rest and us not having rest," Barnes said. "We're not going to make any excuses. We're going to show up."
They probably would have had practice at some point to prepare for Monday's home game against Arkansas State. But other than that, it would have been a fairly leisurely Saturday.
Instead, at 2:30 p.m., Ole Miss (6-2) will host fifth-ranked Memphis two days after playing Nicholls, and four days after hosting Saint Louis.
The Arkansas State game is still on for Monday, and Southeastern Louisiana visits Tad Smith Coliseum next Wednesday, leaving Ole Miss with five games in nine days.
It wasn't supposed to be that way.
"The verbal agreement was to play Memphis on Dec. 4," Ole Miss coach Rod Barnes said about the deal that had to be changed because the UofM played on ESPN at Cincinnati on Dec. 3.
"That's why we didn't have a game on Dec. 4. That's why we're playing this one at this particular time. If you move this game to Dec. 4, then we've got the kind of time that we need. It's what it is now, and we've just got to deal with it."
After months of trying to work out a more suitable date, they were left with the game today.
And while neither will admit it publicly, it's added a little intensity to the annual rivalry game.
The highly touted Tigers (7-1), who have had a week off to prepare for Ole Miss, come to Oxford looking to atone for last year's stunning, 65-53 home loss to a Rebel team that finished 14-17. Having already come close to knocking off top-ranked Duke in the championship game of the NIT and putting away such teams as Alabama and UCLA, the UofM has taken the approach that this is just another non-conference game.
"I heard (Memphis) coach (John) Calipari make a statement about how they're not even thinking about this game," said Ole Miss senior Londrick Nolen, who prepped at Raleigh-Egypt.
"That's pretty much (how) everybody (thinks of) Ole Miss. We're trying to turn that around this year."
Barnes declined to get involved in any pregame banter.
"We don't worry about that," he said.
"I don't know about our players, but that doesn't even concern me. This is a good game for Ole Miss fans and Memphis fans, and I'm about the University of Mississippi. It's a good game for our fans, and the rest of it ... whatever."
Barnes was much more concerned about having his team prepared to take on what clearly is Calipari's most talented Tiger team, one that's filled with quality depth.
Because of their loaded-down stretch of games, the Rebels couldn't practice Friday. Instead, they held a film session to help prepare.
But while it's a concern for the coaching staff, the players look forward to their stiffest challenge to date as they put their 4-0 home record on the line.
"I don't think there will be any fatigue," junior guard Bam Doyne said. ''People hear that, but it's really not as serious as they think it is. As players, we love that."
The Rebels view today's game as a chance to see where they stack up against a quality opponent, with the Southeastern Conference season just around the corner.
Ole Miss has been led by 6-8 sophomore center Dwayne Curtis, who's averaging 12.3 points and 7.3 rebounds, while shooting 62.5 percent from the floor.
Nolen, who has come off the bench the last two games, is next at just under 10 points a game and five boards, while shooting 50 percent.
As a team, the Rebels are shooting 47 percent from the floor, including 37.7 percent from 3-point range.
Defensively, they're holding teams to 41 percent shooting, 32 percent from 3-point land.
Barnes knows his team must be at its absolute best on both ends of the floor to make it two in a row over the Tigers.
"We've got to play our best game with those guys having rest and us not having rest," Barnes said. "We're not going to make any excuses. We're going to show up."
