Ole Miss looks to secure a season sweep against LSU in a crucial SEC matchup. John Macon Gillespie analyzes three key factors for a Rebels victory, including rebounding dominance, Sean Pedulla's offensive impact, and overcoming the road environment.
LSU has faced challenges in SEC play this season, and road games within the conference are always demanding. Ole Miss , riding high after a significant home victory against nationally ranked Kentucky on Tuesday, is projected as a 5-seed in the NCAA tournament by Joe Lunardi. While LSU hasn't been particularly strong against SEC opponents this year, a win for the Rebels on Saturday is crucial to maintain their momentum toward the tournament.
They already defeated LSU once this season in Oxford, but what strategy will they employ to secure a season sweep on Saturday? Here are three key factors for an Ole Miss victory against the Tigers. Rebounding will be paramount for Ole Miss in this game, as it hasn't been a standout category for the team throughout the season. In their previous matchup with LSU, the Tigers out-rebounded the Rebels 33-32, but notably, LSU secured 11 offensive rebounds, leading to 17 second-chance points compared to Ole Miss's eight. To win a game they are expected to prevail in, the Rebels cannot allow LSU to capitalize on offensive rebounds and extend possessions.Guard Sean Pedulla has been exceptional in recent games, and the offense functions best when he has the ball in his hands. Pedulla contributed 11 points against LSU earlier this season, along with four assists, demonstrating his ability to create opportunities for his teammates even when he's not scoring. If Pedulla has a strong performance on Saturday, Ole Miss's chances of victory will significantly increase.Consistently, road games in the SEC present a challenge, even against teams that have struggled like LSU this season. While Ole Miss appears to be the superior team on paper, basketball games are not decided on paper alone. The Rebels must overcome a passionate pro-Tigers crowd on Saturday night to secure the win. If they can replicate their performance as if they were playing at the SJB Pavilion, they should be able to improve their conference record by the end of the night
Ole Miss LSU SEC NCAA Tournament Rebounding Sean Pedulla
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