Ole Miss Faces No. 1 Auburn in High-Stakes SEC Battle

Ole Miss Looks to Reignite Season Against Top-Ranked Auburn

It wasn’t long ago that Ole Miss looked like one of the SEC’s hottest teams, but after falling out of the AP Top 25, the Rebels are now desperate for a signature win to regain momentum.

And what better opportunity than against No. 1 Auburn?

The Rebels (19-8, 8-6 SEC) have already proven they can take down a powerhouse on the road, stunning then-No. 4 Alabama on Jan. 14 in Tuscaloosa. Now, they return to Alabama hoping to replicate that magic against an Auburn team that’s steamrolling through the conference.

Head coach Chris Beard believes his team is still capable of hanging with the best.

“I think we can play with teams like this right now,” Beard said after a 92-82 loss to Auburn earlier this month. “I know we can. We’ll just keep working toward where we can beat teams like this in March.”

With March Madness already in sight, a win over Auburn would do wonders for Ole Miss’ seeding and confidence heading into the final stretch of the season.

But pulling off the upset won’t be easy.

Ole Miss: From Red-Hot to Stumbling – Can They Recover?

Ole Miss started SEC play on fire, winning its first four games and shocking Alabama on the road. But since then, they’ve gone just 4-6, including:

A 92-82 home loss to Auburn on Feb. 1
A frustrating sweep at the hands of Mississippi State
An unexpected loss to Vanderbilt

Still, Ole Miss is headed for the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019, and their final regular-season stretch offers opportunities to improve their tournament stock.

After facing Auburn, they close out the season against No. 5 Tennessee and No. 3 Florida—two more chances to make a statement.

Key Players to Watch for Ole Miss

Malik Dia (10.3 PPG, 5.7 RPG) – The Rebels’ most consistent weapon lately, leading the team in scoring & rebounding in two of their last three games.
Matthew Murrell (16.9 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 2.7 APG) – The team’s top scorer who will need to step up big if the Rebels want to keep up with Auburn’s firepower.
Allen Flanigan (11.4 PPG, 6.4 RPG) – A veteran leader looking to put up a big performance against his former team (Flanigan transferred from Auburn to Ole Miss).

The Rebels can score—they’re averaging 77.2 PPG—but their defense has been shaky, which could spell trouble against one of the most explosive offenses in the country.

Auburn Embracing the Target on Their Back

While Ole Miss is struggling, Auburn (25-2, 13-1 SEC) is thriving.

The Tigers climbed to No. 1 in the AP Poll after a dominant SEC run, but they’re not letting the pressure get to them.

“We’re clearly getting everyone’s best shot,” head coach Bruce Pearl said. “A victory over Auburn could really get somebody off the bubble and into the tournament. We’re going to get that again Wednesday night against Ole Miss.”

Auburn bounced back strong from its only recent loss (a 90-81 defeat to Florida) with four straight wins, including a 94-85 victory over Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

Auburn’s Offensive Firepower: Can Anyone Stop Johni Broome?

Auburn ranks sixth in the nation in scoring (84.3 PPG), and Johni Broome is leading the charge.

Johni Broome (18.6 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 3.4 APG) – The SEC Player of the Year frontrunner and a National Player of the Year contender.
Jaylin Williams (14.1 PPG, 6.2 RPG) – A dominant inside presence who can stretch the floor.
Tre Donaldson (10.2 PPG, 5.8 APG) – The team’s floor general, controlling the tempo and setting up Auburn’s high-powered offense.

Broome has been unstoppable, and if Ole Miss doesn’t find a way to contain him, it could be a long night for the Rebels.

What’s at Stake?

For Ole Miss:

A chance to get back on track after their recent slump
A resume-boosting win to improve March Madness seeding
Revenge for their Feb. 1 home loss to Auburn

For Auburn:

Stay at No. 1 in the rankings
Move one step closer to locking up the SEC title
Prove they are ready for the madness of March

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Prediction: Does Ole Miss Have Another Upset in Them?

The Rebels shocked Alabama once this season, but Auburn is a different beast—especially at home.

Auburn has:

More firepower
More experience
A dominant big man in Johni Broome

For Ole Miss to pull off the upset, they must slow down Broome, win the turnover battle, and hit their shots early.

But Auburn has been too consistent this season, and with the Tigers on a mission, expect them to defend their home court and keep their No. 1 ranking intact.

Auburn Tigers vs Ole Miss Rebels Picks and Predictions February 26th 2025