Ole Miss basketball vs Texas A&M: Score prediction, scouting report in SEC Tournament game

OXFORD ― Ole Miss basketball turned in its worst performance of the season to close out the SEC schedule, getting run out of its own gym by Texas A&M. The postseason will present the Rebels with an opportunity for immediate revenge.

Ole Miss (20-11) will begin SEC Tournament play against the Aggies (18-13) on Thursday (Approx. 6 p.m., SEC Network) at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.

The goal for most college basketball teams is to peak in March. The Rebels peaked in January. Since the calendar flipped to February, Ole Miss has registered two wins and eight defeats. Both of those victories came against Missouri, which finished winless in SEC play.

That stretch has put coach Chris Beard's team in a situation in which it will have to win the SEC Tournament to hear its name called on Selection Sunday. Not long ago, the NCAA Tournament seemed much more likely than not for the Rebels.

Can Ole Miss reverse its fortunes and make a run? Here's what to watch for.

Ole Miss basketball will have to limit Texas A&M on the glass

The rebounding margin in Ole Miss' 86-60 loss to Texas A&M was, Beard implied postgame, indicative of a group that lacked the required mentality.

The Aggies outrebounded the Rebels 50-21. Even for a dominant rebounding outfit like the one Buzz Williams has built, that's an outlier. In Ole Miss' first game against Texas A&M this season ‒ a 71-68 win ‒ the Rebels were much more competitive on the glass. The Aggies held a 42-34 rebounding advantage in that contest.

Still, the matchup pits the Rebels' worst trait against the Aggies' best. Only four Division I teams out of 362 are worse at defensive rebounding than Ole Miss. And the Aggies are the top offensive rebounding team in college basketball, snagging 42% of their missed shots.

Can Matthew Murrell carry the Rebels forward?

If Ole Miss is going to make a run in Nashville, star guard Matthew Murrell will need to set the pace.

Murrell played just over two minutes in a loss to Georgia on March 5, leaving the game with food poisoning. He didn't look like himself four days later against the Aggies, contributing 11 points to the effort on 4-of-13 shooting.

Unless the Rebels accept an NIT bid ‒ Beard gave a non-answer when asked about it ‒ Ole Miss' next loss will be Murrell's last game with the program. The senior has an extra season of eligibility remaining should he want to use it, but said last week that Sunday's home game at the SJB Pavilion was his last.

If the Rebels can get a performance more typical of Murrell's excellence against Texas A&M, their outlook will improve dramatically. Murrell leads Ole Miss regulars in points (16.3), steals (1.6) and 3-point percentage (39.3).

REFUNDS?: Why Chris Beard wants to reimburse Ole Miss basketball fans after Texas A&M drubbing

What does Ole Miss basketball's path to a deep run look like?

If Ole Miss manages to dispatch the Aggies, a rested Kentucky team awaits. The Rebels competed well against the Wildcats in their only matchup this season, but John Calipari's team just had too many weapons for Ole Miss to cope with. The Wildcats look like one of the hottest teams in college basketball at the minute, having won their past five.

The most likely semifinal foe, should Ole Miss win that game, is Alabama, but the Rebels could also face Florida, Georgia or Mizzou.

Ole Miss basketball score prediction vs. Texas A&M

Texas A&M 71, Ole Miss 67. Unless these Rebels truly have quit, we shouldn't see a capitulation like that which occurred in Oxford. Still, the Aggies are the better team. Ole Miss will need to make its 3-pointers and turn in one of its toughest efforts of the season to advance.

David Eckert covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at deckert@gannett.com or reach him on Twitter @davideckert98.

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This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Ole Miss basketball score prediction vs. Texas A&M in SEC Tournament