Turning point

OXFORD – Two weeks ago, Ole Miss was tied for second place in the Southeastern Conference and thinking about its postseason future.

Things have changed.

As the Rebels (16-9, 7-5 SEC) prepare to play host to No. 19 Kentucky (19-6, 9-3) tonight (6 p.m., ESPN), they’re just looking to figure things out. The Rebels have lost their last two, and three of four since Kentucky beat Ole Miss by 16 points on Feb. 4.

“We had two heartbreakers last week, and really our focus is winning a game,” coach Andy Kennedy said. “... We lost two in a row, we’re sitting here at 16-9 through 25 but those 25 seem like a faint memory because we haven’t won one in a week.”

Poor shooting has been a factor in the recent struggles (it’s hard to win basketball games scoring 64 and 60 points, as Ole Miss did last week). But it’s also about the inside presence, or lack thereof. It’s where fans are quickly learning, if they have not already, that Murphy Holloway and Reginald Buckner were not going to be easily replaced.

Both Sebastian Saiz and Aaron Jones — the team’s frontcourt leaders in minutes played — have shown flashes of real promise.

But they’ve also produced some real dud outings, which hurt Ole Miss’ chances of winning.

In Ole Miss’ seven SEC wins, Jones is averaging 9 points and 8.1 rebounds a game. In its five losses, his averages dip to 2.6 and 5.6.

He’s also blocked seven shots in the last six games, after deflecting 49 in the first 19.

It’s a similar dropoff for Saiz: 7 points and 8 rebounds in the wins, 4.4 and 3 in the losses.

Road losses to Alabama and Georgia in the last seven days have put Ole Miss off the NCAA Tournament bubble, as well.

The Rebels’ official NCAA RPI was No. 69 Monday morning, with one top-50 win (Missouri) and two sub-100 losses (Georgia, Mississippi State).

This week, which includes a CBS-televised game Saturday against No. 2 Florida, was always an opportunity for Ole Miss.

Now, it may also be about whether Ole Miss has to win another SEC Tournament in order to make it to the NCAAs.

Kennedy put much of the difference on where the losses have come: all five are on the road, while Ole Miss is 5-0 at home.

“Kids that are a little more inexperienced ... they typically play better at home,” Kennedy said. “They’re more comfortable at home, they’re more confident and typically more assertive. I think that’s been the case with our guys.”

Ole Miss was out-rebounded by 15 at Kentucky, and Saiz and Jones had four. Still, Kentucky coach John Calipari praised their abilities.

“Those two (Holloway and Buckner), anyone would be more slender compared to those two,” Calipari said.

“(Saiz and Jones are) athletic, they're long, and they give them a little different dimension. Those other two were veteran, big-bodied guys, hard to go against. But I'm liking Mississippi's team.”

To contact Hugh Kellenberger, call (601) 961-7291.

Ole Miss vs.

No. 19 Kentucky

Today, 6 p.m., ESPN Tad Smith Coliseum, Oxford

Ole Miss (16-9, 7-5 SEC)

Kentucky (19-6, 9-3)