Mississippi won its first game under interim coach Tony Madlock, beating an NCAA Tournament-caliber Missouri team in overtime on the road. The Rebels face another stiff challenge on Saturday when No. 19 Tennessee comes to Oxford, Miss.
The Volunteers (20-7, 10-5 SEC) were picked to finish 13th in the Southeastern Conference in a preseason media poll. But with three games remaining in the regular season, Tennessee is in second place, two games behind Auburn.
The Vols stayed in the hunt for the regular-season title with a win over Florida on Wednesday. Grant Williams and Admiral Schofield, Tennessee's one-two inside punch, combined for 39 points and 14 rebounds, and Tennessee held Florida to 35 percent shooting, prompting Gators coach Mike White to call Tennessee "one of the best defensive teams in the country.