- SMU defeated Ole Miss 94-70 in 1968 in the only previous meeting between the two schools.

- Ole Miss leads the SEC with a 74.5 free throw percentage and is second in field goal percentage at 47.0

- A win would make the Rebels 12-3 for the pre-conference season and give them a manageable path to an NCAA bid, provided they win the right games against Eastern Division opponents the rest of the way. There's an opportunity for an RPI lift Saturday at Florida. The Gators are at RPI No. 17 Florida.

- Zach Graham, showing some senior leadership here, has really responded to Andy Kennedy's call a few weeks ago for more rebounding from the guards. Graham is averaging 7.2 rebounds over the last five games. Through the first eight games he averaged just 2.4 rebounds.

- The big rebounding lift, though, has come from the front line and forward Reggie Buckner, who is averaging 10.3 rebounds over the last four games. Buckner is also second in the SEC and 11th in the nation at 3.1 blocks per game. He just needs to stay healthy.

- Indiana transfer Nick Williams has made the impact that was expected, though it doesn't always show up in the scoring column. Williams has reached double figures six times this season but just once in the last six games. Williams is third on the team in rebounding and in steals, but his minutes were down against Alcorn State and Southeastern Louisiana. Worth watching.

- SMU will run a cut- and pass-oriented Princeton-styled offense tomorrow. The Mustangs are averaging 69.2 points, giving up 59.5. Other numbers are very similar to Ole Miss. SMU is shooting 47.7 percent to the Rebels' 47.0. SMU opponents are shooting 41.4 percent to the Rebels' 40.3.

The Mustangs are minus-2.2 on the boards to Ole Miss' plus-5.6. They are plus-2.2 in turnover margin to the Rebels' plus-0.1.