FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Ole Miss coach Andy Kennedy said he didn't see it coming, but now that it has, a disturbing question faces his Rebels' basketball team in its final two regular season games.

Is there still gas in the tank?

Ole Miss appeared a step slow on defense when it was throttled 90-69 at home last Saturday by Alabama.

The Rebels, who likely have work remaining to play their way into the postseason, finish up with Arkansas and Mississippi State.

Ole Miss (15-13, 6-6 SEC) plays its final road game against the Razorbacks (14-13, 2-12) tonight at 7 at Bud Walton Arena.

The Rebels won the first meeting 74-65 in Oxford on Jan. 14. Arkansas snapped an eight-game losing streak with an 89-67 home win over Georgia last Saturday.

"I hope we can grasp the sense of urgency that you want teams to play with right now. There's still a lot to play for," Kennedy said.

Kennedy said the Rebels had a "spirited" practice on Sunday, the day after a dispiriting performance against Alabama.

Freshman point guard Terrico White said he understands what's at stake.

"I'm just trying to get this team to the postseason, really," he said.

Crucial matchup

Tonight's outcome could turn on who has the upper hand in an individual matchup between White and Arkansas point guard Courtney Fortson, another freshman.

Both are considered candidates for freshman of the year in the SEC.

The Rebels had trouble with Fortson in Oxford. Once he got into the lane, he finished at a very high percentage and had 24 points on 10-for-19 shooting. He hasn't slowed much since that game. Against SEC competition, Fortson is averaging 14.5 points, and his 5.2 assists are second in the league.

"He showed how quick he is when we first played. He really gets low on his dribble, and that makes it hard for me," said White, who showed some things in the first game also. It was a coming out party of sorts for White then. Fortson's role was clearly defined early on.

In early January, White was still transitioning. Starting point guard Chris Warren had already gone down, but White had not yet taken the job.

His 18 points - 3-for-6 from 3-point range - on 6-for-12 shooting set him on his way. White came off the bench and scored 22 against LSU three days later. He's started every game since then at the point.

White is averaging 17.5 points in SEC play, seventh in the league. The next-highest freshman on the list is Fortson, who ranks 12th.

"He's a young man we recruited very hard. We always thought he had wonderful basketball potential," Arkansas coach John Pelphrey said of White. "He's got a pro body with pro talent, he's playing multiple positions. The way he's performed, he's arguably the best freshman in the league."