The men’s basketball teams is 4-0. Take a second for that to sink in. Enjoy it while it lasts though, Penn State is about to face the toughest opponent they have faced to date.

The Nittany Lions (4-0) are finally hitting the road when they visit Oxford to take on SEC foe, the Mississippi Rebels (2-1), marking the first road game 5 games into the season. The Rebels are coming off a 7 point home defeat at the hands of Dayton (4-0). A quality loss considering that Dayton beat North Carolina for the NIT Championship last year and returns 50% of last season’s minutes from a squad that went 25-12 overall, including 8-8 in the rouged A-10.

But the Lions will be facing their first true test of the season when they face Mississippi. The Rebels return close to 51% of last season’s player minutes from a squad that went 24-11 overall, including winning the SEC West with a 9-7 conference record. Unfortunately for the Rebels, the strength of the SEC in basketball last season was equivalent to that of the Big East in football on an annual basis and the Selection Committee agreed relegating the SEC West champions to the NIT where they also lost to eventual NIT champions, Dayton.

Despite the 4-0 record, the Lions have yet to play anyone comparable to the competition they will face once Big Ten play starts. The Lions’ performance against the Rebels will be a good litmus test as to whether this year’s team is any better than last year’s train wreck. Not only is the game on the road, but the Rebels will be led by seniors Chris Warren (17.2 points/game) and Zach Graham (9.2 points/game).

Time: 7:00 pm EST
TV: -
Radio: Penn State Sports Network (1450 AM locally) with Steve Jones and Dick Jerardi
All Time Record: This will be the first meeting between Penn State and Mississippi
Last Meeting: -

	Mississippi		Penn State	Advantage
Off Points /game	72.0 (130)	Def Points /game	55.8 (19)
Rebounds /game	37.3 (121)	Rebounds /game	40.0 (60)
Off Assists /game	13.7 (117)	Def Assists /game	11.2 (108)	Push
Off Field Goal %	42.9 (171)	Def Field Goal %	36.0 (29)
Def Points /game	66.3 (128)	Off Points /game	69.2 (172)
Def Assists /game	12.7 (170)	Off Assists /game	11.8 (196)
Def Field Goal %	37.3 (41)	Off Field Goals %	42.3 (180)

Difference < 25 National Rank = Push
Difference > 25 National Rank =
Difference > 75 National Rank =
Difference > 125 National Rank =
Difference > 175 National Rank =

Go State!