TIME-DEPENDENT RATINGS
TIME-INDEPENDENT RATINGS
Automated 2024-25 Game Preview
Ole Miss  15-2 (0.882)  |  SEC
-- AT --
Wichita State  11-6 (0.647)  |  American
Includes games through January 17, 2025.
Data shown on this page is based on time-dependent ratings.
0.948 (20th)
   All-Play Percentage
  
0.485 (188th)
0.570 (68th)
   Schedule Strength
  
0.484 (155th)
0.497 (11th)
   Record Quality
  
0.166 (96th)
39.74 (35th)
   Avg. Season Rank
  
125.76 (121st)
1.82 (84th)
   Momentum
  
-4.30 (355th)
-9.80 (228th)
   Consistency
  
-11.62 (336th)
2.58 (11th)
   Away/Home Court   
1.48 (110th)
66.40 (207th)
Pace
 
69.40 (45th)
IN POSSESSION
MISS
WICH
Cat Rtg Rk Rtg Rk
Eff 118.09 33 106.24 153
FTAR 30.13 88 23.34 49
FT% 72.57 168 -- --
FGAR 89.48 58 89.11 311
FG% 46.41 77 44.00 174
3P% 36.94 57 34.59 215
MR% 40.52 207 43.23 242
NP% 62.69 51 57.62 193
PPSt 19.81 4 10.61 84
SCC% 6.30 125 4.31 55
Prox 2.07 230 2.11 49
IN POSSESSION
WICH
MISS
Cat Rtg Rk Rtg Rk
Eff 105.47 200 93.12 14
FTAR 28.53 136 26.57 151
FT% 72.29 174 -- --
FGAR 85.83 196 81.70 27
FG% 44.63 144 39.19 28
3P% 31.51 283 29.97 29
MR% 42.14 148 38.12 80
NP% 56.80 172 52.74 65
PPSt 13.24 127 7.72 2
SCC% 6.75 84 4.98 104
Prox 1.91 18 2.11 52
OLE MISS IN POSSESSION:
The Ole Miss offense most definitely should have the upper hand on the Wichita State defense in this matchup. This site rates Ole Miss to be 33rd in the nation in offensive efficiency, while Wichita State is currently our #153 squad in defensive efficiency.
SHOT SELECTION: These two units prefer similar shot locations on this end of the court. The Ole Miss offense exhibits a slight preference for perimeter shots over inside ones, while the Wichita State defense similarly surrenders several more opportunities from the outside. Against the Wichita State defense, this site projects that the shot makeup of the Ole Miss offense will be 42.7% three-pointers (4.1% above the D1 average), 28.3% mid-range jumpers (1.7% above the D1 average), and 28.9% near-proximity twos (5.8% below the D1 average).
SHOOTING PERCENTAGE: Ole Miss has been a bit above the D1 average in floor shooting this year and is rated our #77 team in overall field goal percentage. The Wichita State defense, meanwhile, rates as somewhat average in defensive field goal conversion rate (ranked #174 nationally in that category). The Ole Miss offense has a noticeable advantage at all three levels on this end of the floor. This site expects Ole Miss to shoot 37.0% from three (3.2% above the D1 average), 42.1% from the mid-range (0.8% above the D1 average), 63.0% from near-proximity locations (6.1% above the D1 average), and 46.0% overall (2.1% above the D1 average).
REBOUNDING: Wichita State may have a small rebounding edge on this end of the court. Ole Miss appears to be a fairly mediocre NCAA team on the offensive boards. They are somewhat above-average at turning second-chance opportunities into points (rated 125th nationally in second-chance conversion percentage). The opposition here, Wichita State, appears a bit superior to the D1 average in the category of defensive rebounding, and they've likewise been proficient preventing foes from scoring via putbacks (ranked #55 in the NCAA in defensive second-chance conversion rate).
TURNOVERS: Ole Miss will likely keep the basketball very secure against this Wichita State defense. When in possession, Ole Miss does a really solid job to protect the basketball and minimize silly turnovers. Their field goal attempt rate is well above-average (rated 58th in the country), while their rating for potential quick points allowed off of steals is almost spotless (second in the country). Meanwhile, the Wichita State D is neither aggressive nor conservative from a turnovers perspective.
FREE THROWS: There's a bit of a push here in this category. The Ole Miss offense is fairly decent at booking trips to the charity stripe (88th in the country in free throw attempt rate), though they're rather mediocre converting their shots from there (72.6%, 168th in the country). As for the opposition, the Wichita State D does an exceptional job keeping foes off the foul line and ranks 49th in the country in defensive free throw attempt rate.

WICHITA STATE IN POSSESSION:
From an analytical perspective, it appears that Wichita State will have a fair share of offensive issues against a defense of this caliber. Ole Miss is currently 14th in the country in defensive efficiency, while Wichita State nationally comes in at #200 in offensive efficiency.
SHOT SELECTION: There are conflicting shot preferences for these two units on this end of the floor. The Wichita State offense is largely in favor of inside shots over those from longer-distance, while the Ole Miss defense conversely tends to allow marginally more opportunities from the outside. Against the Ole Miss defense, this site forecasts that the shot breakdown of the Wichita State offense will be 33.3% three-pointers (5.4% below the D1 average), 31.6% mid-range jumpers (5.0% above the D1 average), and 35.1% near-proximity twos (0.4% above the D1 average).
SHOOTING PERCENTAGE: Wichita State rates in the middle of the Division I pack when it comes to floor shooting and is currently ranked #144 in overall field goal conversion rate. Meanwhile, the Ole Miss defense sports one of college basketball's better defensive field goal percentages, ranking 28th in the country in that category. The Ole Miss defense appears to have a noteworthy advantage at all three levels on this end. We expect Wichita State to shoot 27.2% from behind the arc (6.6% below the D1 average), 39.8% from mid-range locations (1.4% below the D1 average), 54.1% from near-proximity (2.9% below the D1 average), and 40.6% overall (3.2% below the D1 average).
REBOUNDING: Ole Miss may very well have a slight rebounding advantage at this end of the floor. Wichita State is really nothing special on the offensive glass. They are considered to be somewhat above-average when gauging second-chance conversion percentage (nationally rated #84 in that department). Their opponent in this matchup, Ole Miss, has the markings of a team that's above-average on the defensive glass, and they've similarly been fairly efficient in defensive second-chance conversion percentage (ranked 104th in the nation in that category).
TURNOVERS: The Ole Miss defense has a small advantage over the Wichita State offense in the turnover battle on this end. Offensively, Wichita State exhibits better ball-control skills than the average D1 squad. Their rating for potential quick points allowed off steals is respectable, as the squad places 84th in the country in that category. As for the opposition, the Ole Miss defense is very aggressive and has the potential to come away with a plethora of steals. They rate well in our analytics on this front, landing at #4 in the nation in potential quick points scored off steals and #27 in defensive field goal attempt rate.
FREE THROWS: This looks to be somewhat of a stalemate. Wichita State is a team that obtains a fairly average number of chances from the charity stripe (nationally ranked #136 in free throw attempt rate), and they're rather mediocre converting their shots from there (72.3%, ranked #174 in Division I). Meanwhile, the aggressive Ole Miss defense sports a fairly mediocre defensive free throw attempt rate, one that rates 151st in the NCAA this season.

THE X-FACTORS:
PACE: We'd forecast a fairly average tempo by Division I standards here. Wichita State (45th in the NCAA in game pace) favors a brisk tempo, while Ole Miss (207th) likes things at more of an average clip.
AWAY/HOME COURT: Ole Miss has performed far better away from home this year than they have at home. Unfortunately for them, they face Wichita State, who has played their best basketball this season in front of their home crowd.
MOMENTUM: Ole Miss has a sizeable momentum edge here. They come into this contest playing above their norm (84th in the country in positive momentum), while Wichita State (tenth from the bottom) has performed a bit below their own standards recently.
CONSISTENCY: Wichita State is one of Division I's more erratic squads, ranking 336th in the country in consistency. Ole Miss places closer to the middle of the pack in this category.

THE VERDICT:
On paper, Wichita State is outmatched in this contest. We definitely expect Ole Miss to emerge with a very comfortable victory. Ole Miss 81.28, Wichita State 64.74.