A significant catalyst behind Mississippi's emergence in this week's college basketball polls is junior guard Marshall Henderson, a Hurst L.D. Bell graduate who was the National Junior College Player of the Year last season at South Plains College.
Henderson leads the Rebels and the Southeastern Conference in scoring (19.4 average) and ranks among the national leaders in 3-point shooting percentage (36.1) and 3-pointers per game (3.9). No. 23 Ole Miss (16-2, 5-0 in SEC) knocked off Tennessee 62-56 on Thursday to extend the Rebels' best start to any conference campaign since 1936-37.Henderson, the reigning SEC player of the week, scored 28 points -- 24 of them in the second half, including six 3-pointers -- to lead Thursday's second-half rally. Henderson (6-foot-2, 175 pounds) began his college career at Utah, where he averaged 11.8 points per game as a freshman, before leading South Plans College to last year's JC national championship.
Games to watch
Maryland (15-4, 3-3 in ACC) at No. 1 Duke (16-2, 3-2) The Blue Devils have dropped two of their past three games, including Wednesday's 90-63 drubbing by No. 25 Miami, heading into today's showdown (noon, KTVT/11).
Oklahoma (13-4, 4-1 in Big 12) at No. 3 Kansas (17-1, 5-0) The Jayhawks seek to extend the nation's longest winning streak, 16 games, and maintain sole possession of first place in the league standings when the teams meet today (3 p.m., ESPN).
No. 3 Syracuse (18-1, 6-0 in Big East) at Villanova (12-7, 3-3) The Big East leaders will be challenged on the road today (10 a.m., ESPNU) by a Wildcats team coming off Tuesday's 73-64 upset of No. 5 Louisville.
Numbers game
49.4Average points allowed by Stephen F. Austin (16-1, 7-0 in Southland), which leads Division I teams in scoring defense and ranks 71st in RPI.
0-5Conference record by Texas (8-10, 0-5), the school's worst start to any Big 12 season, heading into today's game in Austin (7 p.m., Longhorn Network) against Texas Tech (9-8, 2-4).
71.7Field-goal percentage of North Dakota State forward Marshall Bjorklund, tops in the nation.
College notes: Big 12 considers alliance with ACC, two other conferences
TCU has to fight through fatigue against Baylor
UT Arlington men hope road show plays well again
UTA women 'can get on a roll,' coach says
UT Arlington men hold off Utah State
North Texas can't close gap on streaking Middle Tennessee
North Texas women go cold from the field in second half
Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
