A great read here from the New York Times on Patriots RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis, the former Ole Miss star. The hard work described in the story was on display during his career with the Rebels. Check out "The Law Firm" here.

enAn interesting column here from Kevin Scarbinsky of the Birmingham News with some insight into recent troubles for Alabama. The Tide won its most recent game, 72-66 against Arkansas last Saturday, but had dropped four straight before that including losing on a buzzer-beater at South Carolina. It remains the Gamecocks' only league win.

Ole Miss takes on Alabama tomorrow night at 7 in Tuscaloosa. The game will be televised by ESPN2.

Ole Miss guard Nick Williams is a Mobile native and a closet Alabama football fan, he says.

“Yeah, I try not to tell people that. I don't want to get hurt around here, but I'm a big Alabama football fan.”

Williams also has some insight into a number of the Alabama players, having been teammates with some - including the Tide's leading scorer, JaMychal Green - in AAU ball.

While the Tide has been very good at slowing down opposing offenses in a halfcourt setting, Williams believes there will be opportunities for Ole Miss to score in transition.

“The big thing, I think, and we've been talking about it, is fastbreak points. They're not really too good at getting back on D, and I know J-Mike, he's lazy. He don't like to run back anyway. I think we can get some real, real easy buckets and fastbreak points. I think we can steal some points there and try to come out with the win,” Williams said.

Speaking of offense, the Rebels are beginning to develop a personality there in the quest to replace Chris Warren. From the mother ship, today's opinion piece.

It was an absolutely gorgeous day of weather yesterday, and the spring sports that would often be training inside this time of year took advantage of the chance to get outdoors.

The track folks were all running outside, and Ole Miss coach Mike Bianco moved his intersquad scrimmage up a day.

A few performances of note from the scrimmage:

There were 13 hits on the day, the only ones for extra bases belonging to junior Alex Yarbrough and freshman Jake Overbey, both of them doubles.

Among the 11 singles, one was from freshman Senquez Golson, who moved around the bases to score.

Tupelo's John Gatlin, a transfer from ICC, went 1-for-3 and also reached on an HBP.

A few pitchers of note:

Bobby Wahl pitched 3 2-3 innings, 57 pitches, 37 strikes. He gave up one hit, walked one and struck out four.

Freshman Sam Smith pitched four innings, 49 pitches, 34 strikes, one hit, no walks, three strikeouts.

Freshman Chase Reeves of Hamilton pitched two innings, 25 pitches, two hits, no walks, one strikeout.

The Rebels open the season Feb. 17 at No. 15 TCU, the first of three games. The Horned Frogs finished 43-19 and ranked No. 19 last year.

The Rebels will be back on the field, weather permitting and it may not, with another scrimmage today.

Ole Miss coach Andy Kennedy says it's been good to have a bye this week, citing the last opportunity to have extra time to “adjust things” as the Rebels reach the SEC's mid-way point Saturday night at Alabama.

Tipoff is 7 p.m., and the game will be televised on ESPN2.

The bye has been important not only strategically but for healing.

“We've been able to rest them legs and them knees. I feel like everybody has hit that wall. We just have to keep pushing. It's a mind thing,” freshman point guard Jarvis Summers said.

Summers said nomrally practices run for two or three hours. Workouts this week have been short on time, not on intensity.

“We've practiced for about an hour, but we've been going hard.”

The Rebels had the “quick turn” last week, a Thursday game followed by a Saturday game. They'll have it again next week with a Thursday road game against rival Mississippi State and a Saturday night home game against Auburn.

Ole Miss will have the quick turn one more time later this month, and that will prove to be the most challenging. The Rebels have a Feb. 16 8 p.m., home game against Vanderbilt, followed by a 3 p.m. (central) Saturday game at Kentucky.

“Those two games in three days broke us down a little bit, and Coach gave us a day off,” junior guard Nick Williams said. “The day after that (Saturday game, a 66-62 win over South Carolina) we didn't go a long time. Coach understands, and we understand. We're not taking it for granted.”

Williams, a Mobile native, is excited to play against friends and former AAU teammates, including Alabama star JaMychal Green.

Williams says this is a time in the season when a lot of scoreboard watching begins.

The Rebels approach the midway point at 14-7 overall, 4-3 in SEC play. They have an opportunity to play their way into the NCAA tournament, an event they've not been a part of since 2002.

“I've been rooting for a lot of teams lately, hoping some teams pull some games out, and hoping some other teams lose. I think everybody does it now,” he said.