Tennessee is on the cusp of its first-ever No. 1 seed, but it still has a few more hurdles to clear.

The fourth-ranked Vols (24-5, 11-5 SEC) jumped one of them last Saturday, beating Alabama on Jahmai Mashack’s 3-pointer at the buzzer in a 79-76 triumph at Food City Center.

TALK ABOUT IT IN THE ROCKY TOP FORUM

With that shot, Tennessee may have moved one road block to a 1-seed out of its way. It will have move another on Wednesday at the Pavilion in Oxford (9 p.m. ET, ESPN2).

The Vols play Ole Miss in their road finale as they look to put the finishing touches on their resume before the postseason begins with the SEC Tournament in Nashville next week.

The Rebels (20-9, 9-7) have spent much of the season in the top 25, though three losses in their last four games have cost them some of their luster.

Tennessee isn’t overlooking them. Not with program history within reach.

The road has been a hard place for any SEC team win in 2025, but the Vols found a way to do it a little more than a week ago at Texas A&M.

They’ll need to do it again to keep their hopes of that coveted 1-seed alive.

Here is everything you need to know about the match up.

Who: No. 4 Tennessee (24-5, 11-5 SEC) at Ole Miss (20-9, 9-7)

When: Wednesday, 9 p.m. ET | March 5

Where: The Sandy and John Black Pavilion | Oxford, Miss.

TV: ESPN2 (Rece Davis, play-by-play; Jimmy Dykes, analyst)

Radio: Vol Network (Bob Kesling, play-by-play; Steve Hamer, analyst)

Series: 125th meeting all-time (Tennessee leads, 79-45)

KenPom Projection: Tennessee 68, Ole Miss 65

POINTS PER GAME

Ole Miss 77.9

Tennessee 74.5

FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE

Tennessee 45.1%

Ole Miss 44.7%

THREE-POINT PERCENTAGE

Ole Miss 34.9%

Tennessee 34.6%

MORE FROM VOLREPORT: Three thoughts on Tennessee before upcoming trip to Ole Miss

ASSISTS

Tennessee 15.4

Ole Miss 14.8

REBOUNDS

Tennessee 37.6

Ole Miss 33.0

BLOCKS

Tennessee 5.2

Ole Miss 4.3

-- Tennessee starting forward Igor Milicic Jr. was listed as probable (illness) on the initial injury report Tuesday night. Milicic is averaging 10.2 points and 7.5 rebounds. Ole Miss will be at full health, based on the latest report.

-- Tennessee, which remains the No. 1 team nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency, gave up more than its season average in points against Alabama, but still disrupted one of the offenses in college basketball, forcing the perimeter-shooting Crimson Tide to try and beat them in the paint. Ole Miss enters Wednesday averaging 77.9 points and 44.7% shooting from the field.

MORE FROM VOLREPORT: In critical moment, Vols turned to Jordan Gainey

-- Tennessee was won nine of its last 10 games against Ole Miss since 2018. The Vols won the last meeting in Knoxville last season, 90-64 but games in Oxford have been closer. The last three meetings between the two team on the Rebels' home floor have been decided by four points or less.

-- Ole Miss was picked to finish ninth in the SEC preseason poll, and has wins over BYU, Louisville, Alabama and Kentucky on its resume. The Rebels outlasted Oklahoma, 87-84 on the road in their last outing. Senior guard Sean Pedulla leads the team with 15.2 points, 3.8 assists and 1.9 steals per game.

– TALK ABOUT IT IN THE ROCKY TOP FORUM.

– ENJOY VOLREPORT WITH A PREMIUM SUBSCRIPTION.

– SUBSCRIBE TO THE VOLREPORT YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

– FOLLOW VOLREPORT ON TWITTER: @TennesseeRivals, @ByNoahTaylor, @RyanTSylvia, @Dale_Dowden, @ShayneP_Media.