Jarvis Varnado may not be a Mississippi native but after six career games against Ole Miss, the senior center is well versed in the Magnolia State rivalry on the hardwood.

The two instate schools will meet this weekend in Oxford to open up SEC play in one of the most anticipated games in recent memory.

"It's just two schools that hate each other," Varnado said. "You don't want to beat them, you want to embarrass them. That's just how it is. Ole Miss is a good team and you can't take nothing away from that. We've got to come out and playing hard and get ready for a war because that's what it's going to be."

But while there will be plenty of emotion when the game is tipped off at 12:30 p.m. at Tad Smith Coliseum, Varnado and the Bulldogs will not try to get caught up in it.

"Every game is a big game because it's our next game," Varnado said. "Ole Miss is going to be our biggest game because it's our next game. We try not to get too high off a win or too low off of a loss. We just try to stay in that consistent place. We are not going to be looking for that signature win or nothing. We are just trying to compete for a championship."

Varnado is averaging 6.8 points, six rebounds and 2.5 blocks in his six career games against the Rebels.



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