Bracket Watch: What are the latest NCAA Tournament projections for both Ole Miss teams?
Two weeks into Southeastern Conference play is helping create a clearer picture of which teams are the contenders and which are pretenders. Four SEC games is also firming up the postseason outlook for both Ole Miss programs.
The Ole Miss men’s team will play its fourth SEC game on Wednesday, traveling to LSU for a 6 p.m. CT tipoff on SEC Network, but a strong rebound last week after stumbling in Knoxville as the Rebels in the upper shelf of the SEC.
Back-to-back SEC wins for the first time in three years has No. 22 Ole Miss (15-1, 2-1 SEC) sitting a game back of first behind No. 13 Auburn and Alabama, both are 3-0 to start conference play. The Rebels will play the Tigers in Auburn on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. CT to cap off this mini road trip and the next chance to boost the tournament résumé.
For now Ole Miss is still boasting a strong case to make the Field of 68 and according to ESPN’s Joe Lunardi’s latest Bracketology update on Tuesday has a firm grasp on the program’s first NCAA Tournament bid since 2019.
The Rebels were still projected as an 8-Seed but in a new region, slotted in the South Region (Dallas). They were projected to play 9-Seed TCU in Charlotte and paired with 1-Seed North Carolina who is projected to take on a play-in 16-Seed to be determined through the First Four in Dayton.
CBS Sports’ Jerry Palm continues to be bullish on Ole Miss, projecting them as the 5-Seed in the East Region (Boston) in his Monday update, playing 12-Seed McNeese State the in Salt Lake City.
Related: Ole Miss back in the Top 25 after strong start through early rounds of ’18 round’ SEC fight
Despite an up and down start to SEC play for the Ole Miss women’s team, its NCAA Tournament projection remains steady.
Sunday’s loss at Mississippi State put the Rebels (12-5) at 2-2 through their first two weeks of conference play but the poor play to close out the game in Starkville did not damage their bid for a third straight trip to the tournament.
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The Rebels were outscored by Mississippi State 20-6 and did not score in the final six minutes of the game.
“I just thought we had a complete meltdown in the fourth (quarter),” said Ole Miss head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin following Sunday’s game. “Just something we’re working through as far as, last year we had Myah (Taylor) a true point (guard). Maddie (Scott), we’re still trying to get her in the flow of things. I couldn’t even play her at the point as much as I wanted to.”
ESPN’s Charlie Creme has Ole Miss bumped up a seed from last week’s Bracketology update, moving them to an 8-Seed in the Portland 3 Region. The Rebels are projected to play 9-Seed Nebraska in the Los Angeles (No. 1 Seed UCLA) quad. The Bruins are projected to play No. 16-Seed Jackson State.
Ole Miss has the week off before getting back on the road to try and bounce back from its loss to the in-state rival Bulldogs. The Rebels will play Georgia on Sunday at Noon CT.
