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Bracket Watch: What did the win over Arkansas do for Ole Miss and its 'Bracketology'?

11by:Jake Thompson•03/13/25•

JakeThompsonOn3

Syndication: The Tennessean
Mississippi Rebels forward Malik Dia (0) looks to the crowd during their second round game of the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, March 13, 2025. Mandatory credit: © Nicole Hester / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Sean Pedulla drained a three-pointer with 1.3 seconds left that sent Ole Miss into Friday’s quarterfinal round of the Southeastern Conference Tournament for the first time in four years.

The shot might have also single-handedly boosted the Rebels NCAA Tournament seeding.

Now that the conference tournaments are in full swing and we are hurtling towards Selection Sunday in three days the NCAA Tournament projection updates are coming at rapid fire.

In the hours after Ole Miss (22-10) knocked off the Razorbacks in thrilling fashion, setting up a third meeting with 1 Seed Auburn this season, the ‘Bracketology’ updates have been favorable.

ESPN’s Joe Lunardi moved Ole Miss off the 7 Seed in the West Region — after being there for what felt like weeks — and up to the 5 Seed in the Midwest Region (Indianapolis). The Rebels would face 12 Seed McNeese State in Denver in the first round with the winner playing the winner between 4 Seed Purdue and 13 Seed Yale in the second round.

With Lunardi’s changes that gives Ole Miss three separate projections of being a 5 Seed. Jerry Palm’s ‘Bracketology’ update from Thursday morning before games were played had the Rebels in the West Region (San Francisco) and also starting the tournament in Denver against 12 Seed Drake.

Then there are the projections by On3’s James Fletcher III which matches the seed prediction of the previous two but has Ole Miss starting the tournament in the other side of the country. Fletcher puts them in East Region (Newark) and playing 12 Seed Liberty in Providence, Rhode Island in the first round.

Whatever happens against Auburn on Friday should not hurt Ole Miss, in theory.

After playing a home-and-home series during the regular season the No. 3-ranked Tigers (27-4) and Rebels will meet on a neutral court at Noon CT on ESPN.

Auburn took the first two games, including a 30-point victory in their home gym. Friday’s game for Ole Miss is one where the result should not affect them too much, but results in other conference tournaments could.

Still, the Rebels were ready for the challenge a thrice time after the thriller over Arkansas.

“Yeah, I’m super excited. Really want another crack at ’em,” Ole Miss forward Malik Dia said. “I think we’ve got the team to beat them. We’ve been preparing. I think right now we’re playing really good March basketball. Our coach is strong. Super excited. It’s going to be a big challenge, but I’m ready.”

The winner of Friday’s game will advance to Saturday’s semifinal round, playing the winner of Texas and No. 8 Tennessee at Noon CT on ESPN.

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