Despite first ranking in 15 years, Ole Miss women's basketball keeping focus on goals ahead
The last time the Ole Miss women’s basketball program was ranked inside the Associated Press Top 25, head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin was at Arkansas-Pine Bluff working on her masters degree and starting her career making $850 a month.
Freshman guard Jaiyah Harris-Smith was four years old in January of 2007, the last time the Rebels were a top 25 team.
Monday’s achievement of breaking into the top 25, landing at No. 24, for the first time in 15 years was history in the making but that is not the mountaintop for McCuin and her team.
In fact, the fourth-year coach never discussed the possibility of rankings in the preseason with her staff.
“I’ve always felt that we were one of the top teams in country,” McCuin said on Tuesday when speaking with the media. “It’s cool that people see it, but nevertheless we’ve always felt that way. So we’ll continue to chop wood and carry water.
“We’ve been so focused on where we want to go, and that is the NCAA Tournament, so we didn’t even discuss being ranked. It never even came across our minds until we beat South Florida and everybody thought we would then be ranked.”
On Sunday, the Rebels knocked off then-No. 23 Kentucky for their second win over a ranked opponent this season, remaining undefeated on the road. Hours later, the SEC announced the postponed game between the Rebels and No. 1 South Carolina from Jan. 2 would be made up on Thursday.
Senior guard Mimi Reid, who has been with the team since 2018, has seen the beginning stages of McCuin’s rebuilding, including going 0-16 in SEC play two seasons ago.
Reid is one of the veteran players that has bought into McCuin’s philosophy of keeping the blinders on and remaining focused on the goals yet achieved.
Top 10
- 1
Elko pokes at Kiffin
A&M coach jokes over kick times
- 2
Dan Lanning
Oregon coach getting NFL buzz
- 3Trending
UK upsets Duke
Mark Pope leads Kentucky to first Champions Classic win since 2019
- 4Hot
5-star flip
Ole Miss flips Alabama WR commit Caleb Cunningham
- 5
Second CFP Top 25
Newest CFP rankings are out
“I think it provides a big opportunity for us,” Reid said. “We go into any game looking to win. We go into games understanding that that game doesn’t define us for the season. We’re looking to go in and prepare as we do for any other game.
“Yes, it’s a big opportunity on a big stage, but we’re just staying level-headed and understanding where we’re at and where we’re trying to go. The goal is to not beat South Carolina, the goal is to get to the NCAA Tournament. So we have to keep that in the forefront of our mind as we prepare.”
Thursday’s game will be the first time in over 15 years that the Rebels will play a game where both teams are nationally ranked.
On Jan. 25, 2007 the Rebels were No. 24 and played at No. 14 Georgia. Now, a decade and a half later, they will play two games back-to-back against ranked opponents while also being ranked.
Following the game in Columbia, S.C. on Thursday, the Rebels return to the SJB Pavilion on Sunday to host No. 15 Georgia at 2 p.m. CT
