Ole Miss to be without Snudda Collins for its NCAA Tournament run
The Ole Miss women’s basketball team arrived in South Bend, Indiana on Thursday but did so without one of its key players.
Snudda Collins did not make the trip and Rebels head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin confirmed the absence of her senior guard during Friday’s press conference ahead of Saturday’s First Round game in the NCAA Tournament.
“Snudda decided to step back for a second,” McPhee-McCuin said. “I mean, the timing couldn’t be any worse if you ask me. But I support our players. Snudda’s getting ready to graduate. She’s been a part of the program. We did not have talks about her coming back like (Madison Scott). I didn’t know if that would be a possibility anyway. We support her 100 percent.”
Ole Miss (23-8) earned the 7 Seed in the Albany 1 Regional and will start its third straight trip to the NCAA Tournament against 10 Seed Marquette (23-8) without Collins. But, this is not the first game McCuin will be without one of her top scorers.
Collins played against Florida in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament in Nashville two weeks ago, but did not play in the semifinal round against LSU. That was categorized as a coach’s decision.
But nevertheless the Rebels will be without their fourth-best scorer in Collins who was averaging 9.6 points per game and shot 32.7 percent from the floor.
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McCuin was without Collins for a three-game stretch late in the regular season who was dealing with an injury.
“We’re prepared to play with who we have,” McCuin added.”
Ole Miss turns its attention to Marquette and trying to build off last season’s run to the Sweet 16.
To do so the Rebels will have to get past an unfamiliar opponent in the Golden Eagles and if they do that then a second round date with 2 Seed and host team Notre Dame (26-6) is possible. The Fighting Irish will have to get past 15 Seed Kent State (21-10).
“We’re excited. We’re excited to be here,” senior forward Madison Scott said. “Grateful for the opportunity. Ready to just give it everything we have.”
Ole Miss and Marquette tip off at approximately 3:45 p.m. CT on ESPNU on Saturday. The Rebels are 6.5-point favorites.
