Ole Miss women's basketball ranked in preseason Associated Press poll for first time in 28 years

The dust getting knocked off dormant accomplishments within the Ole Miss women’s basketball program continues to happen under head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin.

Coming off the program’s first Sweet 16 run in 15 years Ole Miss saw another lengthy drought ended on Tuesday by being ranked in the preseason Associated Press poll. For the first time since 1995 the Rebels found themselves among the preseason edition of the Top 25, being ranked No. 12.

The ranking of 12 is the highest for Ole Miss in the poll since 1992, and the fifth best to start a season. The Rebels begin the season ranked for the 17^th time in school history and are one of five Southeastern Conference teams in the poll.

Defending national champion LSU enters at No. 1 followed by South Carolina (No. 6), Tennessee (No. 11) and Mississippi State (No. 25).

Ole Miss also saw itself coming at No. 16 in the preseason Coaches Poll. The Rebels ended the 2022-23 season at No. 22 in the final Coaches Poll this past April. The No. 16 slot is the highest preseason ranking for Ole Miss in the USA Today poll since the Rebels came in at No. 15 in 1995.

Earlier this month McCuin gave her thoughts when asked by the local media where she thinks her team should start the season within the rankings.

“From what they’re judging on yes, [we’re in the right spot] because they haven’t seen anything. They’re looking at what KK (Deans) has done at Florida and what (Kennedy Todd-Williams) has done at North Carolina and bringing Snudda (Collings) and (Madison Scott) and Marquesha (Davis) back,” McCuin said. “From the outside, I think it’s pretty fair. Here’s the thing, I’m not going to be the coach that sits around and says rat poison, rat poison, rat poison. We really worked our butts off to start getting some respect around the country. Now so should we be up there as far as being noticed? Yes. Numbers and rankings, I try to stay away from, because I see these chicks every day. I can tell you we have a lot of work to do.”

It was also announced on Tuesday that Ole Miss was selected to finish fourth in the preseason SEC Media poll.

The Rebels were picked to finish behind LSU, South Carolina and Tennessee. Fourth is the highest selection for the program in the history of the poll, dating back to when it started during the 1990-91 season.

Scott was also named to the Preseason All-SEC Second Team as the lone Ole Miss player to make either the First or Second teams. One of the oldest and veteran players under McCuin, the expectations for Scott are higher this year after getting experience at the international level this summer while representing Team USA.

“That 3×3 experience has been huge. Madi just finished her last tour in Montreal just a couple of weeks ago,” McCuin said. “She has been around high-level athletes and I think she has picked up stuff from them. One team they played had a 40-year old on it, and I’m 40 but she was like in-shape 40. She definitely has a level of maturity, but people forget that Madi’s a senior.

“This is her fourth year. Her and Snudda have been with me from the beginning. So, what do I expect from them? I expect them to lead and be mature and understand the Ole Miss way and what that looks like in depth, more than even our highly touted transfers. Those two have been here from the beginning.”