POLL POSITION: Ole Miss men's basketball moves closer to Top 15 in latest AP poll

A week off did not do anything to slow down the momentum the Ole Miss men’s basketball team currently has with the way it started the season.

Outside of a last-second shot by Purdue the Rebels are winnings of nine of its first 10 games. The most recent being the 31-point win over Southern Mississippi in Biloxi on Saturday.

Due to securing its third straight victory Ole Miss (9-1) is ranked No. 17 in Monday’s latest Associated Press poll, moving up two spots and inching closer to a Top 15 ranking. This marks the highest ranking in an AP poll for the Rebels since being ranked No. 16 during the 2013 season.

The Southeastern Conference is proving to be a beast this season with how it has fared in non-conference games, setting up a beast of a schedule for the Rebels starting January 4 against Georgia.

There are eight SEC teams ranked in this week’s AP Poll: Tennessee (No. 1), Auburn (2), Kentucky (4), Alabama (6), Florida (7), Texas A&M (12), Oklahoma (14), Ole Miss (17).

In the NET rankings Ole Miss is still in the Top 25, sitting at No. 22 after Sunday’s action. The Rebels are 1-1 in Quad 1 games, 1-0 in Quad 2 and 3 games and 6-0 in Quad 4 games.

The Rebels return to action on Tuesday, hosting Southern (5-4) at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN+ and SEC Network+.

Ole Miss women’s team roughs up South Alabama, drops in latest poll

The Ole Miss women’s basketball team also returned to action after a week off for exams. The downtime did not cause any disruption as the Rebels beat South Alabama, 94-39.

Despite yet another lop-sided victory Ole Miss (7-3) took a tumble in the latest AP Poll, falling three spots to No. 25. Part of the reason was Georgia Tech leaping eight spots to No. 17 after beating North Carolina in Chapel Hill

Missed chances against ranked opponents Southern California and UConn paired with the loss at North Carolina State earlier this season have also hurt the Rebels in the eyes of the voters.

Beating up on the lesser opponents is not cutting it anymore for McCuin’s squad. A constant NCAA Tournament participant now has raised the standards and Ole Miss is going to need to start getting some of these wins at the next level that fall just out of its grasp.

After another week off Ole Miss hosts Mississippi Valley State (1-7) on Saturday at Noon CT. The game is part of a doubleheader with the men, who will play Queens (6-5) at 4 p.m. CT

Still, the Rebels are looking strong in the NET rankings. As of Monday they are No. 17, moving up two spots after Sunday’s results.

Below are the full Associated Press Top 25 rankings:

MEN

1. Tennessee (10-0)
2. Auburn (9-1)
3. Iowa State (9-1)
4. Kentucky (10-1)
5. Duke (8-2)
6. Alabama (8-2)
7. Florida (10-0)
8. Kansas (8-2)
9. Marquette (9-2)
10. Oregon (10-1)
11. UConn (8-3)
12. Texas A&M (9-2)
13. Gonzaga (7-3)
14. Oklahoma (10-0)
15. Houston (6-3)
16. Purdue (8-3)
17. Ole Miss (9-1)
18. UCLA (9-1)
19. Cincinnati (8-1)
20. Michigan State (8-2)
21. Memphis (8-2)
22. Dayton (9-2)
23. San Diego State (7-2)
24. Michigan (8-2)
25. Clemson (9-2)

WOMEN

1. UCLA (10-0)
2. South Carolina (10-1)
3. Notre Dame (9-2)
4. UConn (9-1)
5. LSU (12-0)
6. Texas (10-1)
7. Southern California (10-1)
8. Maryland (10-1)
9. Duke (9-2)
10. Oklahoma (9-1)
11. Ohio State (10-0)
12. TCU (10-1)
13. Kansas State (11-1)
14. West Virginia (10-1)
15. Michigan State (10-0)
16. Kentucky (9-1)
17. Georgia Tech (11-0)
18. Tennessee (8-0)
19. North Carolina (10-2)
20. Michigan (9-1)
21. North Carolina State (8-3)
22. Iowa (9-2)
23. Nebraska (10-1)
24. California (11-1)
25. Ole Miss (7-3)