Ole Miss Basketball: Rebels snubbed by NCAA, NIT bound
Sixteen wins and eight of the last eleven weren’t enough for coach Kermit Davis and Ole Miss basketball to make the NCAA field of sixty-four teams.
Ole Miss basketball (16-11, 10-8) ended the SEC Tourney with a thrilling 76-73 loss to LSU who would eventually fall to Alabama in the tourney final. The Rebels picked up a 76-59 tourney opening win over South Carolina. Coach Kermit Davis and the Rebels were forced to wait for Selection Sunday to find out their fate.
Coach Kermit Davis and the Rebels were snubbed by the NCAA despite a winning record with three wins over ranked opponents. The Rebels had wins over No.10 ranked Tennessee, No.10 Missouri, and then again over No.24 ranked Missouri. The Rebels finished in sixth place overall in the SEC and should have gotten into the NCAA Tourney but instead will be playing in the NIT.
It’s Disappointing
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While Ole Miss basketball fans are disappointed, there is hope for the Rebels to make a good run in the NIT. The Rebels have a good team and especially on defense. The NIT could be a lot of fun if the Rebels can play their best game.
The Rebels will open the NIT on Friday night when they face Louisiana Tech in Frisco, Texas. Louisiana Tech had a really good season finishing 21-7 overall and 12-4 in CUSA play.
The Bulldogs finished the CUSA Tourney with a 48-54 loss to North Texas after opening the tourney with a 75-69 win over Florida Atlantic.
North Texas wound up winning the CUSA Tourney by defeating Western Kentucky in the final. The Bulldogs record should speak for itself and the Rebels can’t look at the NIT opener as a gimme.
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We may not like being snubbed by the NCAA, but we can be excited about more Ole Miss basketball. Coach Kermit and the Rebels will be back in action Friday night. Tipoff against Louisiana Tech is set for 8:00 pm and the game will be televised via ESPN2. Good luck to coach Kermit Davis and the Rebels.