Ole Miss men's basketball made it to the big dance this year for the first time since 2019. It was head coach Chris Beard's second season with the Rebels, improving drastically from year one.
The Rebels have worked extremely hard this season, recording some big wins during SEC play. The team rightfully deserves their spot in the NCAA Tournament. However, one CBS Sports analyst has a different opinion.
The CBS Sports and NBA TV personality Tim Doyle has called out the Rebels on the March Madness show. Referring to the San Diego State and North Carolina play-in game, he believes whoever wins will brush aside Ole Miss.
"I think Ole Miss is a fraud. Whoever wins that game (San Diego State or North Carolina) is beating Ole Miss. Ole Miss gets a lot of love because they played a great conference, and had a lot of opportunities and stuff. That is a fraud at No.6."Tim Doyle
"I think Ole Miss is a fraud."@TimDoyle00 does not think Ole Miss can make a run in the NCAA Tournament. pic.twitter.com/b2zYpngUcN
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 17, 2025
It's a strong statement regarding a team that lost one game outside Quad 1 this season. That came against rivals Mississippi State, who for a long time this season, had been ranked in Quad 1. They had an 8-10 record against top-ranked teams. Against Quad 2.3 and 4 teams, they are 14-1.
The Rebels have five wins over current AP Poll top 25 teams and have several close games against ranked teams, including a two-point loss to Purdue and a one-point loss to Texas A&M.
It's a bold claim to call a team that has done as well as Ole Miss "a fraud." There is no logic to that claim in the slightest. Ole Miss may lose in the first round of the tournament. However, that also does not make the team a fraud.
One thing it does is give the team bulletin board material, which the personalities in this team will thrive on.