There’s a lot of basketball left on the table, and Ole Miss could very well play its way into the NCAA tournament.
As Andy Kennedy says, the Rebels have shown themselves capable.
They haven’t played to that capability at times in the last couple of weeks, and a team that once seemed destined to the NCAA tournament seems a little less certain after losing four of its last five in the conference.
Falling short of the NCAA goal – The Rebels haven’t played in the big tournament since 2002 – would lead to the NIT question.
Ole Miss has played in the NIT five times in the last six years. Would the Rebels play in the NIT again? The players would have a lot to say in that decision, Ole Miss athletics director Ross Bjork said.
“We would do what’s best for the players first. We’d talk to them first about extending the season if they want to play in postseason. Our seniors, they want to play in postseason, and they want to go out the best they can, so I think it’s something that we would really sit down and talk to our players about,” Bjork said.
There’s a favorable schedule ahead, but even in a weakened SEC there are teams that can beat the Rebels if they can’t do better with defense and rebounding.
More from Bjork: “The NIT is now run by the NCAA. I think they’re doing a great job with that tournament. It’s not where we want to be. Ultimately we want to be in the NCAA tournament so we’re striving toward that with seven games on the horizon, and our hope is that we finish strong, we get out of this little dip we’re in right now and see where postseason lands us. Giving our players a chance to play is what we’re all about, and we hope it’s the NCAA tournament. That’s the No. 1 goal.”
Denham Springs, La., native, Mississippian since 1989 with a stop in Meridian before arriving in Tupelo. Daily Journal beat writer since 1996, covering Ole Miss since 2002. Proud Northeast Louisiana alum. Follow me on Twitter @parrishalford and listen to Kory Keys and myself daily with The Ole Miss Beat on Rebel Sports Radio.
