Ole Miss is back in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2013 after being selected as an 11 seed in the West Region. The Rebels will participate in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, as they’ll be matched up in a play-in game against fellow No. 11 seed BYU at 8:10 CT tomorrow night at the University of Dayton Arena in Dayton, Ohio.
Despite the Rebels losing four of their last five games, the NCAA tournament selection committee decided that the impressive non-conference wins over Cincinnati, Oregon and Coastal Carolina were just good enough to sneak the Rebels into the field of 68 teams. Ole Miss also made it into the tournament despite seven home losses, including losses against Charleston Southern, TCU, Western Kentucky and Vanderbilt, who all missed the NCAA Tournament.
“We took a circuitous route to get where we wanted to be,” Ole Miss head coach Andy Kennedy said. “It was certainly not a route that I would’ve chosen, but ultimately, we arrived at our destination.”
One of those losses included a heartbreaking 60-58 loss to South Carolina in the second round of the Southeastern Conference Tournament in Nashville last Thursday night, where senior guard LaDarius White fouled senior South Carolina guard Tyrone Johnson from beyond the arc that resulted in three free-throw makes and a victory for the Gamecocks.
“Our guys were really down on the fact that we didn’t play as well as we wanted to in the SEC Tournament,” Kennedy said. “Hopefully, they’re very excited about what comes next.”
The selection not only marks the second time that Andy Kennedy has made it to the NCAA Tournament as head coach of the Rebels, but it’s also the second time that seniors Jarvis Summers, LaDarius White and Aaron Jones have advanced to the big dance.
“It means a lot especially going to the tournament my last year,” Summers said. “I just want to go out on top and make something special happen.”
As a sophomore in 2013, Summers averaged 10.5 points, 4.5 assists and 2.5 rebounds in two NCAA Tournament games against Wisconsin and La Salle. Needless to say, Summers will be an important figure in preparation for the big stage tomorrow night.
“We just have to stay together,” Summers said. “We have to go hard in practice and listen to Coach.”
Ole Miss returns to a familiar building in Dayton as Ole Miss lost to the Flyers 78-74 back on Dec. 30 in a game where Ole Miss lost despite shooting over 40 percent from the field. The Rebels are 18-4 this season when they shoot over 40 percent from the field.
“My hope is that we’ll just go play well,” Kennedy said. “We have to make shots and not squeeze the ball.”
If Ole Miss were to defeat BYU tomorrow, they would then face No. 6 seed Xavier on Thursday in Jacksonville, Florida.
For continuing coverage of Ole Miss Men’s basketball during the NCAA Tournament, follow @browningstubbs and @thedm_sports on Twitter.
