History in the Making: Both Ole Miss Basketball Teams Reach the Sweet 16 for the
First Time Ever!
By: Justice Rose
For the first time since 2001, the Ole Miss men’s basketball team will advance to the third round of the NCAA Tournament—the Sweet 16. This comes after a 91-78 victory over the No. 3-seeded Iowa State Cyclones.
Transfer guard Sean Pedulla led the way with timely buckets and key plays, ultimately finishing with 20 points, eight assists and four steals. Seniors Matthew Murrell, Jaemyn Brakefield and Malik Dia played major roles, contributing through scoring, rebounding and stellar defense.
Ole Miss is now set to face the No. 2-seeded Michigan State Spartans this Friday at 1 p.m. in Atlanta.
Meanwhile, the Ole Miss Lady Rebs continue their streak of impressive seasons and postseason success with a second-round tournament win. Behind 16 points from guard Sira Thienou, the No. 5-seeded Lady Rebs edged out the No. 4-seeded Baylor Lady Bears 69-63.
The Lady Rebs will go head-to-head with No. 1-seeded UCLA on Friday in Spokane,
Washington. A win would mark the furthest postseason advancement for the Lady Rebs since 2023.
Above all else, this is a monumental moment for basketball at the University of Mississippi.
Both programs have advanced to the third round of tournament play for the first time in school history.
What does this mean for our program’s future?
First, it is a testament to the culture that coaches Chris Beard and Yolett McPhee-McCuin have worked tirelessly to build during their respective tenures. The consistent improvement each program has seen in recent years is not the result of chance but rather the product of commitment and dedication—not only from the coaching staff but from the players themselves.
Second, this is an opportunity for our university. Even if neither team advances past the Sweet 16, reaching this stage is great for brand recognition and credibility within basketball circles across the country. Ideally, this success will help with recruiting, as the men’s team can point to recent success and the women’s team to continued excellence. Instead of being labeled strictly a “football school,” Ole Miss is proving that it can produce great basketball teams that are competitive on the national stage.
Third, this is a huge opportunity for our players looking to make the leap to the next level.
Outside of the top-tier prospects, many professional spots are highly contested and shift
throughout the year. While many of our players have put up solid averages, performing under the brightest lights is what earns draft spots and contracts.
In an ideal world, all of our seniors make the jump to the NBA. In a more realistic world, most of them receive offers to play professionally, earn a great salary and build a career in basketball if their heart desires.
With teams largely led by seniors, expect to see our veterans play with
passion and determination this weekend.
Go Rebs!
3 / 3
106%