Why Ole Miss Women’s Basketball Deserves to Host NCAA Tournament

OXFORD, Miss. – As March Madness looms, the NCAA selection committee faces critical decisions regarding tournament seeding and host sites, and one team that has proven its worth for a hosting opportunity is the Ole Miss women’s basketball team, led by head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin.

You heard ’em 💭#HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/FbspXSI7w1

— Ole Miss Women’s BB (@OleMissWBB) March 12, 2025

With a combination of a strong overall record, an elite strength of schedule, significant wins, and competitive performances against top-ranked teams, Team 50 has made a compelling case for hosting a regional in Oxford. 

Ole Miss has not hosted a NCAA Tournament regional since the 1991-1992 season when head coach Van Chancellor led the Rebels to 29-3 record before being eliminated in the regional final (now known as the Elite 8). The Sandy and John Black Pavilion has never hosted an NCAA Tournament. 

🤷🏽‍♀️ https://t.co/asAS0aaeS4

— Coach Yo (@YolettMcCuin) March 11, 2025

Tale of the tape

The Rebels boasted a solid 20-10 overall record and a 10-6 Southeastern Conference (SEC) record, finishing seventh in the most competitive conference in the nation. Ole Miss also reached the SEC Tournament quarterfinals, and now doing so for five consecutive seasons. With a 12th overall NET ranking, the Rebels stand in elite company.

NET RANKING SYSTEM

• Quadrant 1: Home 1-30; Neutral 1-50; Away 1-75.
• Quadrant 2: Home 31-75; Neutral 51-100; Away 76-135.
• Quadrant 3: Home 76-160; Neutral 101-200; Away 136-240.
• Quadrant 4: Home 161-plus; Neutral 201-plus; Away 241-plus.

One of the most impressive aspects of Ole Miss’ resume is its non-conference performance, finishing with a 9-3 record with only three losses coming against UConn (NET 2), USC (NET 6), and North Carolina State (NET 16). Notably, these losses came by an average margin of just eight points, and all were played on the road or at neutral sites. This shows the Rebels’ willingness to challenge themselves against premier programs in difficult environments, a crucial factor throughout the host selection process. 

Ole Miss’s NET strength of schedule ranks third in the nation, a testament to the fierce competition the team has faced. The Rebels scheduled aggressively in preparation for the tournament, playing three non-conference games against Power 4 teams (Boston College, NC State, USC) and also the perennial tournament contender UConn. 

Don’t doubt the numbers 💯#HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/S8zuqWR25J

— Ole Miss Women’s BB (@OleMissWBB) March 11, 2025

Additionally, the Rebels have played 11 teams that were ranked in the AP or Coaches Poll at some point this season, including South Carolina, Tennessee, LSU, Texas, Kentucky, Oklahoma, and NC State. Against top-50 NET opponents, Ole Miss played 15 games, further proving its battle-hardened nature.

Big wins and bad losses

A key metric in determining hosting privileges is a team’s ability to secure high-quality wins. Ole Miss has tallied six Quad 1 victories, including marquee wins against LSU (NET 10), Kentucky (NET 19), Mississippi State (NET 31), and Vanderbilt (NET 22).

Beyond Quad 1, the Rebels have showcased their dominance against lower-ranked opponents, averaging a 26-point margin of victory in Quad 2 games and a 15-point margin of victory in Quad 3 games, which includes a 37-point neutral-site victory over Power 4 opponent Boston College. 

While every team faces setbacks, how a team competes in losses matters significantly. The Rebels have been highly competitive even in their defeats, with an average margin of loss of only seven points against top-3 NET teams and six points against top-10 NET teams.

Additionally, 88 percent of Ole Miss’ losses have come against Quad 1 opponents, a statistic typically reserved for high-seeded tournament teams that earn hosting opportunities. Half of the Rebels’ losses have come against NET top-10 teams, and the team’s lone “bad” loss came on the road against Texas A&M (NET 114), but even in that matchup, Ole Miss led by 16 points before a late collapse that cost them. 

Down the stretch 

In the last 10 games leading up to the tournament, the Rebels hold a record of 6-4, all verses SEC competition. In those wins, Ole Miss had a 14-point average margin of victory. Nine of those contests were NET Quad 1 games against Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi State (Twice), South Carolina, LSU, and Kentucky. Also, seven of those games were against teams in the Top 25 of the NET rankings (Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Texas, South Carolina, LSU).

Unlike some teams battling injuries late in the season, Ole Miss is at full strength. The Rebels feature All-SEC Second Team selection Madison Scott and All-SEC Freshman Team selection Sira Thienou, giving them the talent and depth to make a deep tournament run. Scott was also recently announced as the winner of the Gillom Trophy, an award given annually to the top women’s college basketball player in Mississippi.

Senior leader KK Deans has averaged 11.1 points per game in the last 10 contests, draining 2.3 triples per game during that span as well. Additionally, the big-moment presence of Tameiya Sadler and outstanding defensive play down the stretch from Kennedy Todd-Williams (1.2 steals and a block per game in the last 10 games) brings more veteran qualities to a team looking to make a run.

You can’t leave her open.

20 Points
5-8 3PT @kkdeans | #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/RAqJqfwqOq

— Ole Miss Women’s BB (@OleMissWBB) March 8, 2025

Up next

Coach Yo and Team 50 will host a Selection Sunday watch party in the SJB Pavilion Club open to all Rebel fans. The doors will open at 6 p.m. with the show beginning at 7 p.m. CT.

It’s the MOST wonderful time of the year 🏀

Doors open at 6 PM and the show begins at 7 PM! See you on Sunday!#HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/B8lUOLJGNb

— Ole Miss Women’s BB (@OleMissWBB) March 10, 2025