Preview: Ole Miss Takes on Minnesota for a Spot in the Sweet 16

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MINNEAPOLIS – Coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin and her Ole Miss women’s basketball team have had little time to celebrate following a decisive 15-point dispatching of Gonzaga. They now turn their attention to Sunday’s contest against Minnesota and a shot at returning to the Sweet 16 for a third time in four years.

Following Friday afternoon’s win over the Bulldogs, the Rebels are now set to face Dawn Plitzuweit’s Golden Gophers in a venue where opponents have had little success throughout the year, with only three teams leaving Williams Arena victorious. But this is far from unfamiliar territory for Coach Yo, as both of her program’s Sweet 16 appearances over the past three seasons saw her Rebels take down a higher-seeded opponent on the road in the Round of 32.

If Ole Miss can pull it off again Sunday afternoon, it will not only add a third Sweet 16 appearance to McPhee-McCuin’s coaching resume but will also further raise the bar for a program already on the rise.

Evenly Matched on Paper

Statistically, not much separates the Rebels and Golden Gophers. Ole Miss averages 75.6 points per game compared to Minnesota’s 74.9, while the Rebels allow 62.1 points per contest to the Gophers’ 57.9—good for the second-best mark in the Big Ten.

Shooting percentages for McPhee-McCuin’s team and Plitzuweit’s squad are roughly the same at 43 percent and 45 percent, respectively, as are rebounds per game (Ole Miss averages 40, Minnesota comes in 39.2). But beneath those similarities lie critical differences that could define the outcome.

Ball Security vs. Defensive Pressure

Minnesota has been one of the most mistake-free teams in the nation, committing an average of just 10.9 turnovers per game, the fourth-fewest of any team in the nation and the fewest among Big 10 teams.

Ole Miss, on the other hand, forces an average of 18.2 turnovers per game, a number that places them in the upper half of the SEC in that department. If the Rebels can continue the years-long McPhee-McCuin trend of playing disruptive, poised, and unforgiving defense against a team that ranks only in the middle of the pack in scoring within its conference, another Sweet 16 appearance will certainly be on the table.

But the motivation and will to win must come out in full, unrelenting force when playing in a No. 4 seed’s house in the NCAA Tournament, which is certainly a factor to consider here.

A Stark Home-Road Contrast

Minnesota has been wowing its fans at Williams Arena this season, averaging 83.4 points per game while allowing just 54.1 on its home floor. That level of production—and defensive control—vastly outperforms its overall numbers in those particular categories.

Ole Miss, meanwhile, has shown vulnerability on the road. The Rebels average just 67.1 points per game on the road while allowing 68.5, a noticeable dip from their season averages.

That contrast underscores the challenge ahead: Ole Miss will need its most poised, disciplined, and mistake-free performance of the season to overcome both the Plitzuweit’s Golden Gophers and the hostility of a road crowd with a Sweet 16 appearance on the line.

But, as referenced earlier, McPhee-McCuin is no stranger to winning on the road in the NCAA tournament. She’s done it twice in the last three years, after all.

Star Power vs. Depth

For Ole Miss, the focal point remains Cotie McMahon, whose 19.7 points per game rank third among SEC players. Her ability to create offense, both for herself and others, will be critical in a hostile setting.

Minnesota counters not just with a single star, but rather with one of the deepest rosters in the nation. The Golden Gophers feature five players averaging 11 or more points per game, a balance that has made defensive game planning a headache for opponents all season.

Ole Miss Trending Up

Despite the infamous late-season slump that saw Ole Miss lose six of its final eight regular-season games, the Rebels enter the round of 32 having won three of their last four, including their NCAA Tournament opener and an absolute beatdown of one of the nation’s best teams in No. 2 Vanderbilt in the SEC Tournament quarterfinal.

Additionally, the Rebels welcomed back starting guard Sira Thienou from injury on Friday, where she contributed 12 points and 8 rebounds against the Bulldogs, immediately reinforcing her importance on both ends of the floor and how strongly her absence was felt in the regular season’s final weeks.

Her presence adds a critical layer of athleticism and versatility—two components Ole Miss will need in abundance.

With a win, the McPhee-McCuin and company will keep the ball rolling in their continuing efforts to raise the prestige and expectations of Ole Miss women’s basketball in a quest that both McPhee-McCuin and the Rebel faithful hope will eventually culminate in a national championship.

For Minnesota, a win would send them to the Sweet 16 for the first time since the 2004-05 season, more than twenty years ago. Either way, neither team will be ready for their season to come to an end Sunday evening.

The Bottom Line

This matchup presents a classic March contrast: a battle-tested road team with star power against a disciplined, deep team thriving on its home court.

For Ole Miss, the formula is clear but requires discipline and focus—limit turnovers, control tempo, and withstand early momentum in a hostile environment. Do so, and the sky is the limit on Sunday afternoon.

Anything less and Minnesota’s balance and efficiency—especially in Minneapolis—could prove too much to overcome.

Game information

Ole Miss takes on Minnesota at 1:00 p.m. CST on Sunday, March 22, on ESPN.