MILWAUKEE – With swagger, style, and a statement win, Ole Miss punched its ticket to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2001. The sixth-seeded Rebels took down No. 3 Iowa State in a commanding 91-78 victory at Fiserv Forum on Sunday night, adding their name to the record books in the process.
SEC Powerhouse
Ole Miss became the seventh SEC team to reach the Sweet 16, breaking the previous record set by the ACC in 2016. Guard Matthew Murrell, who scored 15 points in the win, celebrated in the locker room with sunglasses on, embodying the team’s confidence.
“It shows the SEC—if it wasn’t the best, it’s one of the best conferences of all time,” Murrell said. “You can say what you want, but when seven teams make the Sweet 16, that’s something special.”
The Rebels, despite being the lowest-seeded SEC squad left standing, left no doubt. They led by as many as 26 points and recorded the largest NCAA tournament win in program history.
A Championship Mentality
Second-year head coach Chris Beard has set high expectations for his squad, believing anything is possible in March Madness.
“We want to go in the tournament, we want to have a good seed. We want to be one of those teams that has a chance to win the tournament,” Beard said. “Is Ole Miss winning the tournament probable? No. Possible? Absolutely.”
Beard revealed that his team has been watching a documentary on NC State’s 1983 national championship run, where the Wolfpack—also a No. 6 seed—shocked the world under legendary coach Jim Valvano.
“The players keep asking, ‘When are we going to finish this?’” Beard said. “And I tell them, ‘Sunday night, right before the [Monday] national championship game.’”
What’s Next?
Ole Miss now turns its focus to the Sweet 16, with momentum and confidence on their side. Can the Rebels keep the magic alive?
Drop your predictions in the comments!
