The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

BOTH Ole Miss Rebels basketball programmes feature Bahamians and both will be headed to National Invitational Tournaments in their respective divisions.

Head Coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin, senior point guard Valerie Nesbitt and the Rebels’ women’s team were disappointed not to hear their name called last night as a member of the 64-team field for the NCAA Tournament on “Selection Monday,” but the focus has quickly shifted to the NIT.

“Although we didn’t get into the 64 I am still super proud of my squad. After not winning a conference game last year to beating some of the teams mentioned tonight shows our trajectory.

“I’m wishing the SEC teams best of luck. We have the best league in the Country!,” McPhee McCuin said on Twitter.

“Our goal now will be to win the NIT! Postseason is incredible for our young squad and I’m encouraged to know that every team that has done well in the NIT has gone dancing the following year! Can’t skip steps y’all! We will represent!”

The official bracket was not released up to press time last night.

A field of 32 teams will participate in the postseason WNIT. This year’s event will start with eight teams each at four regional sites — Charlotte, North Carolina; Fort Worth, Texas; Memphis, Tennessee; and Rockford, Illinois.

First-round play begins Friday, March 19, Round 2 is March 20, and Round 3 is March 22.

The four regional champions will advance to the Memphis site, with the semifinals tipping off March 26 and the championship game set for March 28.

All games will be available via streaming through FloHoops.

“It’s not a normal season, but we do have a typically strong and competitive field of teams who we know will battle intensely for the championship,” said Renee Carlson, executive director of the WNIT.

Ole Miss recently signed McPhee-McCuin to a new four-year contract extension that runs through 2025.

The Rebels finished the regular season with a record of 11-11, 4-10 in a highly competitive SEC and advanced to the first SEC Quarterfinal since 2004.

Their résumé includes three wins against ranked teams and four Top-50 NET wins. It was the first time the Rebels advanced to the SEC Quarterfinals since the 2003-04 season.

Sophomore forward Sammy Hunter and the Rebels’ men’s programme will also participate in the NIT.

The Rebels are listed as a No. 1 seed in this year’s tournament, its 13th NIT appearance in school history.

The Rebels will face Louisiana Tech at Comerica Center in Frisco, Texas (March 19). Tipoff is set for 9pm local time on ESPN2. The winner of that matchup will advance to the quarterfinals (March 25) to play the winner between No. 2 seed Saint Mary’s and No. 3 seed Western Kentucky.

Ole Miss finished the regular season 16-11 and have won eight of the last 11 games.

The 2021 NIT will feature 16 teams with all games being played in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.