The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

YOLETT McPhee-McCuin and her Ole Miss Rebels are expected to improve in one of the most keenly contested conferences in all of NCAA Division I.

The Rebels were listed at No.6 in the SEC Preseason Coaches Poll, the highest projection in programme history since the conference began the practice in 2007-08.

Ole Miss was also picked to finish eighth in the SEC Preseason Media Poll last week, its best in that poll since 2015-16.

Associated Press No. 1 and media poll favourite South Carolina was picked to win by the coaches and was followed by No. 23 Texas A&M, No. 15 Tennessee, Georgia, and No. 13 Kentucky.

“We’re deep in a lot of positions. We have a lot of experience. I couldn’t tell you who our starting five would be today,” McPhee- McCuin said following the team’s first practice.

“They’re competing really hard. We’re excited. We’re grateful that we have 10 TV games. We have high expectations. We’ll be ready to compete. We’re excited to have fans pack the Pavilion and be able to play a high-level brand of basketball. This year is going to show that we’re going to be around for a long time.”

Last year, the Rebels finished the season 15-12, for their first winning season since 2016-17. After an 11-11 regular season, 4-10 in the SEC, they advanced to the first SEC Quarterfinal since 2004. Their résumé included three wins against ranked teams and four Top-50 NET wins. They eventually fell to Rice in the WNIT title game.

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

The Rebels will open the 2021-2022 season inside the SJB Pavilion against the Belmont Bruins on November 11.