Ole Miss Basketball Could Be Facing Make-or-Break Year in the Upcoming Season

Two seasons ago, the Ole Miss Rebels finished 24-12 and made it all the way to the Sweet 16 of the 2024 NCAA Tournament. 2025 was a different story.

The Rebels took two steps back this past season. Chris Beard’s squad would need a miracle run in the SEC Tournament to make the Big Dance, and they almost did. The Rebels were defeated by the eventual SEC Tournament champions, the Arkansas Razorbacks, in the tournament semifinals.

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This season must be different for the program. Coach Beard has revamped the roster, but will it be enough to make the Rebels a threat in the SEC?

A Long Road Ahead

Mississippi coach Chris Beard watches his team face Alabama during the second half of a SEC tournament quarterfinal game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, March 13, 2026. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

It’s not just preseason rankings time for football. Recently, Jeff Goodman of The Field of 68 released his SEC power rankings as teams prepare for the season.

Goodman believes the Rebels are far from the top of the conference, as he has put them at 10th on the list.

Ahead of the Rebels are the Missouri Tigers, LSU Tigers, Vanderbilt Commodores, Alabama Crimson Tide, Kentucky Wildcats, Arkansas Razorbacks, Tennessee Volunteers, Texas Longhorns, and Florida Gators.

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The Florida Gators have been the cream of the crop in the SEC for the last two seasons. The Gators have won the SEC regular season title in back-to-back years. If the Rebels plan on getting to that level, it’s going to take a monster offseason.

Coming With Experience

Mar 11, 2026; Nashville, TN, USA; Mississippi Rebels guard AJ Storr (2) drives to the basket past Texas Longhorns forward Dailyn Swain (3) during the second half at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

If there is one thing that can be taken from the nightmare of a 2025 season it’s that the Rebels showed heart in the SEC Tournament.

The tournament performance was led by…

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Publish date : 2026-07-15 14:30:00

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