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Ole Miss Basketball: Ranking Rebels’ 2019-20 non-conference opponents

By Donovan Darlington

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - NOVEMBER 16: Kamar Baldwin #3 of the Butler Bulldogs shoots the ball against Breein Tyree #4 of the Mississippi Rebels at Hinkle Fieldhouse on November 16, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - NOVEMBER 16: Kamar Baldwin #3 of the Butler Bulldogs shoots the ball against Breein Tyree #4 of the Mississippi Rebels at Hinkle Fieldhouse on November 16, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA – MARCH 22: The Mississippi Rebels mascot walks on the court in the first half against the Oklahoma Sooners during the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Colonial Life Arena on March 22, 2019 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA – MARCH 22: The Mississippi Rebels mascot walks on the court in the first half against the Oklahoma Sooners during the first round of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Colonial Life Arena on March 22, 2019 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

The non-conference schedule for Ole Miss Basketball is set, and the Rebels are sure to be tested against many of these opponents. Decent mid-majors, fringe tournament teams, and a squad that is predicted to be one of the nation’s best all make up this non-conference schedule.

Coming off of a trip to the NCAA Tournament, Ole Mis Basketball look to begin the season strong with the non-conference schedule. As a whole, I see that the competition the Rebels will face early in the season will help boost their confidence leading into conference play.

With that said, the non-conference schedule is far from a cakewalk. Teams such as Butler, Syracuse, and Wichita State are often regulars in the NCAA Tournament. Syracuse is the only one of the three that was in it last year, but each of these teams has the talent to get there this season.

This schedule will prove to provide insight into how good this experienced Rebels team really is. Guards Breein Tyree and Devontae Shuler are hungry to take the team to greater distances, and because of that, I expect them to come out strong to begin the season.

The non-conference half of the season will also be very revealing of how good the Ole Miss newcomers are. Highly touted freshmen Sammy Hunter and Austin Crowley, along with transfer Khadim Sy, are all guys that can come in and provide the Rebels with a boost.

The toughest game on this schedule is that with Memphis. The Tigers had the best recruiting class in the country, and analysts everywhere are exclaiming that their young talent is enough to cement them as one of the best teams in college basketball. An experienced Rebels squad against the Tigers should be fun.

Now, let’s take a look at each team on this non-conference schedule and rank them accordingly.

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