Bracketology 2021: Creighton, Loyola-Chicago, Arkansas among big winners
By Joey Loose
Mississippi
Conferences like the Big Ten, Big 12, and ACC have been full of successful programs in recent years. The depth of these leagues (though the ACC is down this year) has been great, and slightly better than the other power conferences. The recent success of a few non-Kentucky teams has shown that the SEC may not be too far behind. We’ve already seen Arkansas and LSU sustaining success, but they are not alone.
Mississippi got their big win on Wednesday, overpowering #10 Missouri in a 21-point win at home. They followed up that success with a solid win at South Carolina on Saturday, powered by a 31-point effort from Devontae Shuler.
The Rebels ran their record to 12-8, improving to 7-6 in the SEC. Just two weeks ago they were 3-6, but a pair of ranked wins has helped turn the tide for Ole Miss. This team survived a stretch where they won just two of eight games in December and January, but are certainly playing their best basketball as the calendar spins towards March.
Even with these recent wins, there’s still plenty of work as the Rebels get back on the bubble. They have a return trip to Missouri in a few weeks and a sweep of the Tigers would go a long way to securing their case. The SEC is a great league in recent years, but it might take one or two more big wins to make Rebels fans feel safe about their chances.