Ole Miss in Running to Host NCAA Tournament Games for First Time in 34 Years

Despite loss to LSU, Rebels still have chance to earn top-4 seed and host first two rounds of March Madness

Published on Mar. 1, 2026

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Ole Miss women's basketball team was close to upsetting LSU on Thursday, but a tough fourth quarter led to a 78-70 loss. Despite the setback, the Rebels are still firmly in contention for a top-4 seed in the NCAA Tournament, which would allow them to host the first two rounds for the first time since 1992.

Why it matters

Hosting NCAA Tournament games is a major milestone for the Ole Miss program, which has reached the Sweet 16 twice in the past three seasons but had to play on the road. Being able to host would provide a huge home-court advantage and be a significant accomplishment for the team and community.

The details

Ole Miss currently sits at No. 18 in the NET rankings and is projected as a No. 5 seed by CBS Sports. The Rebels have a chance to boost their resume with a game against No. 3 South Carolina this weekend. Even with the loss to LSU, Ole Miss is still in good position to earn a top-4 seed and host the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 34 years.

  • On Thursday, February 20, 2026, Ole Miss lost 78-70 to LSU.
  • Last weekend, the NCAA made an early reveal of the current top 16 seeds, with Ole Miss coming in at No. 15.

The players

Yolett McPhee-McCuin

The head coach of the Ole Miss women's basketball team.

Shea Ralph

The head coach of the Vanderbilt women's basketball team, whose program is also in contention to host NCAA Tournament games for the first time since 2009.

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What they’re saying

“If we've won it would have really helped us, but it doesn't hurt us. ...I am confident that this week is going to prepare us for something even greater in March. And I am not talking about the SEC Tournament, I'm talking about March Madness.”

— Yolett McPhee-McCuin, Head Coach, Ole Miss Women's Basketball (cbssports.com)

What’s next

Ole Miss has a crucial game against No. 3 South Carolina this weekend, which could provide a major boost to their NCAA Tournament resume if they can pull off the upset.

The takeaway

Despite the tough loss to LSU, Ole Miss remains in excellent position to host NCAA Tournament games for the first time in over three decades, a significant milestone for the program that would provide a huge home-court advantage in March Madness.