The stakes continue to rise for Coach Yo and the No. 17 Ole Miss Rebels. Today, they hit the road to Columbia for a crucial matchup against the No. 3 South Carolina Gamecocks. This game marks the final stop of a challenging four-game gauntlet against ranked opponents for Ole Miss.
A Historic Rivalry
This showdown is particularly significant as it represents the 50th meeting between these two programs, with South Carolina leading the all-time series at 32-17. The Gamecocks have been especially dominant at home in Columbia, boasting a record of 16-4 when hosting Ole Miss. The last time the Rebels pulled off an upset on South Carolina’s home court was back in 2009—a statistic that adds extra motivation for today’s game.
Setting the Stage
South Carolina
The Gamecocks come into this matchup riding high on a seven-game win streak after defeating Alabama decisively with a score of 76-57 in their last outing. Joyce Edwards showcased her elite skills by leading her team with an impressive performance—23 points, 12 rebounds, and three steals—while Madina Okot contributed significantly with 16 points and 16 rebounds.
Ole Miss
In contrast, Ole Miss is looking to bounce back from a tough loss against LSU, where they fell short at 78-70. Cotie McMahon stood out despite the defeat, scoring a remarkable 25 points to lead her team. Additionally, frontcourt players Christeen Iwuala and Latasha Lattimore provided solid support with contributions of 13 and 12 points respectively while each grabbing eight rebounds.
The Head-to-Head Snapshot
South Carolina has been a powerhouse this season, outscoring opponents by an astounding average of 31.1 points per game, ranking them third in college basketball with 87.4 points per game scored while only allowing 56.3 points, placing them sixteenth nationally.
On the other hand, Ole Miss has also shown offensive prowess by averaging 77.2 points per game, which ranks them twenty-ninth overall, while limiting opponents to 59.4 points, giving them a respectable ranking of sixty-first in college basketball.
Individually, Edwards leads South Carolina with an impressive average of 20.1 points per game, positioning her eighteenth nationally among scorers; meanwhile, McMahon leads Ole Miss with 20.7 points per game, placing him sixteenth in college basketball.
Where to Watch
Fans can catch all the action live on ESPN today at 11 AM CT from Colonial Life Arena in Columbia:
- Television: ESPN
- Play-by-Play: Beth Mowins
- Color Commentary: Debbie Antonelli
- Pregame Show: College GameDay starting at 10 AM CT
For those wanting to listen via radio:
- Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network
- Play-by-Play Announcer: Graham Doty
The Odds Are Against Them
Despite having talented players and showing flashes of brilliance throughout their season, analytics heavily favor South Carolina in this matchup—giving them an overwhelming 92.9% chance of victory compared to just 7.1% for Ole Miss, according to ESPN’s metrics.
However, every game presents an opportunity for surprises and upsets in college basketball—especially when stakes are high like they are today for both teams as they look toward improving their standings heading into postseason play.
Can Coach Yo’s Rebels muster enough momentum on enemy territory? An upset would not only bolster their SEC tournament seeding but also enhance their NCAA tournament resume significantly.