Ole Miss men’s and women’s basketball have learned their respective opponents for the 2024-25 SEC/ACC Challenge.
ESPN made the announcements on Wednesday. Chris Beard’s crew drew a trip to Louisville on December 3, while Yolett McPhee-McCuin and Co. will head to NC State December 5. Tipoff times and TV designations will be announced at a later date.
The men officially finalized their roster this week. Fifth-year senior guard Matthew Murrell is one of six returners from last season. The Rebels won 20 games for the first time since 2018-19 — the last year they reached the NCAA Tournament. Ole Miss again missed the postseason, however, despite racing out to a 13-0 start.
Joining Murrell is forward Jaemyn Brakefield, who’s entering his fourth Ole Miss season, as well as guards TJ Caldwell, Robert Cowherd, Jaylen Murray and Cam Brent. Ole Miss also brought in six transfers — in a portal class ranked No. 14 in the nation by On3.
Three freshmen (John Bol, Eduardo Klafke and Zach Day) and a preferred walk-on (Max Smith) round out the rest of the bench.
“We tried to improve our skill level,” second-year Ole MIss head coach Chris Beard said. Beard had his contract extended in the off-season. “I think we did.”
Louisville hired Pat Kelsey in March as its new head coach.
Kelsey won nearly 70 percent of his games over 12 seasons at College of Charleston and Winthrop.
The Cardinals, meanwhile, managed just eight games last season. Ole Miss and Louisville will face off for the fourth time in history. The last meeting came in 2008 — a 77-68 Louisville win in Oxford. The teams have played twice in Louisville.
Ole Miss had a 20-point victory over NC State in last year’s challenge. The Wolfpack went on to make a run to the Final Four in the NCAA Tournament.
“(Ole Miss) looks like a team, to me, that should be ranked in the Top 20,” Rob Dauster of Field of 68 said recently of the Rebels. “You can squint your eyes (and) it looks like a 5-seed in the NCAA Tournament.”
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The Rebel and Wolfpack women are in for their fifth all-time showdown and first since 2008.
NC State holds a 3-1 advantage in the series. Ole Miss’ only win came all the way back in the Sweet 16 of the 1989 NCAA Tournament.
McPhee-McCuin is entering her seventh season as head coach. Ole Miss has been to three consecutive NCAA Tournaments.
Eight Rebels are returning, including starters Madison Scott and Kennedy Todd-Williams. Scott was first-team All-SEC and All-Defense. The Rebels have five newcomers as well, headlined by transfers Starr Jacobs (UAPB), Christeen Iuwala (UCLA) and Tameiya Sadler (Colorado).
Michigan State guard DeeDee Hageman de-committed last week.
“Super proud of our group and grateful for this opportunity and experience,” McPhee-McCuin said after the Rebels’ NCAA Tournament loss to Notre Dame. “Just recently three, four years ago, we were 0-6 (in the SEC) and now we’ve put ourselves in a situation where we expect to go to at least a Sweet Sixteen every year.
“So, really disappointed as far as (a tournament loss is) concerned, but not disappointed with the team and what we’ve accomplished this season.”
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