Cotie McMahon is having a historic season this year for Ole Miss as the senior will look to lead the way when No. 19 Ole Miss faces No. 18 Minnesota.
McMahon scored double digits in the first round of the NCAA Women’s Tournament against Gonzaga in a 81-66 win. It was the 33rd game this season scoring double digits to pass the legend Peggie Gillom-Granderson in that stat for most all time in one season.
The Rebels (24-11) have shown it can play and beat just about the most elite teams in the country,
and the Gophers (23-8) have home court advantage with a head coach with more than 400 career wins. This game should be an absolute battle for a spot in the Sweet Sixteen on the line.
This tournament path mirrors last season when the five seed Rebels beat four seed Baylor to advance to the Sweet Sixteen to then face one seed UCLA. Again, its the five seed Rebels against the four seed Gophers with the winner going on to face the winner of one seed UCLA or eight seed Oklahoma.
So maybe today is the end of the road for Coach Yo and a team that logged three wins against top 5 squads. Then again it could be next week against one of the best teams in the country in UCLA. Or maybe in some spark of a miracle McMahon, Latasha Lattimore and Sira Thienou (returning from injury on 2/17) can hold its form and get the Rebels closer than last season and reach the rarified air of the Elite Eight.
But first the Gophers are the odds on favorites (-4.5) to win when these two teams tip off at 1 p.m. on ESPN. Minnesota beat Green Bay in the first round by pulling away in the final quarter, but it was a much more competitive game than the final score indicates.
Minnesota has a balanced offensive attack with five players averaging more than 11 points per game. When you look for common opponents, both teams lost to Alabama and Michigan State earlier in the season, so it is hard to glean much difference there.
Based on the only one game I have watched, Minnesota should be challenged by Ole Miss’ athleticism and speed defensively that could create some opportunities for the Rebels. Minnesota only turned the ball over 11 times in its first round game, but I would expect that number to be higher based on the pressure defense Coach Yo runs. The crowd is absolutely going to be a factor as it seemed loud on TV in the first round so getting an early lead and building on it could be crucial.
Ole Miss will have to find some outside shooting if it wants to advance as well. Green Bay shot 40 percent from behind the arc going 5/16, a far cry from the Rebels 30 percent made for the season. The Gophers have only made 34 percent of its three pointers this year, but I think if it is an especially bad shooting night on the perimeter, it will be much harder for the Rebels to pull off the upset.
Finally, its tournament basketball, and this is a game Ole Miss can absolutely win. It would be the third time the program advanced to the Sweet Sixteen as a five seed if it wins and its 13th trip overall. Lock down on defense, make some outside shots and the Rebels should find itself opposite No. 1 UCLA next weekend.
