Vassallo: Rebels Accomplish Mission to Make March Madness

Photo by Joshua McCoy of Ole Miss Athletics

When a new basketball season begins, there is only one goal and objective: an invitation to the elite NCAA tournament in mid-March.

As baseball is Omaha and football is a major bowl, the basketball Rebels have once again brought a successful conclusion to a wild journey!

This could very well have been Andy Kennedy’s best year of coaching ever. After leaving the Charleston Southern game way back when, I would have given anyone a thousand to one odds that this team would not be seeing any postseason action. Was I ever wrong!

Coach took charge and began weaving the pieces together that would blossom into a cohesive unit that defeated Florida twice; actually defeated Kentucky although the score will never reflect it; and played Arkansas to a draw with a win on the road.

Regardless of what happens tomorrow in Dayton versus BYU, this team has made us all proud to be a Rebel. I know I am. What we all have to remember is that athletic competition is just another form of entertainment. And if we have been entertained, the season’s journey was a Broadway Hit.

Congratulations are in order to AK, his staff, and, most importantly, to his team of road warriors as they overcame significant odds in taking Ole Miss down a road seldom traveled: the avenue that leads to the NCAA Tournament.

Steve Vassallo is a HottyToddy.com contributor. Steve writes on Ole Miss athletics, Oxford business, politics and other subjects. He is an Ole Miss grad and former radio announcer for the basketball team. In addition, he is a certified economic and community developer and currently, a highly successful leader in the real estate business with Premier Properties of Oxford.You can contact Steve at sovassallo@gmail.com or call him at (985) 852-7745.