The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

SHORTLY after the Ole Miss Rebels learned of their seeding in the Women’s National Invitational Tournament, the programme announced it would be without its leader after head coach Yolett McPhee-McCuin tested positive for COVID-19.

“If awful timing was a thing, this would be it! Nevertheless we go forward and I am excited about the opportunity this programme has earned,” she posted to Twitter on Tuesday night.

Per CDC guidelines, Coach Yo is isolating at home and will miss at least the first few games of the upcoming WNIT. Ole Miss is slated to open play in the WNIT this Friday March 19 against Samford in the Memphis Regional at Collierville High School in Memphis, Tennessee. Tipoff is set for 6pm local time. “It is with great regret that I have to announce that this past weekend I tested positive for COVID-19,” McPhee-McCuin said in an official statement.

“My coaches and players are primed and ready to play, and it is my hope that I can rejoin them once I complete my protocol. Let’s continue to support our young women as we are blessed to compete in the postseason!”

A field of 32 teams will participate in the postseason WNIT. This year’s event will start with eight teams each at four regional sites — Charlotte, North Carolina; Fort Worth, Texas; Memphis, Tennessee; and Rockford, Illinois.

First-round play is scheduled to begin on Friday, March 19; Round 2 is March 20, and Round 3 is March 22.

The four regional champions will advance to the Memphis site, with the semifinals tipping off March 26 and the championship game set for March 28.

All games will be available via streaming through FloHoops.

The Rebels finished the regular season with a record of 11-11, 4-10 in a highly competitive SEC and advanced to the first SEC Quarterfinal since 2004.

Their résumé included three wins against ranked teams and four Top-50 NET wins. It was the first time the Rebels advanced to the SEC Quarterfinals since the 2003-04 season.

“Although we didn’t get into the 64 I am still super proud of my squad. After not winning a conference game last year to beating some of the teams mentioned tonight shows our trajectory. I’m wishing the SEC teams best of luck. We have the best league in the Country!,” McPhee McCuin said on Twitter.

“Our goal now will be to win the NIT! Postseason is incredible for our young squad and I’m encouraged to know that every team that has done well in the NIT has gone dancing the following year! Can’t skip steps y’all! We will represent!”

Ole Miss recently signed McPhee-McCuin to a new four-year contract extension that runs through 2025.