My brother and I spent the majority of Saturday weighing the pros & cons of driving to Milwaukee. Every time I got close to deciding against it, something pulled me back in. Neither of us had been to an NCAA Tournament game, and we wanted to to experience it in person. I was 4 in 2001, and my brother wasn’t born yet. The idea of witnessing Ole Miss second ever sweet 16 berth in-person was too ‘sweet’ to turn down. So we got in the car early Sunday Morning and drove to Milwaukee.
Here are a few of my favorite moments from the experience:
1. Upon arrival, we went straight to a bar across from Fiserv Forum. We lucked into meeting a few RebelGrove legends, as well as Grove Collective admin. I was told by people who would know that Beard was incredibly confident in the team and loved the matchup. That obviously instilled confidence, as well as a few shots.
2. It’s beautiful arena, and the tournament provides for a unique atmosphere. It was quickly evident that Ole Miss fans outnumbered, but as @SouthSippiReb said, our section set the tone early and didn’t relent the entire game. Iowa state fans were tame while we stood and chanted the whole time. I’ve witnessed a lot of basketball the past two years, and to see the fanbase become more basketball savvy in person has been really encouraging. If we bring the same energy to Atlanta with an increase in number of fans, it’s going to be tough for Michigan State.
3. I sat in front of Brandon Hill, who is student that Jaemyn Brakefield took under his wing. He’s a really good kid and the story is just incredible. When Jaemyn hit his first 3 to get us going, we were all going absolutely wild. You could tell how proud Brandon was, and how much he looks up to Brake. Getting to share that joy was really cool.
4. The game itself was a masterclass by Chris Beard and the team. Early on, Iowa state’s size was giving us issues, but Dia hit a big 3 and it felt like the entire tenor changed. Watching us play defense up close gives perspective on just how difficult it is to run offense. Iowa state was in hell for 36 minutes and couldn’t get into a rhythm. Shoutout to Klafke and Barnes who played elite defense and provided great depth. Offensively, when Dia is hitting step back 3’s and Murrell has some confidence, this team is just so hard to beat.
5. A Sweet 16 in Atlanta is the stuff of Ole Miss basketball fantasy, yet here we are. I don’t know whether this season will end in Atlanta or San Antonio, but I will not count out this team. All I need to see is legendary coach Tom Izzo’s reaction to hearing he would be facing Chris Beard to know that we have a real shot. If you can get to Atlanta, do it. This team playing with a rowdy fanbase cheering behind them? Thats dangerous. I will remember this trip to Milwaukee for the rest of my life as I witnessed what could be a permanent shift in Ole Miss basketball.
Here are a few of my favorite moments from the experience:
1. Upon arrival, we went straight to a bar across from Fiserv Forum. We lucked into meeting a few RebelGrove legends, as well as Grove Collective admin. I was told by people who would know that Beard was incredibly confident in the team and loved the matchup. That obviously instilled confidence, as well as a few shots.
2. It’s beautiful arena, and the tournament provides for a unique atmosphere. It was quickly evident that Ole Miss fans outnumbered, but as @SouthSippiReb said, our section set the tone early and didn’t relent the entire game. Iowa state fans were tame while we stood and chanted the whole time. I’ve witnessed a lot of basketball the past two years, and to see the fanbase become more basketball savvy in person has been really encouraging. If we bring the same energy to Atlanta with an increase in number of fans, it’s going to be tough for Michigan State.
3. I sat in front of Brandon Hill, who is student that Jaemyn Brakefield took under his wing. He’s a really good kid and the story is just incredible. When Jaemyn hit his first 3 to get us going, we were all going absolutely wild. You could tell how proud Brandon was, and how much he looks up to Brake. Getting to share that joy was really cool.
4. The game itself was a masterclass by Chris Beard and the team. Early on, Iowa state’s size was giving us issues, but Dia hit a big 3 and it felt like the entire tenor changed. Watching us play defense up close gives perspective on just how difficult it is to run offense. Iowa state was in hell for 36 minutes and couldn’t get into a rhythm. Shoutout to Klafke and Barnes who played elite defense and provided great depth. Offensively, when Dia is hitting step back 3’s and Murrell has some confidence, this team is just so hard to beat.
5. A Sweet 16 in Atlanta is the stuff of Ole Miss basketball fantasy, yet here we are. I don’t know whether this season will end in Atlanta or San Antonio, but I will not count out this team. All I need to see is legendary coach Tom Izzo’s reaction to hearing he would be facing Chris Beard to know that we have a real shot. If you can get to Atlanta, do it. This team playing with a rowdy fanbase cheering behind them? Thats dangerous. I will remember this trip to Milwaukee for the rest of my life as I witnessed what could be a permanent shift in Ole Miss basketball.
