Tuesday night was memorable for the state of Mississippi as Ole Miss and Mississippi State met on the hardwood in one of the biggest basketball games in recent memories as the Bulldogs and Rebels are on track for a record year. Attendance records shattered as fans from across the state found their way inside the Sandy and John Black Pavillion to watch the state schools battle for bragging rights and Southeastern Conference hierarchy. Ole Miss and Mississippi State delivered an instant classic, putting the state on the map for the night.

All across the country, fans and media alike took notice of the electric environment on Tuesday night and credited the game for being an instant classic. Those same people were talking about just how far Mississippi has come in two years in the eyes of the college basketball world.

From my perspective of being in the arena on Tuesday night, round one between Mississippi State and Ole Miss was the showcase for the rest of the world to see what people in Mississippi have been saying for years. Given the right coaches and fan support, the return on years of investment will come back in the form of an exciting basketball rivalry with national implications, much like Alabama and Auburn have every season.

Although not yet on the level of Alabama and Auburn, Mississippi State and Ole Miss are at the door, eager to knock down that door to take basketball in Mississippi to heights never seen before. When Chris Beard and Chris Jans took over as Head Coach at their respective schools, basketball changed. Ole Miss and Mississippi State bought into different visions, sold out games, and bought into the future.

Tuesday night was a special night for the state of Mississippi. It might not seem possible now, but in five years, people will look back on Tuesday night as the night Mississippi State and Ole Miss came together as one state to take the next step in becoming an everything state. Sooner rather than later, Mississippi State will return to the Final Four, and Ole Miss will have their chances to make a first-ever trip to the Final Four and even win a National Championship.