Coming into the SEC Tournament, the Ole Miss Rebels needed to win a game against Florida on Wednesday to secure a Regional host spot; not only did the Rebels do that, but they went on a run to the Championship game against Vanderbilt, giving the Rebel Nation some hope for a run at the College World Series. Sure, Coach Bianco and his staff might have wanted to win the SEC Tournament, but this week was more about learning what potential this team has rather than winning the tournament. Ole Miss finished within two runs of adding a trophy to the trophy case at Swayze Field. Still, for the first time this season, this team has momentum and excitement heading into the postseason for the first time since winning the National Championship in 2022. Even then, that 2022 team lost in the first round of the SEC Tournament to Vanderbilt; this team is different. Something is brewing inside the locker room that could deliver Ole Miss back to the College World Series for an opportunity to win a National Championship.

So, let’s discuss.

First, Ole Miss has turned a corner in pitching. Everybody from Hunter Elliott on Wednesday night against Florida, Riley Maddox against Arkansas, Cade Townsend against LSU, and then Walker Hooks on Sunday in the SEC Tournament Championship game all hit their strides and delivered what Coach Bianco needed out of his pitcher. Not to mention, all the bullpen guys like Connor Spencer, Will McCausland, Gunnar Dennis, and so on came in to pitch at times this weekend and never up leads or put Ole Miss in a hole that was too much to overcome. All the while, Mason Nichols sat this weekend and rested for the Oxford Regional due to a minor setback. All four starters this weekend combined for 21 strikeouts while only giving up six runs during the week at the Hoover Met.

Second, there’s something special about this Ole Miss team. Despite falling short of winning the SEC Tournament Championship, the guys have gotten losers and are now playing solely for the front of the jersey as they try to bring postseason glory to Ole Miss.

The final takeaway from the SEC Tournament? Coach Bianco is hungry to go with the closeness of the guys; Coach Bianco seems revamped for a deep run this postseason. In press conferences, conversations, and while watching body language, Coach Bianco appears to like this team and their chances of reaching the College World Series. There’s a confidence there that Ole Miss hasn’t seen since winning the National Championship in 2022 behind Tim Elko and the Rebs getting hot.

Ole Miss will start its postseason journey on Friday as it welcomes Murray State to Swayze Field for the Oxford Regional. Other teams competing in the Oxford Regional? Conference USA Tournament Champion Western Kentucky will play Georgia Tech on Friday before the Ole Miss and Murray State game on Friday night. The Oxford Regional has a Bluegrass feel but has two exciting mid-major programs competing with a team in Georgia Tech who thought they deserved a place to host an Atlanta Regional but seemed to get snubbed as a two-seed. If Ole Miss were to get out of the Oxford Regional, the Rebels would likely travel to Athens, where they’ll face the Georgia Bulldogs in the Super Regional.