The Watch: Ole Miss is defying expectations

Jim Brown-USA TODAY SportsI’ve put off asking this question until we tipped off SEC play, but I won’t hold my tongue anymore: Is Ole Miss experiencing a dead-cat bounce?

In stock market jargon, it’s a color term for the temporary recovery in share prices after a substantial drop-off. On the hardwood, the Rebels certainly plummeted last season. Sitting at 10-9 and .500 in the SEC, they lost 10 of their remaining 11 games — you all know who they beat — a saw coach Andy Kennedy step aside.

Now, a mere nine months after luring Kermit Davis away from Middle Tennessee, Ole Miss is projected to just miss the cut for the NCAA tournament. That’s a substantially better prognosis than we gave the Rebs…