Ole Miss basketball opponent tracker: Wrapping up the non-conference schedule

In this weekly feature, we’ll look at the previous opponents of the Ole Miss Rebels basketball team for the 2018-2019 season to see how they are trending, in an effort to track the quality of wins the Rebels are compiling.

The Ole Miss Rebels have two games left in non-conference play against sub-.500 opponents before Southeastern Conference play begins.

Another win last weekend put the Rebels’ winning streak at five and the overall record at 8-2, but while Ole Miss was busy dispatching Chattanooga, the Rebels’ previous opponents were doing work helping or hurting the resume.

So let’s take a look at the two Ole Miss losses first to see how the neutral court loss to Cincinnati and the true road loss to Butler are holding up.

Cincinnati Bearcats (10-2); KenPom: 23

Notable wins: 71-57 vs. Ole Miss (KP: 58); 93-64 vs. UCLA (KP: 59)
Worst loss: 64-56 vs. Ohio State (KP: 25)

Upcoming games: South Carolina State, Tulane

Butler Bulldogs (8-3); KenPom: 32

Notable win: 61-54 vs. Florida (KP: 29)
Worst loss: 69-64 vs. Dayton (KP: 87)

Upcoming games: Cal-Irvine, @ Florida

A buzzer beater finale against No. 25 Indiana did not go in Butler’s favor — a brutal, tempting, oh-so-close loss that would’ve been a marquee win for the Bulldogs. Butler disposed of Presbyterian soon after and hosts UC-Irvine this weekend.

Cincinnati took an 11-point loss to No. 18 Mississippi State in Starkville last weekend but then blew the doors off UCLA in midweek play to right itself in KenPom rankings. The Bearcats’ only two losses are to top 25 KenPom ranked teams, making the Rebels’ loss to them somewhat of a positive.

And now for the teams Ole Miss has beaten.

San Diego Toreros (9-3); KenPom: 80

Notable win: 70-64 vs Colorado (KP: 61)
Worst loss: 93-86 vs Ole Miss (KP: 58)

Upcoming games: Washington State

Baylor Bears (6-4); KP: 71

Notable win: 58-49 vs Arizona (KP: 48)
Worst loss: 72-69 vs Texas Southern (KP: 231)

Upcoming games: Oregon

Illinois St. Redbirds (7-5); KP: 157

Notable win: 92-89 vs BYU (KP: 69 - nice)
Worst loss: 94-75 vs UIC (KP: 192)

Upcoming games: @ Central Florida

Western Michigan Broncos (5-6); KP: 206

Notable win: 85-77 vs Oakland (KP: 236)
Worst loss: 71-66 vs USC Upstate (KP: 328)

Upcoming games: Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Nicholls St. Colonels (5-6); KP: 283

Notable win: 62-61 vs Western Michigan (KP: 206)
Worst loss: 75-63 vs Boston U. (KP: 194)

Upcoming games: Mobile

Louisiana Monroe (6-4); KP: 178

Notable win: 74-58 vs Stephen F. Austin (KP: 171)
Worst loss: 79-73 vs Tennessee Tech (KP: 329)

Upcoming games: Coppin State, LSU

Southeastern Louisiana (4-7); KP: 313

Notable win: 62-61 vs Tulane (KP:217)
Worst loss: 69-58 vs Miss. Valley St. (KP: 351)

Upcoming games: Bradley

Chattanooga Mocs (5-8); KP: 308

Notable win: 80-69 vs Charlotte (KP: 306)
Worst loss: 75-72 vs Tennessee Martin (KP: 298)

Upcoming games: Bryan

The Rebels’ climb to No. 58 in KenPom rankings from No. 60 last week had little to do with holding serve against Chattanooga, and more with Cincinnati climbing into the top 25 while these other teams for the most part tread water at least statistically.

San Diego and Baylor continue to hold up as decent wins, while the rest of the conquered foes are either holding steady or slightly improving week over week. UL-Monroe had the best week with a win over KP 171 Stephen F. Austin, included in a 2-0 record since our last report.

Up next for the Rebels comes KP 254 Middle Tennessee State in Nashville and next week a December finale against KP 221 Florida Gulf Coast. After that, KP 56 Vanderbilt and KP 13 Auburn start SEC play — by far the toughest two game stretch this season for Ole Miss.