📍 Oxford, Mississippi
🏀 Home of Ole Miss Rebels basketball

Named for its counterpart in England – which is also known for being home to an esteemed university – Oxford, Mississippi is a quaint college town of about 25,000, located in the northern part of the Magnolia State. The town swells in size when fans from all over the Deep South flock to football or basketball games at the University of Mississippi, colloquially known as Ole Miss. Basketball is particularly engrained in the fabric of the Oxford community, with the Rebels taking to the floor all throughout winter at the Sandy and John Black Pavilion.

For 50 years, the Rebels had previously played at Tad Smith Coliseum, a Neoprene-covered arena affectionately known as the “Tad Pad.” The men and women both departed the aging venue in 2016, moving just down the road to the new SJB Pavilion, which seats 9,500.

The Pavilion features a grand concourse in the upper level that has sweeping views of the court and is broadsided by large windows that diffuse and filter harsh daylight during afternoon games. The lower concourse’s main entryway doubles as a student hangout and food court, with Steak & Shake and Raising Cane’s among the offerings. This area is also open to the public throughout the day when games aren’t happening.

The Ole Miss men have played in the NCAA Tournament a total of nine times, with more than half of their appearances coming since the turn of the century. In 2001, the Rebels had their most postseason success and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen, where they would lose to Arizona. The women’s team has enjoyed even more prosperity, fighting their way into 5 Elite Eights in the 19 tournaments of which they’ve been a part. Van Chancellor was perhaps the most transformational figure for the women’s basketball program, helping guide the Rebels to 14 tournament appearances. Lining the concourse at the Pavilion are photos and informational plaques highlighting these appearances and other important moments in Ole Miss men’s and women’s basketball history.

With famous fans such as Morgan Freeman, a die-hard Rebel who comes out to a couple games each season, Ole Miss men’s basketball is a budding program with a promising future. The women have an equally bright road ahead of them as they build on their past achievements. And for hopefully decades to come, both squads will be rocking crowds at the slick SJB Pavilion.