It’s time for SEC basketball.

And for Rebel fans, that’s a good thing since the non-conference men’s basketball season hasn’t registered high on the enthusiasm scale so far.

It’s not from a lack of decent basketball. Andy Kennedy’s Rebels were picked ninth in the SEC in the preseason, but the team is clearly better than that. Ole Miss will win some league games this year and could sneak into the NCAA tournament.

But outside of a win over Memphis at home that delivered a spark of Ole Miss fan enthusiasm Rebel basketball hasn’t connected with fans the way baseball or football does.

Fans are less familiar with the players, who are often new and transferring in from places unknown. Also, head coach Andy Kennedy may be the longest tenured SEC basketball coach but he is a bit more matter-of-fact in his approach than say football coach Hugh Freeze.

This Ole Miss men’s basketball team isn’t half bad, though, and the team is getting better just in time for league play.

Kentucky comes to town Thursday night to get it started in an ESPN2 game. We look forward to seeing The Pavilion filled to capacity and Ole Miss fans getting into the game.