Coach Andy Kennedy and his Ole Miss basketball teams make a habit of this.

Getting just close enough each year in the win column to create long odds of making the NCAA tournament.

Earlier this season, even the hopes of NCAA consideration were dashed when the Rebels started with three wins in their first eight games of the Southeastern Conference schedule.

But something has changed midway through league play, primarily the rise of sophomore Terrance Davis and freshman Breein Tyree who have given Ole Miss some added punch and leadership.

It hasn’t exactly pushed the Rebels into contention among the league’s best, namely Kentucky and Michael White’s Florida team.

Yes, our former Rebel player White is the one who got away, and now is leading his Gators on a surge in the national polls.

But back to Andy Kennedy and Ole Miss. His squads do this routinely, good enough to make a run at 20 wins and get close to NCAA tournament consideration. This year, history is repeating itself, as the Rebels now have a 7-6 league record after last night’s win over LSU.

And that’s a good thing considering how the season began.

Now we get to see if the Rebels can get over the hump, starting with a road game at improved Arkansas on Saturday.  Here’s hoping.