In the world of college basketball, matchups like Ole Miss vs. Southern Jaguars tend to be billed as routine midseason games. On paper, the Rebels, playing in the powerful Southeastern Conference (SEC), should be overwhelming favorites against Southern, a team from the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) that is typically overlooked by the larger basketball world. But the question lingers: Is this really a game worth watching, or is it just another example of the growing problems with college basketball scheduling?
The Unspoken Truth About “Cupcake” Games
Let’s get one thing clear: games like Ole Miss hosting Southern are more about padding records than true competition. These types of matchups, often referred to as “cupcake games,” dominate early-season college basketball schedules. While Ole Miss may come out with a dominant win, the result rarely tells us anything meaningful about their chances in the SEC or their national standing.
Southern will undoubtedly provide little resistance in Oxford, and unless Ole Miss is truly underperforming, this game should be a blowout. The troubling question is: why does this game even exist?
While some argue these games help lower-tier teams like Southern make revenue and provide opportunities to showcase their talent, they often serve to artificially inflate the records of power-conference teams. The real issue, however, is that they don’t help the fans or the players.
So, why should you watch this game?
- To Recognize the Power Imbalance
Watching this game isn’t just about basketball. It’s an opportunity to observe the gulf between the haves and the have-nots in college athletics. Ole Miss is operating with a budget, facilities, and recruiting reach that dwarf Southern’s. This game is a stark reminder of how the NCAA system creates an unequal playing field. For every five-star recruit wearing Ole Miss red, there’s a Southern Jaguar player scraping for limited resources in a system that offers little support or compensation. - To See If Ole Miss Can Actually Keep It Competitive
Sure, they should win easily, but don’t expect an absolute blowout. Sometimes these “cupcake” games expose flaws in teams that aren’t fully focused. If Ole Miss lets Southern stay competitive for a half or even falters, it might indicate a lack of discipline and preparation from the Rebels. Conversely, if they obliterate the Jaguars, it’ll prove nothing — we already know they’re supposed to win by 20+. - The Spectacle of Money Over Competition
College basketball is, at its core, a business, and games like these are often designed for profit, not competitive balance. Ole Miss gets to fill up the Pavilion, attract viewers, and drive up revenue, but at what cost? The product on the court suffers because these mismatches don’t add anything valuable to the conversation about who’s actually good. These non-conference games are increasingly coming under scrutiny as the NCAA continues to rake in television deals and sponsorship money, all while leaving small programs like Southern with little hope of fair competition. - The Lost Potential of College Hoops
One of the most controversial aspects of modern college basketball is how the system prioritizes money, ranking systems, and TV ratings over true competition. The “power conferences” benefit from their status, while mid-major and smaller schools rarely get a shot at competing on an equal footing. The real question is: does a game like Ole Miss vs. Southern really deserve to be a part of the season? Or should we be pushing for a college basketball system where more equitable and interesting matchups happen, where small programs aren’t merely there to take the beating and provide revenue for the big programs?
The Bottom Line: Watch, But Know Why
If you’re planning to watch Ole Miss take on Southern, don’t just tune in to see who wins — ask yourself why the game is being played in the first place. There are real flaws in the college basketball system that these kinds of games only reinforce. If you’re willing to engage critically with what’s happening on the court, you might see beyond the points on the scoreboard to the broader issues affecting the sport.
So, go ahead and watch — just don’t expect it to reveal anything groundbreaking about either team. Instead, use it as a lens to reflect on the state of college hoops, the disparity in college athletics, and how we might make the sport more competitive and meaningful for everyone involved.