Ole Miss basketball dominated Kentucky on Tuesday night, beating the Wildcats 98-84. The Rebels used a 23-point halftime lead to down the Wildcats, as Kentucky was never able to close the gap in the second half.

Ole Miss beat Kentucky on Tuesday night in the first 20 minutes of the game. That was the ball game. Despite a second-half performance that saw the Wildcats drop 53 points while shooting 63 percent from the field and 45.

Here's where Chris Beard's Ole Miss basketball team stands in the latest NCAA tournament bracket predictions after a loss to No. 1 Auburn

After Auburn's 92-82 win this weekend, head coach Bruce Pearl was made available to the media where he was asked if he saw any similarities between what Rebels head coach Chris Beard is building in Oxford and what Pearl has built in Auburn. Pearl's first word was "absolutely."

Ole Miss basketball coach Chris Beard learned that this Rebels are close to beating the nation's best. He plans to get them there for March.

The Rebels picked up a 72-69 win against Texas to start last week. Senior guard Davon Barnes hit big free throws down the stretch to lift the Rebels to a late win. That win ended Ole Miss' three-game slide, but the Rebels failed to the win on Saturday. Ole Miss lost 92-82 to No. 1 Auburn. Despite the loss, Beard was optimistic after the game.

Texas coach Rodney Terry, Chris Beard's former lead assistant at UT, says the Ole Miss coach remains one of "my really close friends in the business."

Ole Miss basketball almost accomplished something coach Chris Beard has chased his entire career. Assists and turnovers powered the Rebels vs Kentucky