Mississippi’s Season Is Done. Coach Yo Says the Rebels are Just Warming Up.

It had been five days since the eighth-seeded Rebels, for years an N.C.A.A. also-ran until Coach Yo recently turned the tide, took to Stanford’s home court and conjured a stunning upset of the Cardinal, a top seed with three national championships, including the title two seasons ago.

Five days, and a whole other world.

In terms of pedigree, of course, Louisville can’t match Stanford. But its 21st-century N.C.A.A. tournament record is stellar, nonetheless. Two runner-up finishes. Four Final Fours. A dozen trips to the round of 16. The kind of consistent winning that, for now, Coach Yo can only aspire to.

“Step by step,” she said, speaking to me as we walked down a hallway at Climate Pledge Arena after the loss. She didn’t seem downcast. Only determined. After a few interviews, she was getting to know me and knew I was a pretty fair tennis player. “How long did it take you to get that backhand?” she asked, mimicking the stroke as she smiled. “It’s like that.”

She was sure her team would get there soon enough.

In a March full of upsets and emergent coaching stars — take a bow Jerome Tang, leader of the Kansas State men — Coach Yo emerged as one of the most captivating.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/25/sports/ncaabasketball/mississippi-coach-yo.html