Back in September of 2015 we thought Coach Vanhoy had something special brewing in Oxford. It turns out we were just a year off as the Ole Miss men finished 4th at NCAAs upsetting top teams like Arkansas, Colorado, BYU, and Oregon. This won't be the last we see of the Rebels as they have the middle distance depth to potentially do something special on the indoor track.

NCAA indoor men's team champions have been dominated by Oregon and SEC sprint schools over the years.

Men's Indoor team champion point totals over the years:
2016 62 pts Oregon
2015 74 pts Oregon
2014 62 pts Oregon
2013 74 pts Arkansas
2012 52 pts Florida
2011 52 pts Florida
2010 57 pts Florida
2009 54 pts Oregon
2008 44 pts Arizona State
2007 40 pts Wisconsin

Recently the point totals have been high however, most of the time 50 points is the typical goal for teams eyeing a national team title. Looking at Ole Miss' mid-distance heavy 2017 indoor track roster. The Rebels might be able to pull off the unthinkable in March. Here's how…

800m (10 points)

Craig Engels (4th U.S. Olympic Trials 800m, 1:46)

Engels improved drastically as the season progressed into the summer. With his fourth place finish at the U.S. trials and the exodus of collegiate athletes in this event via graduation/going pro (Brazier, Murphy, McBride, Kidder, Walker, etc) Engels has the skill set to win this event.

Mile (12 points)

Robert Domanic (6th NCAA 1500m, 3:40)
Ryan Manahan (3:58)

Domanic is the third returner from the outdoor 1500. Ryan Manahan has run 3:58/1:47. Between these two Ole Miss should be able to score 12 points.

3,000m (6 points)

Robert Domanic (6th NCAA 1500, 7:54)
Sean Tobin (7:58)
MJ Erb (8th NCAA Steeple, 6th NCAA XC, 8:01)

With the combination of these three athletes, some fresh, some not fresh, and the expected deeper 3k field. Ole Miss on a great day could score 6 points total.

5,000m (6 points)

MJ Erb (8th NCAA Steeple, 6th NCAA XC, 14:05)

While Erb doesn't have an impressive 5K pb, his 6th place finish at NCAA XC and an 8:34 steeple pb should equate to an all-american finish in the 5k, especially if key 5k runners opt to focus on the mile, dmr, or 3k.

DMR (10 points)

Giley (3:41) -> Gutierrez -> Tobin (1:47) -> Engels (3:37)

If Edward Cheserek opts to do the 3K/5K double the DMR title is wide open. The Ole Miss men return their entire squad from their third place finish and with the emergence of Craig Engels this squad has a viable anchor to win an NCAA DMR title

WEIGHT THROW (1 point)

Dempsey McGuigan (19th 2017 Returner, 20.46m)
Kevin Conway (20th 2017 Returner, 20.43m)

With two returners in the top 20, one of these guys could have a hot hand and grab an eighth place finish.

HIGH JUMP (5 points)

Branden Greene (14th 2017 Returner, 2.19m)

Greene was 11th at the 2016 outdoors, and 2.18m was the height of the runner-up indoors. If Greene has a stellar day he could finish as high as fourth overall.

Total Points: 50

Of course, everything needs to go right for Ole Miss to win and rarely does a team win purely on the backs of distance runners (outside of Cheserek led Oregon teams). But, don't be surprised if the Rebels finish much higher than expected in the team standings at NCAAs.