No. 23 Mississippi piling up points and victories during 7-game winning streak

Mississippi Experienced Rebels Basketball

FILE - In this Jan. 19, 2013, file photo, Mississippi guards Marshall Henderson (22) and Nick Williams (20) strut on the court after Williams sank a three-point shot in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Arkansas in Oxford, Miss. Williams knows what it's like to just miss the NCAA tournament. That's why the fifth-year senior isn't too giddy about Mississippi's 15-2 start. But there's little doubt coach Andy Kennedy has his most talented team, with Murphy Holloway down low and Henderson draining 3s (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File0 (The Associated Press)

Mississippi basketball coach Andy Kennedy urges his team to slow down in the final minutes of an NCAA college basketball game against Arkansas, Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013 in Oxford, Miss. Mississippi won 76-64. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) (The Associated Press)

OXFORD, Miss. – Mississippi's Nick Williams knows what it's like to just miss the NCAA tournament.

That's why the fifth-year senior isn't too giddy about the Rebels' current seven-game winning streak, including a 4-0 start in Southeastern Conference play and a national ranking for the first time since 2010.

The cautious approach is probably warranted.

Ole Miss has been in the NCAA tournament hunt many times over the past several years, only to falter down the stretch. The program has won at least 20 games in five of the past six seasons, but has no NCAA tournament appearances during that span.

But there's little doubt seventh-year coach Andy Kennedy has his most talented team. No. 23 Ole Miss (15-2) is averaging more than 82 points per game this season.