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Everything Ole Miss Coach Chris Beard Said After Seventh-Straight Loss

Published

7 months ago

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Ole Miss forward Malik Dia looks towards the basket during Saturday's game against Mississippi State. | Ole Miss Athletics

Ole Miss was prepared, but preparation didn’t translate when Saturday’s game against Mississippi State turned physical and the Rebels lost 90-78.

Afterwards, Ole Miss coach Chris Beard pointed to physical and mental toughness as the defining difference, saying the Rebels failed to win 50-50 balls, set hard screens, and demand contact against a Mississippi State team built to play that way.

Here’s everything Beard said after Saturday night’s game.

On whether the Rebels need to fight more:

Yes. Both physically and mentally. I asked Malik and the guys who spoke earlier, and they all said the preparation has been there. This team is one of the most prepared teams we’ve had going into games. But preparation has to show up in the game, and tonight it didn’t.

This was a game that required a lot of physical toughness. That’s Mississippi State’s identity. They’ve got one of the most dynamic scorers in college basketball, and they surround him with physically tough guys. I didn’t think we matched that. We didn’t get many 50-50 balls. We probably fouled less than we have all year, and that wasn’t the game plan.

We didn’t make enough physical plays — rebounding, 50-50 balls, driving the ball and demanding contact, setting hard screens and knowing you’re going to get hit. They were topping our down screens, and we had a clear plan for that, but it required physical toughness, and we didn’t execute it.

There’s also a mental toughness component. Our guys wanted to win. They understood what was at stake in a rivalry game. But when things didn’t go our way early, we didn’t hang in there the way we needed to. This needed to be a game where you’re down eight, nine, ten points at halftime and still very much in it. I thought the first half was where the game was really lost.

Early on, we actually got some good shots. We didn’t turn the ball over. The right guys were taking the right shots. But when things didn’t go our way, it affected our defensive intensity. There’s a price to win. It’s not free. It requires physicality and mental toughness, especially against an opponent like this.

Dia and A.J. had good games statistically, but that’s not enough. We needed a third or fourth guy, and we didn’t get that tonight. Mississippi State did. Hubbard did what he does, but they also had other guys step up and make plays.

On morale after a seven-game losing streak:

I don’t know if they’re devastated — that’s a question for the players. That’s why you guys have access to them. What I know is you keep chipping away. Life isn’t fair. You’re going to face adversity as a man, father, husband, teammate, coach, player — that’s just life.

I think our guys have continued to fight, but tonight we weren’t physically tough enough early to keep the game within reach when shots weren’t going down. There’s a mental toughness element to this. Some guys know how to win, some guys are learning, and we’re doing everything we can to teach that.

The second half offensively was better — we scored 50 points — but you have to play complimentary basketball. You have to get stops while you’re scoring. Credit Mississippi State. They kept pressure on us, and when they shoot the three like that, it’s tough.

But this shouldn’t have been the kind of loss it was. This should’ve been a one- or two-possession game at home with a chance to feed off our crowd, which was great tonight. I apologize to everyone who came out.

We’re not going to point fingers. This isn’t on the players alone. It’s on all of us, including me. Hats off to Coach Jans and his team. 

On Mississippi State’s physicality and execution:

They were tougher than us for most of the game — 50-50 balls, rebounding, hard screens, getting back on defense. Those are the things we needed to do consistently, and we didn’t.

We showed some fight early in the second half. We won the first couple of four-minute segments, but we couldn’t separate. They made timely shots, including some from guys who don’t typically make those shots. When you’re at home and playing for what was at stake, you’ve got to mentally fight through those moments better.

I think our guys hang their heads too quickly, and that’s something we’ll continue to address. That’ll be one of the main lessons from this game when we get back to work Monday.

On defending Josh Hubbard:

We were trying different things. We trapped him early and got the ball out of his hands, but he played with a lot of poise. He’s a really good player, especially when you let him go downhill to his right. That was absolutely on the scouting report and in every timeout and dead ball. We just didn’t get it done.

That’s a fair question for the players, honestly. Were we trying to take away his right hand? Yes. Why didn’t it work? That’s something we’ll evaluate.

I still have a lot of belief in this team. That’s not coach speak. We’re going to play this all the way out. We’ll get back to work Monday, and the next game is the next opportunity. We’re not quitting.

On leadership and mental toughness:

This game isn’t easy. There are good moments where you can’t get too high, and tough moments where you have to dig in. We needed a captain performance tonight, and we didn’t get it. Dia and A.J. had good individual games, but neither had a captain game.

Ilias was as quiet as I’ve ever seen him, and that’s one of the first things I’ll look into Monday. We need more from our point guard.

On Matthew Murrell attending the game:

It was awesome to see Matt. I saw him before the game along with his mom, Gladys. His family’s great people. Matt’s started his pro career the right way, and I’m always appreciative of him.

I told him before the game that if we got the win, I wanted him to come into the locker room afterward. It’s disappointing when former players come back and it doesn’t go the way you want. But it was great to see him, and I just wish it had been under better circumstances.

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Basketball

Ole Miss Basketball Appears in First Look at Expanded NCAA Tournament Field

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4 months ago

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May 8, 2026

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Ole Miss Men's Basketball during the game against Mississippi St. at Humphrey Coliseum in Starkville, Mississippi on January 17, 2026. | Ole Miss Athletics

Most college sports fans saw Thursday’s news that the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments are expanding to 76 teams. Eight additional teams will be added to what is currently the First Four, turning it into a 24‑team play‑in stage with 12 games across two days. The winners will join the 52 teams already slotted into the traditional first‑round bracket.

We already talked about what expansion means for both Ole Miss programs, and it’s still way too early to know which teams will actually benefit next season. But you know that won’t stop anyone from trying.

NCAA.com analyst Andy Katz posted his first 76‑team projection Friday morning, based on his initial Power 44 rankings for 2026‑27. Katz or his model must really like what Ole Miss has done this offseason. The Rebels show up at No. 39 in the Power 44 and land as a No. 10 seed in the South quadrant.

Again, it’s early. The last season ended a month ago. Ole Miss shouldn’t start booking hotel rooms in Pittsburgh just yet.

Still, this tells us two things about Ole Miss and the new tournament format.

First, it’s going to be hard for a middle‑of‑the‑pack SEC team to miss the field now. Second, if the bracket had been at 76 teams this past season, the committee would’ve had a real decision to make about the Rebels.

Maybe they get in. Maybe they don’t. Did they deserve a spot? Probably not, and adding eight more at‑large bids doesn’t change that much.

But the future looks better now for Ole Miss.

Andy Katz’s Initial Power 44

1. Duke

2. Florida

3. Michigan

4. Illinois

5. Tennessee

6. UConn

7. Arizona

8. Arkansas

9. Texas

10. Michigan State

11. Vanderbilt

12. Virginia

13. Kansas

14. Houston

15. Louisville

16. Alabama

17. Nebraska

18. Iowa State

19. Purdue

20. USC

21. Gonzaga

22. St. John’s

23. Miami (FL)

24. Indiana

25. Missouri

26. VCU

27. Saint Louis

28. UCLA

29. Ohio State

30. BYU

31. Iowa

32. Texas A&M

33. North Carolina

34. Providence

35. Baylor

36. Wisconsin

37. Auburn

38. Xavier

39. Ole Miss

40. Marquette

41. Texas Tech

42. Kentucky

43. Maryland

44. New Mexico

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Basketball

What NCAA Tournament Expansion Means for Ole Miss Basketball

Published

4 months ago

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May 7, 2026

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Ole Miss basketball players celebrate a SEC Tournament win against Alabama on Friday night. | Ole Miss Athletics

Missing the NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments is about to get a lot harder.

Multiple outlets reported and the NCAA itself announced Thursday that the committees overseeing both tournaments have officially voted to expand the fields to 76 teams.

None of this should catch anyone off guard. The NCAA started exploring expansion about a year ago, and reports two weeks ago made it clear the process was in its final stages. Now it’s done. The new format will debut in 2027.

According to ESPN, top NCAA officials met with the tournament’s media partners to finalize the updated contracts before the vote. The committees required signed agreements before making anything official, and once those were in place, expansion moved forward.

The biggest change comes at the front end of the tournament. Eight additional teams will be added to what is currently the First Four. That round will grow into a 24‑team play‑in stage with 12 games spread across two days. The winners will join the 52 teams already slotted into the traditional first‑round bracket.

The NCAA is expected to rebrand the First Four language, but the structure stays familiar. The opening round will still include both automatic qualifiers and at‑large teams. All 16 seeds and half of the 15 seeds will make up half of the 24‑team group. The other half will come from the lowest‑seeded at‑large teams, including a mix of 11 and 12 seeds.

It’s a significant shift, but the goal is simple: more teams, more access, and fewer seasons ending on Selection Sunday with nothing to show for it.

What This Means for Ole Miss

On the women’s side, this doesn’t move the needle much. Yolett McPhee‑McCuin has raised the bar to the point where simply making the tournament isn’t the goal anymore.

Ole Miss wants to host a NCAA Regional for the first time in program history, and that standard doesn’t change with a bigger field.

The men’s side is a little different. It depends on the year. Two seasons ago, expansion wouldn’t have mattered. This past season, it would’ve changed everything.

Ole Miss finished 15-20 and sat at No. 80 in the NET. In a 76‑team bracket, that puts you on the bubble, and one more win in the SEC Tournament probably gets the Rebels into the field.

For programs in a league as deep as the SEC, the extra spots matter. The women’s side won’t feel much of a shift, but the men’s side absolutely will. Bubble teams in this conference won’t be living on the same razor’s edge anymore.

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Basketball

Ole Miss Basketball Transfer Portal Picture Comes Into Focus

Published

4 months ago

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May 5, 2026

By

Ole Miss coach Chris Beard

It’s been two weeks since the transfer portal window closed, and after a slow start, Ole Miss is finally nearing the end of its roster‑building phase.

The Rebels have added seven transfers, plus TJ Clark who committed back in December. Four‑star recruits Jaron Saulsberry, Yohance Connor and Daniel Patton are also on the way this summer.

Those 10 newcomers will join Ilias Kamardine and Patton Pinkins, the only returning Rebels, to form the foundation of next year’s roster.

The question is whether that’s enough, and whether Chris Beard is actually done adding.

The honest answer is maybe and probably not.

Nobody knows yet if this group will be better or worse than what Ole Miss just put on the floor.

There’s no headline addition, but that doesn’t mean the roster can’t mesh, grow together and avoid needing a miracle run in March.

There’s also the chance it looks like last season, when the pieces never fully clicked.

Given the current guard‑heavy build, it feels likely Beard will look for more frontcourt help. Stefan Cicic gives Ole Miss a true 7‑footer and Santiago Trouet adds more size, but the Rebels could still use another proven interior presence.

One name to watch is former Florida Atlantic forward Devin Williams, who has reportedly met with Ole Miss over Zoom and is visiting Arizona this week. Williams finished fifth nationally in blocks last season at 2.58 per game, which would give Beard a real defensive anchor inside.

In the end, Ole Miss won’t know what this roster really is until the group gets on the floor together, but the picture is at least starting to take shape.

Beard has rebuilt almost the entire program for the second straight offseason, and there’s still room for one or two more pieces to round it out.

Whether this version ends up being better, worse, or simply different from last year’s team is impossible to know in May, but the next additions will tell us plenty about how the Rebels plan to finish the job.

Ole Miss Basketball Transfer Portal Tracker

Men

Outgoing

Incoming

  • Christian Brown, F, 6-8, Fr. (James Madison)
  • Stefan Cicic, C, 7-0, Fr. (Pepperdine)
  • Adam Clark, G, 5-10, Jr. (Seton Hall)
  • TJ Clark, G, 6-3 (Hermosillo)
  • Dasear Haskins, G, 6-8, So. (St. Joseph’s)
  • ND Okafor, F, 6-7, Jr. (Washington State)
  • Roman Siulepa, F, 6-6, Fr. (Pittsburgh)
  • Santiago Trouet, F, 6-10, Jr. (Arizona State)

Women

Outgoing

  • J’Adore Young, 6-4, C, Soph.
  • Sira Thinenou, 6-1, F, Soph.
  • Tianna Thompson, 5-10, G, Soph. (Baylor)

Incoming

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