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‘Check up and do some soul-searching’: Beard had a message for his players after loss to A&M

Ben Garrettby:Ben Garrett•03/09/24•

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Ole Miss head coach Chris Beard

Chris Beard began the week imploring fans to come out and support Ole Miss basketball one last time in what has been a mostly-encouraging 2023-24 regular season. 

But Beard ended publicly apologizing for his the Rebels’ collective effort in an embarrassing, 86-60 home loss to Texas A&M. He even offered to reimburse all Rebel fans who dared to even show up to such a stinkfest.

“We were prepared,” Beard said afterwards. “We had a March-type game plan. It was really simplified (and) focused on what we need to get done. Obviously it’s our second game against Texas A&M, so we pulled some things from the game. I thought we were prepared. I thought we’d play with some Ole Miss heart today. 

“Basketball is a lot like life; it comes down to pride. You either have it or you don’t, and we can sit here and talk about getting out-rebounded 50 to (21), but just a lot of pride factor. Just wasn’t Ole Miss basketball. We want to apologize to everybody. That’s not the effort you spend your time and money to come watch.”

RELATED: Ole Miss – Texas A&M was doomed from the start as Rebels fell behind big early

Ole Miss will be the 10 or 11-seed in the SEC Tournament in Nashville, Tennessee, next week. 

The Rebels finished 20-11 (7-11 SEC) despite opening as one of just three teams in college basketball to begin the year 13-0. Ole Miss’ only wins since January 30 are two over Missouri, the worst team in the conference. 

The Rebels dropped eight of their last 10 games to not only fall off the NCAA Tournament bubble, but out of the conversation entirely.

“This is life. This is college basketball. Nobody’s going to feel sorry for you,” Beard said. “I think we’ve got some individual people in the organization that have to check up and do a little soul-searching. Certainly from a coaching standpoint we obviously have to do a better job. 

“I know no other way than just get back to work. A lot of guys in our organization have to make a decision. What am I? What’s my last name mean? Do I have some pride? I know this: there’s a lot of pride in Ole Miss basketball. There’ll be better days than today as we continue to build this. It’s hard to coach attitude and effort.”

Here’s everything else Beard and Rebel guard Cam Brent had to say following the loss to Texas A&M, the second for the Rebels this season. The Aggies improved to 18-13 (9-9).

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