Chris Beard defends Ole Miss after being accused of being NCAA Tournament 'frauds'
Recently, an internet basketball “analyst” called the Ole Miss Rebels “a fraud” when discussing their inclusion in the NCAA Tournament, stating had they not been in the SEC, they would not have been included in the Big Dance.
At first, Ole Miss coach Chris Beard would not respond to the question in today’s presser about being called a fraud, but it was easy to tell the suggestion that his team was not worthy of inclusion did not sit well with him.
He waited for another question, but then backtracked to the “fraud” accusation.
“We have a good team. We just played in what people are calling the best conference ever and we won 10 of those 18 conference games,” he began.
Then he defended the team’s worksheet.
“There are some interesting things about our record,” he continued. “We did not lose to a team this year that is not in the NCAA Tournament. We had road wins, we had top wins against NCAA Tournament teams.
“BYU is in the NCAA Tournament. Colorado State is in the NCAA Tournament. Louisville is in the tournament. Purdue we lost to in overtime in a one possession game.”
The road wins were just as impressive.
“We beat Alabama on the road along with some of those non-conference games,” Beard noted.
To get above .500 in the SEC, that got 14 of its 16 teams in the NCAA Tournament, is certainly a feather in the Rebs’ cap.
Top 10
- 1New
Ryan Williams
Trolls Auburn, reveals bracket
- 2
Hubert Davis
Responds to UNC controversy, critics
- 3Hot
Gas leak
Texas A&M travel delayed
- 4
Jack Gohlke
UK enemy trolls Wildcats
- 5
Grant Nelson injury
Nate Oats reveals status
Get the On3 Top 10 to your inbox every morning
By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.
“I think there are a lot of things that can be said about our team both good and bad, but fraud is not one of them,” he ended his explanation of the insinuation that the Rebels aren’t for real.
And what he didn’t mention is that the Rebels are a sixth seed in the NCAA Tournament – further proof that the Rebels are legitimate.
It was easy to see the comment the Rebels are frauds did not sit well with Chris Beard and he responded accordingly.
The Rebels will face the winner of the San Diego State and North Carolina play-in game Tuesday. Ole Miss and the winner of that match square off in Milwaukee Friday.
