NCAA Tournament appearances have historically eluded Ole Miss. They’re what Chris Beard expects.

Chris Beard has more NCAA Tournament appearances on his individual coaching resume than Ole Miss basketball, as a program, has in its 100-plus-year history. 

But Beard isn’t thinking rebuild. 

Beard this week was officially named as the replacement for Kermit Davis as the head coach of Rebel men’s basketball. He’s led three different programs to the NCAA Tournament since 2016. Beard took Texas Tech to the 2019 national championship game and the 2018 Elite Eight. 

In all, he owns a 237-98 record and one of the top winning percentages (70.7) among active coaches in all of college basketball. Beard is 11-5 in the NCAA Tournament over his career, including a perfect 5-0 mark in the opening round.

Then there’s Ole Miss.

As the Rebels have usually done this time every year (the NCAA Tournament is underway this week), they’re sitting at home. They last danced in 2018.

“We’re going to have some players on this year’s team that it’s going to be their last year of eligibility,” Beard said during his introductory press conference on Tuesday. “My promise to those guys is all decisions will be based on winning. Yes, we’re going to build the program and build it for the future, but we’re going to try to win next year. 

“That’s what those players need. I don’t think it’s fair for a guy that has one year left to go into a situation where it’s a build. I know how to build, but I build five minutes at a time. I’m going to try to build the next hour and later tonight and the next morning.

“We’re going to build this the right way.”

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NCAA Tournament appearances — never mind consistent postseason success — have, historically, largely eluded Ole Miss.

The program’s greatest-ever accomplishment is the Sweet Sixteen in 2001. Once.

The Rebels nearly matched the feat in 2013. That year they won the SEC Tournament and upset Wisconsin as the lower seed in a 12-5 matchup. But they came up a layup short against La Salle to advance out of the Round of 32.

Ole Miss was trounced by Oklahoma back in 2019, the last time the Rebels made the field of 68. They haven’t returned since. Actually, they’ve been just three times in over 20 years.

“If we can get competitive in the SEC, you’re in the NCAA Tournament,” Beard said. “You get in the NCAA Tournament, it’s six games and three weekends. If you can get more than competitive in the SEC and compete for championships, now you’re looking at a really good seed. If you get a good seed, now you’re walking through the front door of the six-game party. That’s important, too. 

“Consistently, you’ve got to make sure you’re there each year. To me, that’s how you win a national championship. You’ve got to knock on that door. It can’t be a one-hit wonder. That’s why our programs are always built on culture and foundation and who we are. The SEC gives you a real chance to get in the neighborhood we’re trying to get into. We’ve got a lot of work to get in there; they just don’t let you in there. We’ll have to work really hard, but that’s what we’re here for. We have a proven track record.”

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Music to the ears of the Ole Miss Rebels, who, frankly, have been used to the complete opposite.

“We want to turn into one of those program where when you think of college basketball, it’s not a matter of, ‘Hey, did Ole Miss make the tournament this year?’ It’s, ‘What seed did they get?’” Beard said. “With a couple of weeks left in the SEC ranks, it’s not a matter of checking those rankings. It’s, ‘Ole Miss is right there. What do they got to do down the stretch to win the championship?’ 

“That’s our goals. We don’t apologize for it. I know it’s lofty. But to win, you’ve got to have some courage.”