ToC Short Sessions: Jeff Goodman says 'watch out' for Chris Beard, Ole Miss
National college basketball analyst Jeff Goodman joins the show to talk about new Ole Miss basketball head coach Chris Beard and the Rebels ahead of next week’s season opener against Alabama State.
The Field of 68 correspondent and Messenger columnist has known Beard for 20 years and has great respect for him as a program builder and ball coach. On this episode, he dives into what makes him great and why he expects the Ole Miss program to look completely different immediately.
In Goodman’s “The Almanac”, a consensus 2023-2024 college basketball preview magazine, he had high praise for Beard’s year one roster. His colleague, Rob Dauster, feels the same.
“Ole Miss will win games, and if Beard’s track record is any indication, they’ll win a lot — and soon,” Dauster said. “This is a team with talent enough to make the NCAA Tournament,” Dauster said. “They’ll have to tune out the noise off the court to get there.”
Everything starts with Matthew Murrell for this Ole Miss team.
Dauster spoke with Beard about his All-SEC guard and the importance of his presence on the floor and the importance of maintaining consistency.
“He had nights where he was the lead story,” Beard said. “On any given night in the SEC he can be the best player in college basketball. He also had nights where he wasn’t there.”
Joining Murrell on the wing is Auburn transfer Allen Flanigan. The son of Ole Miss assistant Wes Flanigan was electric for the Tigers before an injury slowed him down. Beard is incredibly high on the transfer small forward.
“Basketball is a game of rhythm and sometimes it takes a year to get back into form,” Beard said. “My relief is that Al’s story is about to be told.”
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The uncertainty surrounding NCAA transfer waivers is the cloud giving Rob Dauster pause.
“Ole Miss perhaps has as much riding on the NCAA’s waiver process for two-time transfers as anyone in college basketball this season,” Dauster said. “Two likely starters in Brandon Murray and Moussa Cisse are awaiting word about whether or not they are going to be allowed to play this season.
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“That is, potentially, 40% of Ole Miss’ starting lineup that may or may not be able to play this season.”
Despite the wait, Beard is still preparing for the season as if both Murray and Cisse will be able to suit up for Ole Miss. He had high marks for both transfers and thinks they give it an edge it needs to make a run in March.
“Murray is exactly the kind of guy that we like to recruit,” Beard said. “He can play four positions, he has guard skills and a high IQ, but he’s also got the strength to bang with some 4s. We spent the offseason shaping his body and challenging him on the defensive end.”
Jeff Goodman echoed Dauster’s concerns with both Cisse and Murray getting eligible. But if they are eligible this year, he thinks the Rebels can be the real deal.
Ole Miss returns a core of current players from Kermit Davis’ roster. And Beard brought in several transfers who are set to contribute in a big way. Goodman gives his thoughts on how this year’s team will look with or without the Power 5 transfers.
All of this and more on this jam-packed episode with one of the best in college hoops. Listen in here.
