What Chris Beard said after Ole Miss beat No. 4 Tennessee 78-76

Everything head coach Chris Beard said after Ole Miss beat No. 4 Tennessee 78-76 Wednesday night at SBJ Pavilion in Oxford:

Ole Miss out-rebounding Tennessee 37-33, including 24-13 in the second half

“When Tennessee shoots like that and has balanced 3-point shooting I think they’ll be a tough out in the six-game (NCAA) tournament. How did we overcome that? We overcome it by rebounding. We out-rebounded a quality opponent. It’s kind of been a challenge for us all year. I’ve never said it’s a weakness ‘cause I still think it can turn into a strength.

“Our journey started this season with a closed-door scrimmage against the best rebounding team in college basketball. We held our own that Saturday afternoon in Baton Rouge. We always thought it would kind of be a weapon for us, but it hasn’t played out that way. But when we needed it most tonight on Senior Night, last home game, we out-rebounded a quality opponent. Fifteen offensive rebounds was how we combatted the fact they were shooting the 3 so well. 

“You’ve got to recognize our ball-security tonight, too. We had five turnovers in the game against a coach (Rick) Barnes-coached team. That’s unheard of. Only two turnovers in the second half. All these things had to come into play for us to have a chance to win a one-possession game against the team I think is maybe the best team in college basketball. We all understand Tennessee was No. 1 for a long time. They had a little bit of a hiccup in early-SEC play, which is understandable. We understand how good the league is.

“I think they’ve won seven of eight or eight of nine coming into tonight’s game. I can’t speak for them, but they’re almost kind of in a good position where the national narrative is more on Auburn winning our league or this team. Tennessee is kind of quiet right now, but let’s don’t forget this was the No. 1 team in the country for a long time and got a Hall of Fame coach, several all-conference players (and) a couple of NBA guys. 

“It took a team effort. It took balanced scoring. Dre Davis’ double-double, timely offensive rebounds. (Jaemyn) Brakefield played really well, with a lot of courage down the stretch. We got some key stops late. I thought our coaching staff did a good job tonight. It’s always a chess game when you play against coach Barnes. We held our own. I’ll say that, we held our own.”

Ole Miss getting 13 points and 10 rebounds from Dre Davis

“He played with courage and like the player we recruited and coached and taught to be. Just really proud of the way he competed more than anything. We ask a lot of Dre. Position-less player; guarding all five positions on offense. Had some timely baskets, a double-double against Tennessee on Senior Night. That speaks for itself.”

Jaemyn Brakefield getting the offensive rebound and scoring the go-ahead points with 7.5 seconds left

“It’s kind of what I see every day in practice. Position-less player. We chose to go small-ball down the stretch. Whenever he has a big guarding him there’s some things he can do offensively, just like whenever he has a small-forward guard on him. Brake did a good job of not settling and recognizing the moment. Above all just a lot of courage. If you’re going to make those shots you’e got to have courage to take them. He did tonight.”

Brakefield staying patient, scoring all of 19 points in the final 10:24

“I think Brake just played a great floor game. I want Brake to shoot 3s, too, but you’ve got to find that balance. It’s a tough job whenever, with your best-player-type guy, the coach is telling you to make shots. He’s telling you to move the ball, be aggressive, not turn it over and play defense. When you’re a veteran player the job is not easy. A lot of it is you’ve just got to find that balance. I thought Brake found the balance tonight. 

“I have no problem if we have a game here in the remainder of the season where Brake shoots seven or eight 3s because I believe he’ll make three or four. But tonight he didn’t settle in big moments, and give his teammates credit. The spacing was good for the most part. There were guys passing him the ball and screening for him. It’s always a team sport. Off the top of my head everybody that played for Ole Miss tonight made a positive contribution.”

“To be in the game at halftime with Tennessee shooting the ball so well (and) Mikeal Brown-Jones was a big part of the game tonight. We had winning minutes when he was in the game. So just everybody on the team made some winning plays for us tonight, and that’s what it takes against a 1-seed-type team like Tennessee. There’s no other way to be in these games unless everybody plays well. That’s what we got tonight on a special night in Oxford.”

Mikeal Brown-Jones playing only eight minutes

“When you play on a veteran team like us, we’ve got six starters and nine seniors. The box score is not always going to show the plays — the hockey assist, the assist-screen, the early help. We’ve had a lot of players this year grade out some of the best games we’ve had but the naked stat sheet doesn’t say it. I think Mikeal and Davon (Barnes) played winning basketball tonight. Barnes and Mel helped us, there’s no doubt about it.”

Rick Barnes saying Tennessee wanted it more than Ole Miss

“It’s a huge compliment coming from coach Barnes on a night where obviously Tennessee is playing for seeding. That means a lot coming from him. 

“I don’t know if we wanted it more. I’m not an expert on their locker room, but I would say our guys understood the opportunity that we were playing for tonight. We’ve never talked about making the (NCAA) tournament. I’ve mentioned that several times. Keith (Carter, Ole Miss athletics director) probably gets tired of me talking about that conversation we had, but we talk about trying to win the tournament. To do that seeding is important. 

“We got opportunity week right here. The next game is a real opportunity, too. Will it be easy? No. Will it be probable? No. I don’t know. But would it be possible in March? Anything’s possible in March.”

Ole Miss being 5-0 the last month in games decided by four points or less

“I’m really a next-game mentality. I’m not a big analytics guy, but I do value that and understand it. We have guys on our staff that give that to me in the ‘Big Chief’ tablet, watered-down, Cliff Notes version. Mom was not a big fan of the Cliff Notes. 

“Winning time is important. We value winning time and have a plan in winning time. We try to be not so much emotional in the timeouts in winning time. I thought the guys tonight did a good job. We started a little bit earlier tonight at the eight-minute timeout. Those times we’re talking about exactly what we cannot do on defense and offense and what we would like to try to do and then we just kind of remind the guys these are the things we’re looking for. 

“We started that way back in our team retreat this summer — watching a few close games on TV and showing the winning-time formula we have. I do think we’re embracing that this second half of the season. Ultimately that’s what March comes down to. The difference in winning a couple close games and losing a one-possession game is it’s an early exit or it’s a parade on the Square ‘cause you got to the second weekend.”

The Ole Miss court storming the court after the win

“I’ve been fortunate over the years to be a part of some special wins and special Senior Nights and court-storming. It’s never about me. I’m normally pretty quick to the locker room, but tonight something just kind of came over me and said, ‘You know, just enjoy this for a quick second.’ 

“We’ve worked really hard here in our two years. We. A lot of people. I wanted to kind of smell the roses for a quick second and try to be where my feet are. I couldn’t see the players, so I stood up (on the home bench) just so I could see the players. Wanted to enjoy that moment watching those guys, because they work so hard to be able to compete in games like this. 

“The great news is we have more of them; the next one Saturday. But I just wanted to get a good look at it.”