Ole Miss Men’s Basketball Coach Chris Beard Leads Team to Impressive Start in 2024-25 Season

Chris Beard, the second-year head coach of the Ole Miss men’s basketball team, continues to make a significant impact on the program. With an undefeated record in the month of November, Beard has led the Rebels to a 12-0 mark in the month, extending his personal win streak in November to 21 games. His overall career record as a Division I head coach in November stands at an impressive 47-6 (88.7%).

Beard’s coaching style, known for its high intensity and strong defensive focus, has been a key factor in Ole Miss’s early success. The Rebels boast one of the best turnover margins in college basketball, forcing 17.5 turnovers per game while committing just 8.3, ranking them No. 15 and No. 2 in the NCAA, respectively, as of November 28. They also rank highly in steals per game (10.5, No. 20 in NCAA) and blocks per game (4.2, No. 61 in NCAA), contributing to their 38th-ranked scoring defense at 66.7 points per game.

Ole Miss has garnered significant national attention this season, ranking No. 23 in the latest AP Poll and No. 24 in the Coaches Poll. This preseason recognition includes their first-ever preseason ranking in the Coaches poll. Key players such as Matthew Murrell and Jaemyn Brakefield have also achieved milestones, with both players surpassing the 1,000-point mark in their careers at Ole Miss.

The Rebels face a challenging schedule in the SEC, which has become even more competitive with the addition of Oklahoma and Texas for the 2024-25 academic year. Between January 22 and February 4, Ole Miss will host several top-ranked teams, including No. 20 Texas A&M, No. 3 Auburn, Texas, and No. 8 Kentucky.