Chris Beard remains steadfast in his commitment to cultivating a “no excuse team” mentality for every game on the schedule. The Rebels are finally returning home to Oxford after enduring a grueling five-game road stretch. With an overall record of 11-2, Ole Miss currently ranks No. 11 in the SEC. Beard’s return to his former program has not unfolded as the Rebels had hoped; despite their strong desire to secure a victory for their head coach, as reiterated by Eduardo Klafke, Ole Miss surged only to allow Texas to rally back with a 14-0 run, ultimately falling 79-68.
However, Beard maintains immense optimism about transforming the narrative surrounding his program, starting with Wednesday’s matchup against the 16-7 Crimson Tide. Alabama is coming off a narrow victory over Auburn, winning 96-92. Like Ole Miss, Alabama faced a deficit of as much as ten points but managed to stage comebacks with impressive runs of 11-0 and 8-0 in the second half, taking the lead for good with just over ten minutes remaining in regulation. The Tide’s roster showcased their offensive prowess; Labaron Philon Jr. led with 25 points, six assists, and five rebounds, while Amari Allen contributed 17 points and six rebounds. Aden Holloway added another 15 points, and Charles Bediako scored 12 on perfect shooting from the field. Aiden Sherrell also made an impact defensively with four blocks.
The Bediako Effect
The mood may shift when Alabama arrives in town on Wednesday. On Monday, a judge denied Charles Bediako’s request for an injunction that would have allowed him to continue his college career. Bediako had signed a two-way contract with the San Antonio Spurs and Alabama to return the second time around and subsequently sued the NCAA for denying his appeal to rejoin Alabama’s roster. While he received a temporary restraining order permitting him to participate in team activities until further court proceedings occur, this ruling now has once again put a close on Bediako’s college career moving forward and could set important precedents for future cases involving NCAA athletes.
This development undoubtedly impacts Alabama’s depth—especially given their ongoing injury struggles throughout the season. Head coach Nate Oats will need to rely heavily on Noah Williamson as his primary big man going forward. The former Bucknell transfer has faced challenges himself this season and has struggled offensively since January while missing several recent games. For Ole Miss, this situation presents an opportunity to shift momentum at home; Chris Beard has emphasized defense during periods of offensive struggle for the Rebels.
With Bediako gone, Ole Miss must remain vigilant against starting center Aiden Sherrell, who is enjoying a breakout season and playing some of his best basketball yet.
The Head to Head
The Rebels have a narrow window of opportunity ahead of them as they prepare for tomorrow’s game at home—a chance that could be pivotal despite ESPN’s match predictor giving Alabama a 64.7% likelihood of victory compared to Ole Miss’s 35.3%. Momentum is building for the Rebels even if they face uphill odds; it’s time for them