Ole Miss was picked to finish 13th in the SEC preseason basketball poll, and Chris Beard isn’t overlooking it.
“Absolutely it’s motivation,” Beard said Tuesday at SEC Media Days in Mountain Brook, Alabama. “Never lose your chip.”
Coming off a disappointing 15–20 season, the Rebels enter 2026–27 with plenty to prove. And with nine newcomers and just three returning players, Beard has some important decisions ahead.
The biggest challenge will be finding the right rotation and getting this group comfortable playing together.
Still, Beard knows what it takes to build a winning program. He led Texas Tech to the national championship game in 2019, and that experience could be valuable as he works with another rebuilt roster.
For Ole Miss, guard play, defensive consistency and late-game scoring are three areas worth watching. Finding players who can handle pressure and deliver against SEC competition will be important.
But with so many new faces, nothing is guaranteed. The Rebels have to develop chemistry, establish leadership and find ways to compete consistently.
Beard knows what it takes to build a winning team. But with a new roster and another demanding SEC schedule ahead, Ole Miss still has plenty to figure out.
The preseason poll gives the Rebels a little extra motivation.
Now comes the harder part.
Turning that chip on their shoulder into wins.
