Chris Beard and the Ole Miss Rebels battled until the final buzzer on Friday night in a Sweet 16 loss to the No. 2-seeded Michigan State Spartans. In Ole Miss' second-ever Sweet 16 appearance, it was a heavyweight battle against Tom Izzo's Spartans with Michigan State ultimately coming out on top to reach the Elite Eight.

Chris Beard has now led four schools to NCAA Tournament wins during his coaching career, but it did not take the path he expected. Legal troubles from a domestic dispute cost him a dream job and left questions about his ability to return at the top of college basketball.

Ole Miss' success has been one of the surprise stories of men's college basketball this season. In just their second year under head coach Chris Beard, the Rebels finished with a winning record in the SEC and have advanced to the Sweet 16 in March Madness.