Chris Beard proved at Texas Tech that he can build a national contender at a school without much of an NCAA Tournament history. Now he’s doing the same at Mississippi.

The Ole Miss men's basketball team is still dancing in the NCAA Tournament with second-year head coach Chris Beard. The Rebels enjoyed dominant wins against the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Iowa State Cyclones in the first two rounds, leading by 22 and 26 at one point in those games, respectively.

Ole Miss basketball is finally back in the NCAA tournament. Chris Beard's crazy seasons in the ABA shows his recipe to return to teams to prominence.

The Ole Miss men's basketball program had been one of the worst in the SEC until head coach Chris Beard took over in 2023. Now, in just year two with Beard at the helm, the Rebels are back in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament after dominant wins against North Carolina and Iowa State.

"We have actually watched Ole Miss a lot because Christeen Iwuala is on their team, and we love her, even though she used to be a Bruin," said Close. "But we are 'Wually' fans, as we call her, and we just think she's spectacular.

No. 6 seed Ole Miss will take on Tom Izzo and the No. 2 seeded Michigan State Spartans on Friday in the Sweet 16 with a trip to the Elight 8 on the line in Atlanta (Ga.). Chris Beard and the Rebels remain one of the hottest programs in America after back-to-back impressive victories over North Carolina and Iowa State to open NCAA Tournament play.