Ole Miss Men's Basketball Overcomes Adversity in Roller Coaster Season

Despite a disappointing 15-20 regular season record, the Rebels made an inspiring run in the SEC Tournament

Apr. 3, 2026 at 9:39pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a basketball game or match, with the action broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in a vibrant color palette, conveying the ups and downs of Ole Miss' season.Ole Miss men's basketball's rollercoaster season featured both highs and lows, culminating in an inspiring tournament run.Starkville Today

The Ole Miss Men's Basketball team faced numerous challenges throughout the 2025-26 season, including a four-game losing streak in non-conference play and a 10-game skid during SEC competition. However, the Rebels regrouped to make an unexpected deep run in the SEC Tournament, upsetting higher-seeded opponents before ultimately falling in the semifinals. Head coach Chris Beard praised his players' resilience and vowed to continue building the program.

Why it matters

Ole Miss men's basketball had high expectations entering the season, but struggled with consistency and chemistry as a team with several new additions. The Rebels' late-season tournament surge showed their potential and provided hope for a stronger 2026-27 campaign, despite the disappointing regular season record.

The details

The Rebels opened the season with a five-game win streak, led by strong performances from newcomers AJ Storr and Ilias Kamardine. But a four-game losing skid followed, including a defeat to Iowa. Ole Miss regained its footing with a three-game SEC win streak, including an overtime thriller against Georgia, before hitting another rough patch with 10 straight losses. The Rebels finally snapped that streak with a win over Auburn, then made an inspiring run in the SEC Tournament as the No. 15 seed, upsetting higher-seeded Texas, Georgia and Alabama before falling to Arkansas in the semifinals.

  • The Rebels' four-game losing streak began on Nov. 25 with a loss to Iowa.
  • Ole Miss won three straight SEC games in January, including an overtime victory over Georgia on Jan. 14.
  • The Rebels' 10-game losing streak lasted over a month, from late January to late February.
  • Ole Miss snapped its 10-game skid with an 85-79 win over Auburn on Feb. 28.
  • The Rebels' SEC Tournament run lasted from March 8-11, with their season ending in the semifinals.

The players

Chris Beard

The head coach of the Ole Miss men's basketball team, who vowed to continue building the program after the team's roller coaster season.

AJ Storr

A newcomer guard who emerged as a top performer for Ole Miss, scoring 19 points in a win over ULM.

Ilias Kamardine

A newcomer guard who also stood out for the Rebels, scoring 26 points in a win against Memphis.

Patton Pinkins

A freshman who made a game-winning putback to lift Ole Miss over Georgia in overtime.

James Scott

A Rebels player who had a highlight-reel dunk during Ole Miss' three-game SEC win streak.

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What they’re saying

“My promise to them (the fans) — and I don't make a lot of promises, but I'll deliver on this — is there will be better days, sooner than most people think.”

— Chris Beard, Head Coach

“I'm just really happy for our players — they deserve all the credit. They've refused to quit. We're executing game plans. We're playing good basketball.”

— Chris Beard, Head Coach

What’s next

With several key players set to return next season, Ole Miss will look to build on the momentum of its late-season tournament run and bounce back from a disappointing 2025-26 campaign.

The takeaway

Despite a roller coaster regular season, Ole Miss men's basketball showed its resilience by making an inspiring run to the SEC Tournament semifinals. The Rebels' ability to overcome adversity provides hope that the program is headed in the right direction under coach Chris Beard.