Ole Miss Basketball Aims for NCAA Tournament Berth Under New Coach

Chris Beard outlines plans to improve team's performance for 2027 season

Mar. 15, 2026 at 12:50am

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Ole Miss basketball coach Chris Beard has set his sights on securing an NCAA Tournament berth for the 2027 season, after the team narrowly missed out on the tournament this year. Beard is determined to put a stronger product on the court and avoid having the team's postseason fate hinge on the SEC Tournament.

Why it matters

Ole Miss basketball has struggled to consistently make the NCAA Tournament in recent years, missing out on the big dance several times. Beard's arrival as the new head coach brings renewed hope and expectations for the program to return to the national stage.

The details

Beard, who was hired as the new Ole Miss head coach earlier this year, is already laying out his plan to get the team back to the NCAA Tournament. He wants to avoid a repeat of this past season, where the team's tournament hopes came down to the SEC Tournament.

  • Beard was hired as the new Ole Miss head coach earlier this year.
  • The team is aiming for an NCAA Tournament berth in the 2027 season.

The players

Chris Beard

The new head coach of the Ole Miss basketball team, hired earlier this year to turn the program around.

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What they’re saying

“We're looking forward to putting a better product on the court next year”

— Chris Beard, Head Coach (wn.com)

What’s next

Beard and his staff will focus on recruiting, player development, and implementing a new system to improve the team's performance for the 2027 season.

The takeaway

Chris Beard's arrival as the new Ole Miss basketball coach brings renewed hope and expectations for the program to return to the NCAA Tournament, after the team narrowly missed out this past season.