17. Chris Beard (Mississippi)
The Rebels haven’t been in the Big Dance since the pandemic, but Chris Beard is hoping to inspire change in his second season in Oxford. Beard has had quite the tumultuous head coaching journey, with past success at Little Rock, Texas Tech, and Texas before landing at Ole Miss due to certain circumstances. His first season saw a hot start before the Rebels faded in league play, but this year’s tough SEC isn’t yet fading his squad.
This might be the breakthrough year for an Ole Miss program severely lacking in basketball history. They’ve beaten Alabama and Louisville on the road and sit 15-4, now coming off a pair of really tough losses in conference play. This veteran-laden lineup has played great basketball and they’ve been in every game this year outside of a tough showing at Memphis right after Christmas.
Unlike last year, the Rebels aren’t disappearing in league play after a hot start in nonconference. Beard manufactured magic at Little Rock and Texas Tech and could’ve done the same before he was fired by the Longhorns. Could year two be that magical breakthrough with these Rebels? His defense shut down Alabama and his talent is certainly on display; we’ll just have to keep watching how this team hangs during a rigorous SEC schedule.