Chris Beard and the Ole Miss Rebels will work through a critical offseason in Oxford with the program gearing up to retool the roster following a Sweet 16 run in the NCAA Tournament. Beard and Co. have cemented themselves as a force across the college basketball landscape with the Rebels now looking to reload via the NCAA Transfer Portal.

Beard's statement is music to the ears of Rebels fans, as the men's basketball team is the best it has been in over 20 years. When the Indiana job opened up and St. John's coach Rick Pitino recommended Beard, Ole Miss fans held their breath, but it sounds like they have nothing to worry about.

Ole Miss basketball's Malik Dia and Sean Pedulla combined for 35 points in the Rebels' Sweet 16 loss to Michigan State.

Ole Miss basketball lost to UCLA in the Sweet 16 of 2025 March Madness bracket. The Rebels aimed for their first Elite Eight appearance since 2007.

This affiliate content is not influenced by our advertising relationships, but AP and Data Skrive might earn commissions from our partners’ links in this content.

The last at-large team in the NCAA field, UNC couldn’t replicate its wire-to-wire spirited play from its First-Four win. The 11th-seeded Tar Heels fell behind early to No. 6 Ole Miss and never fully recovered.