Ole Miss Basketball Rebuilds Roster Under Coach Chris Beard
The Rebels enter a new season with a 14th place SEC prediction and a squad built largely around transfers.
By Ana Salazar ·
Ole Miss basketball returns this season with a roster stripped of most of its previous core, relying on a heavy infusion of transfers to recover from a 15-20 finish.
Chris Beard, who took his first losing season in 15 years during the 2025-26 campaign, maintains that a postseason berth is within reach for the revamped squad. The team, projected to finish 14th in the 16-team SEC, is tasked with bouncing back after a season that saw them lose 14 of their 18 conference games.
The previous season ended on a high note with a run to the SEC Tournament semifinals, yet the overall record reflected a lack of consistency. Beard’s program, known for employing multiple transfer combinations, lost key contributors including forwards AJ Storr and Malik Dia, as well as shooting guard Travis Perry. Only guard Ilias Kamardine and forward Patton Pinkins return to starting roles, joined by reserve guard Zach Day.
The offensive burden falls heavily on the returning duo, who combined for more than 20 points per game last year. Pinkins shot 42 percent from three-point range, while the pair recorded 64 steals in total. Their performance will be critical as the team addresses its previous offensive struggles, which saw them rank 15th in the SEC in scoring at 75.9 points per game.
New arrivals are expected to contribute immediately. Point guard Budd Clark, who averaged 12 points and five assists at Seton Hall, joins small forward Roman Siulepa, the top offensive rebounder in the ACC at Pitt. Fifth-year transfer Corey Stephenson from Florida International, an 18-point, six-rebound player who can guard three positions, completes a significant portion of the new depth.
The schedule begins with a home-heavy November, featuring seven games in 24 days to allow for roster experimentation. The season opener takes place on Nov. 2 against Alcorn State. December brings neutral-site matchups, including Southern Mississippi in Biloxi on Dec. 22 and North Carolina State in Jackson on Dec. 29.
The conference slate starts at home against Georgia on Jan. 2 and concludes on March 6 at Mississippi State. The Rebels will face Auburn, Kentucky, and Mississippi State twice under the new league scheduling format. An exhibition loss to Alabama, 92-84, featured extensive playing time for 10 players, seven of whom are newcomers to the program.
Source: Magnolia Tribune
