Ole Miss Rebuilds Roster Under Chris Beard Following First Losing Season
The Rebels lose three key players and add several transfers as they attempt to recover from a 15-20 campaign.
By Ariana Flores ·
Ole Miss basketball coach Chris Beard faces a roster overhaul after guiding the Rebels to their first losing season in 15 years. The team finished the 2025-26 campaign with a 15-20 overall record and a 4-14 mark in conference play. This result followed a Sweet 16 appearance in the 2025 NCAA Tournament. Beard stated that a return to postseason play is achievable for the new group, which the SEC projects to finish 14th among 16 teams.
The rebuild removes three major contributors: forwards AJ Storr and Malik Dia, and shooting guard Travis Perry. The incoming class includes point guard Budd Clark, who averaged 12 points and five assists at Seton Hall. Small forward Roman Siulepa arrives from Pitt, where he led the ACC in offensive rebounding. Fifth-year transfer Corey Stephenson from Florida International joins as a multi-position offensive threat, averaging 18 points and six rebounds in his previous stop.
Two returning starters anchor the backcourt and frontcourt. Combo guard Ilias Kamardine and forward Patton Pinkins played key roles in last season's run to the SEC Tournament semifinals. Pinkins shot 42 percent from three-point range. The pair combined for more than 20 points per game and recorded 64 steals. Reserve guard Zach Day also returns after having positive stretches during the previous year.
The 2025-26 season ended with the Rebels ranked 15th in the SEC in scoring, averaging 75.9 points per game. The team also ranked 12th in the conference in three-point field goal percentage at .332. In an exhibition loss to Alabama, seven newcomers saw extensive playing time in a 92-84 defeat. Beard has coached in six NCAA tournaments since the 2015-16 season, including a national title game appearance at Texas Tech in 2019.
The schedule begins with a heavy November slate of seven games in 24 days. The first four contests are home games, allowing Beard to test new combinations. The season opener is against Alcorn State on Nov. 2. In-state neutral-site games include a matchup with Southern Mississippi in Biloxi on Dec. 22 and North Carolina State in Jackson on Dec. 29. The SEC regular season opens at home against Georgia on Jan. 2 and concludes with a road game at Mississippi State on March 6.
The league schedule includes two matchups against Auburn, Kentucky, and Mississippi State. The Rebels will play once against the remaining SEC opponents. This structure reflects the revamped conference format. The team must establish chemistry quickly with the new transfers and freshmen to improve upon the offensive struggles of the previous year.
