When the Ole Miss Rebels jogged onto the court at the Moody Center in their warm-up tracksuits for one last shoot-around session on Saturday, one notable individual was not accounted for.
Then, he finally emerged from the visitors’ tunnel to the Moody Center baseline for the first time since his January 2023 firing.
The band of burnt orange waited for former Texas men’s basketball and current Ole Miss head coach Chris Beard all morning. And, like sharks smelling blood in the water, it pounced on the opportunity to give the old head coach a “warm reception.”
The crowd rained obscenities and the international sign of disrespect — boos — as Saturday marked Beard’s first time coaching in Austin.
“I really didn’t notice it,” Beard said, “Thought it was a great home crowd for basketball on Saturday in Austin, Texas. (I) did hear a few things from the student section entering the floor and leaving the floor, but no different than the things you hear at other great home court advantages around the country.”
The natural juice in the crowd was expected by both sides entering the game, especially with the way Beard’s tenure at Texas ended.
Beard found himself in controversy in his second season in Austin after being charged with a third-degree felony for family violence just eight games into the 2022-23 season. He was subsequently suspended and later fired in the middle of the season — the same season Texas men’s basketball made it to the Elite Eight.
“We try to get emotionally attached to each game,” Beard said. “So did I explain to our players this week that several of us on this coaching staff used to coach at Texas? Well, of course I did, because we’re trying to find the edge to try to get guys emotionally attached to the game.”
Following Beard’s firing on Jan. 5, 2023, the Longhorns went on to win their next three conference games — a feat the program would not experience until this weekend, beating Beard in the process.
But for the first 10 minutes of the second half on Saturday, it appeared Beard was going to get the last laugh, rejuvenating the Rebels’ offense to open the half.
Ole Miss hit nine straight field goals to take the lead for the first time since the opening minute of the game. The Rebels were stricken with early game woes, failing to score in the final 3:35 minutes. There was not going to be a full-circle moment for the former Longhorns head coach.
“This was an important game for him, so this was an important game for me and my teammates,” Ole Miss sophomore guard Eduardo Klafke said. “Unfortunately, we couldn’t do this for him, but we try to fight a lot for him today.”
Texas junior guard Simeon Wilcher was able to deliver the dagger to the heart late in the game, pulling up for a three-pointer to extend the Longhorns’ lead to seven.
“We knew coming in that with Coach Beard, this being his first time back at Texas since he left, the crowd would be into it,” Wilcher said. “He’s attached to the game, and the players will be attached to the game, but (head coach Sean Miller) kind of told us not to let that mess with us.”
Despite the outside noise, Texas maintained its positive standing in the NCAA tournament projection and avoided a Quad 3 loss that would damage its resume.
“This is a meaningful game for our team and our group, not because of the back story, but because of what we’re trying to accomplish,” Miller said.
