Chris Beard looks ahead to Rebels’ Saturday matchup against A&M, says the Aggies are ‘the best offensive rebounding team in college basketball’
OXFORD, Miss. — Ole Miss head coach Chris Beard met with the media on Thursday to discuss the upcoming matchup against the Texas A&M Aggies in College Station on Saturday.
Ole Miss is coming off a 77-51 win over the Arkansas Razorbacks on Wednesday night inside the SJB Pavilion.
The Rebels had a record number of students attendance against the Hogs, and Coach Beard talked about the importance of their support.
“A lot of good things going on in our program….The students have bought in and we have worked at it. It has been an objective since the day. I remember the day we we took the job, it wasn’t 30 minutes from the press conference that we were talking about the in game environment and the relationship with the students…It’s a relationship that’s important to us. Not a day goes by that we don’t talk about our relationship with the students.”
Ole Miss head coach Chris Beard
Against Arkansas, Ole Miss sophomore TJ Caldwell went out with an injury in the first half and Beard was asked about his condition.
“[There are] some positives from this morning in terms of how it (injury) did since last night with the swelling and stuff,” Beard said. “TJ has put a lot of time in the training room….We have a lot of time between game time Saturday night and he has made good strides in the first 15-18 hours. I am hoping he will play.”
Coach Beard also talked about what he expects from A&M.
“Another really good SEC team,” Beard said. “What I would tell you about A&M, like all really good teams, is they have an identity. No doubt about it, they have a dynamic back court including the leading scorer in our league. Their ability to score quickly in different ways, but obviously Taylor is one of best guards in college basketball. They’ve got other really good players as well. I’m really impressed
Beard gave effusive praise to A&M’s identity, which he says is rebounding.
“The best offensive rebounding team in college basketball, and that’s not after four or five games or the non-conference…it’s almost February…this is proven. Great rebounding team. They get it from different positions. It’s obviously their coaching staff does a great job with it because it shows up for them every single night. I think A&M is a good team, well-coached obviously. They really have an identity.“
Coach Beard on A&M
Beard also talked about what his team needs to do to be successful against the Aggies.
“We’ve got to compete. It starts with an understanding of who A&M is and what this game is going to entail. If you don’t block out, if you’re not physical, if you don’t get your share of 50-50 balls, if you don’t pursue the basketball with two hands….if you don’t have the discipline possession after possession….It’s got to be a 40-minute deal. (A&M head coach) Buzz (Williams) has does a great job this team as he always does, but their rebounding is special.“
Coach Beard
Game info
Ole Miss and Texas A&M will tipoff on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. on the SEC Network.
Adam Brown
Adam Brown joins The Rebel Walk as the Managing Editor after being on the Ole Miss beat as a Sports Editor for over 11 years. He is a lifelong Oxford resident. Brown graduated from the University of Mississippi with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.
Prior to The Rebel Walk, Brown was the sports editor of HottyToddy.com covering every Ole Miss sport and local high school sports in the community.
