The 2025-26 season was not one to remember for Ole Miss Men’s Basketball. In Chris Beard’s third season as the Rebels’ head coach, team success plummeted from the Sweet 16 appearance in 2024-25 to an underwhelming record of 14-20 (4-14 SEC) a season later. Beard spoke about roster structure and outlook for the 2026-27 season in a press conference on Oct. 1.
In the offseason, the composition of the Rebel team was completely rewired. Starters Ilias Kamardine and Patton Pinkins and backup guard Zach Day are the only returning players.
Beard, determined to improve upon last year’s lackluster season, sought out new talent from the transfer portal, hoping to build a more successful roster.
“Basketball is a team sport. It’s not always about just getting the most talented players, one through 15. It’s about putting a puzzle together. The pieces have to fit,” Beard said.
Due to controversies in recent NCAA eligibility rulings, there is uncertainty regarding two new Rebels, Florida transfer Micah Handlogten and FIU transfer Corey Stephenson. The pair may not be eligible to participate in college basketball after playing in the G-League. The looming decision is out of the hands of the program, but Beard hopes to have these players on the opening-day roster.
“Both of them have great desire to return to college basketball for the right reasons, too,” Beard said. I’ve just been really impressed with those guys. … They fit in. Those two guys wanted to play for Ole Miss.”
Ben Henshall, an Ole Miss signee from Perth, Australia, was recently cleared by the NCAA to play college basketball for two seasons, a huge boost for the Rebel roster.
“(Henshall is) going to be one of our best players. He’s a big part of the team,” Beard said.
Henshall’s initial impressions of the roster gave him great expectations for the team’s potential.
“Top to bottom, we have a really deep roster,” Henshall said. “We have guys that want to compete, guys that want to play the right way … and I think all around, everyone just wants to win.”
Another key transfer is Santiago Trouet, a 6-foot-11-inch forward from Arizona State, whom Beard sees as a foundational piece for this Rebel roster.
“We see Santiago (Trouet) as kind of a special guy because he’s kind of proven what he’s been doing,” Beard said. “It’s real, but we also see a huge ceiling for him to improve.”
The coaching staff is investing a lot in Trouet. Beard and the other coaches have seen promising results from the senior forward so far.
“We’ve been hard on (Trouet), maybe as hard as any new player we’ve had, because we have such high expectations for him, but he’s slowly really earning my trust,” Beard said. “I’ve always respected him, but I’m starting to kind of trust the guy a little bit.”
Trouet expects his experience and skill set to help him lead the team but ultimately has his sights set on winning.
“(My main goal) is to lead the team, (and) help the team in any way I can,” Trouet said. “Rebounding has always been my thing. I just want to win. I haven’t been to an (NCAA) Tournament yet. I want to bring coach (Beard) a banner.”
Beard has reloaded this roster with plenty of talent. The Ole Miss Men’s Basketball team’s season opener is Monday, Nov. 2 against Alcorn State in The Sandy and John Black Pavilion.
