hottytoddy
Ole Miss men's basketball coach Chris Beard is not taking Central Arkansas lightly. Despite the Rebels' dominant 99-58 season-opening win over Alcorn State on Monday, Beard has warned that Friday's opponent is far from a typical early-season mid-major tune-up.
Central Arkansas won 22 games last season, was picked to win the newly formed United Athletic Conference by its coaches, and returns nine players from that championship team. The Bears began their season with an 85-55 thrashing of Oral Roberts, a team that managed only 10 wins a year ago.
Beard emphasized that Central Arkansas should be viewed as an NCAA Tournament-caliber team. "Central Arkansas is coming here Friday as an NCAA Tournament team, a team that's been picked to win its conference, has won conference championships," he said Wednesday. "Think about this in today's college basketball: Nine returning players from a championship team last year. They have the best player in their conference, maybe one of the best players in all of mid-major basketball. They have an identity. They're a well-coached team. They play a unique offense, a lot of Princeton cuts, 3-point shooters."
That formula—experienced players who have logged multiple seasons together in a distinctive system—has often produced Cinderella runs in the NCAA Tournament, sending bigger programs home early from March Madness.
The Bears looked in mid-season form against Oral Roberts, knocking down 13 three-pointers, forcing 18 turnovers (including 12 steals), and scoring 26 points off those turnovers. They also limited Oral Roberts to just 30% shooting from the field.
Ty Robinson, Central Arkansas's returning leading scorer, poured in 29 points on 8-of-11 shooting, including four three-pointers, and added four steals. Harry Beauchamp contributed 15 points, though he shot just 3-for-10 from beyond the arc.
Central Arkansas's Princeton-style offense generates plenty of three-point attempts through spacing, movement, cutting, and passing. Last season, the Bears averaged 80.9 points per game with 10.7 three-pointers made per contest, and nearly half of their field-goal attempts came from beyond the arc. Against Oral Roberts, that figure jumped to almost 63%.
If Central Arkansas's shots are falling on Friday, Ole Miss could find itself in a real battle. "This is a game that we scheduled on purpose because of the respect we have for the opponent," Beard said. "This is an NCAA Tournament team. We will have to play 40 minutes of Ole Miss basketball to have some success in this game."
One potential advantage for the Rebels could be on the glass. Despite their win over Oral Roberts, the Bears were out-rebounded 42-41 and posted only a plus-1.3 rebounding margin last season.
Friday night will serve as an early test of Ole Miss's defensive communication and perimeter defense. If the Rebels can defend the three-point line effectively and control the boards, they may avoid any upset talk altogether.
Key Analysis
Central Arkansas's experience, unique style, and hot shooting make them a legitimate threat. Beard's warning signals that Ole Miss cannot afford to overlook the Bears, especially given their ability to capitalize on turnovers and three-point opportunities. The Rebels' focus on perimeter defense and rebounding will be crucial in avoiding an early-season stumble.
Originally reported by hottytoddy.