'Execute!' Ole Miss Coach Chris Beard Calls For 'Energy, Better Basketball' in Road Games

The Ole Miss Rebels blew out the Arkansas Razorbacks at home on Wednesday, but how can that same success travel outside of Oxford?

OXFORD -- The Ole Miss Rebels returned to the win column on Wednesday night, taking down the Arkansas Razorbacks 77-51 at the SJB Pavilion, moving back to .500 in conference play in the process.

Ole Miss (16-3, 3-3 SEC) has yet to lose at home this season, but it is winless on the road within the confines of the Southeastern Conference. Following Wednesday's game, head coach Chris Beard was asked if he could pinpoint a difference between what his team has been able to execute at home as opposed to on road trips.

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"That's a good question; just better basketball," Beard said. "We've played better defense, offensive execution has been better. We have a game plan each game. Most of it is what we want to do, a portion of it is who we are playing. I thought the home games, we've executed the game plan better than the road games."

The Rebels had a packed house at The Pavilion on Wednesday night, so part of the difference in play could be centered on positive energy in the arena. Creating that energy on the road is sometimes a struggle, but Beard hopes to have more fan support at road games in the weeks ahead.

"When we get this thing rolling, and I'm not talking about Year 2, having Ole Miss people travel to road games," Beard said. "You see that certainly in football and baseball, so that will be a next step with our fan base, encouraging them to get that schedule early and kind of pencil in some dates. We'd love to have more support on the road in the SEC."

It's not all about fans, however. Sometimes, players have to create their own energy, especially when the postseason rolls around.

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"Other than that, it's about the players creating their own energy," Beard said. "A lot of our guys haven't played in the NCAA Tournament, but we talk about it a lot. The NCAA Tournament game sometimes isn't what you're used to playing. 

"You've got some fans, the opponent's got some fans. First and second round, it's filled with fans from the other six teams in that region. There are going to be games where you have to manufacture your own energy, and certainly on the road. Controlling what you can control."

Ole Miss will have another road test to close out this week on the hardwood when it travels to College Station to face the Texas A&M Aggies on Saturday. Tip-off at Reed Arena is set for 7:30 p.m. CT, and the game will be televised on SEC Network.