Ole Miss coach Chris Beard was asked if certain players on his team competed with a style of play that is better used to describe NHL players: chippy.
“I hope so,” Beard said after the Rebels (1-0) pounded Alcorn State 99-58 on Monday night at home.
Beard takes his squad back to the court Friday night against Central Arkansas (1-0) in Oxford, Miss.
The fourth-year coach singled out Adam “Budd” Clark, Roman Siulepa and Ben Henshall as players who maybe straddled the line of acceptability in the opener.
“I love coaching alphas,” Beard said. “And there’s a fine line, right? Like Roman’s got his nose in the fight and maybe said the wrong words so we can clean all that stuff up.
“But as a coach, I’d much rather, you know, pause guys, turn them down a little bit than to have to turn them up. And so you know, I’m all about this. And so I think guys like Roman, Budd and others, Ben’s a fiery guy.”
Clark had 17 points and seven assists in the win. Beard has high expectations for the former Seton Hall and Merrimack guard, and cited him as the team’s leader.
“Budd didn’t shy away from it. Had opportunities to go a lot of places in college basketball. The first conversation we had with Budd is, you know, to those that much is given, much is expected,” Beard said. “He didn’t run from it. You know he’s a Philly point guard. He’s a tough guy.
“I think when he’s engaged and he doesn’t take plays off, he can impact every possession.”
Ty Robinson scored 29 points and had four steals for the Bears (1-0) in an 85-55 victory over Oral Roberts on Monday.
Harry Beauchamp had 15 points, while Rylie Marshall added 11.
A native of Melbourne, Australia, Beauchamp feels more comfortable now after playing out of position last season.
“It’s different,” he said. “I got thrown into a position (last year) that I hadn’t really played — dribbling — which I’m not very comfortable with. I’ve been thrown back on the wing where I can expand how I play my game a little bit more and shoot the ball, which I’m more comfortable with.”