What tearing ACL vs Iowa State taught Ole Miss basketball coach Chris Beard about Cyclones fans
MILWAUKEE — Ole Miss basketball coach Chris Beard is cool with Iowa State fans. Not for something they did, but for something they didn't do.
No. 6 Ole Miss (23-11) will play No. 3 Iowa State (25-9) in the second round of the NCAA tournament on Sunday (6:45 p.m., TruTV). Beard, who coached in the Big 12 at Texas Tech and Texas, has a unique history coaching against the Cyclones in the Hilton Coliseum.
In 2017-18, when Beard was at Texas Tech, he had an embarrassing moment on the sideline.
"I actually tore my ACL one time in Ames, Iowa, as the opposing coach and fell down during a game," Beard said. "And from my perspective nobody really laughed at me. Kind of a respectful fanbase."
Beard's knee injury actually started the evening before the game, when he participated in a practice drill.
"Zhaire Smith, one of our great players, NBA player, was supposed to be setting flare screens from the corner," Beard said. "Z was a laid-back guy, kind of like (Ole Miss guard) Dre Davis, doesn't talk much. And I asked Z if he understood what I wanted, and he just gave me kind of − instead of saying yes, he just kind of went like that (uncertain nod). So I said, 'No, you don't,' and I went out there and set a flare screen and popped my knee."
When Beard coached the next day, he got extra demonstrative on the sideline. He and Niem Stevenson disagreed on a defensive assignment.
"I had a great relationship with Niem," Beard said. "He's the guy that kind of talked to me during the game, and I got a little agitated with Nyeem, forgot that the knee was popped, and fell down on the floor."
Beard's daughters were sitting behind the Red Raiders' bench. They saw it happen and covered their faces with their hands. The kicker? Beard said he has a team rule that players shouldn't get off the floor themselves. They should wait for a teammate to help them up. It's a culture thing.
But when Beard was down on the sideline in anguish?
"I'm laying on the floor, and nobody on our staff, including some of our coaches that are with us today, didn't come pick me up," Beard said, laughing.
Iowa State won the game, 70-52.
"From my point of view, the fanbase didn't make fun of me," Beard said. "Just a great fanbase at Iowa State. If your team plays well, they recognize it."
Sam Hutchens covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at Shutchens@gannett.com or reach him on X at @Sam_Hutchens_
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: What Ole Miss basketball coach Chris Beard knows about Iowa State fans
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