Just like Ryan Day was curious about Lou Holtz, Chris Beard wanted to know the whereabouts of Tim Doyle. The Ole Miss head men’s basketball coach had Doyle on his mind ever since the CBS analyst branded the Rebels as a “fraud” and claimed they wouldn’t make a run in the NCAA Tournament.
“I think Ole Miss is a fraud.” @TimDoyle00 does not believe Ole Miss can advance in the NCAA Tournament. pic.twitter.com/b2zYpngUcN
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 17, 2025
Naturally, Ole Miss took that as a challenge. The Rebels defeated North Carolina 71-64, maintaining an 18-point lead at halftime and extending it to as much as 22 in the second half, only for the Tar Heels’ comeback to fall short. Doyle’s comments reached Beard, who included a response in his post-win comments: “I didn’t see anything about our team today that looked like there was any fraud in our program. I saw a team that had a good season in the SEC [that] just beat North Carolina in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.”
After Beard — and Ole Miss — fired back, Doyle doubled down. “I mean, second half, they did start to fall apart,” he remarked. “They were up 22 points and on cruise control. But, hats off, golf clap,” he said, imitating a golf clap. “In sports, Chris Beard gets paid $5 million a year to coach Ole Miss. You’re welcome, Coach Beard. Did I give you all the motivation that you need? Last year, I made $86.5k, OK? You’re making $5 million a year, and you’re taking my word as your motivation? Good, whatever motivates these kids.”
Doyle continued, saying, “Now, they were better than North Carolina, who made 14 threes against San Diego State. But today, they only made five. Some would say North Carolina may be the biggest fraud ever to make the NCAA Tournament. So, technically, is this one fraud team beating another? … It’s for you to think about. Now, Ole Miss, you go out and beat Iowa State, who’s waiting for you, a team that’s one of the best defensive teams in the country. If you do that, you have a fan for life.” He even promised he’d attend a football game in Oxford, Mississippi, and sit in the dunk tank if Ole Miss managed to beat Iowa State.
“So, let’s hold the horses,” he added. “Congratulations. You won a game against a team that, let’s just say it, should not have been in the tournament; I think everybody agrees on that. You were life and death to hold on in the last few minutes.”
WATCH:
“You beat Iowa State….ok. Until then? The label still kind of fits.”
“Some would say this is one fraud team beating another. You beat a team that should not have been in.”
CBS Sports’ Tim Doyle on the Ole Miss win over North Carolina
🎥: @CBSSportsHQ | #OleMiss pic.twitter.com/L7UtQmxY1q
— Brad Logan (@BradLoganCOTE) March 22, 2025
In a surprising turn, Ole Miss defeated Iowa State 91-78, proving Doyle wrong once more. Beard made sure to let him know about it again, asking, “Where’s Tim Doyle?”
“Where’s Tim Doyle?” #OleMiss coach Chris Beard (and players) in the locker room after advancing to the Sweet 16.
Doyle was the pundit who called Ole Miss a fraud when the bracket got announced. pic.twitter.com/oxVms0R4We
— Sam Hutchens (@Sam_Hutchens_) March 24, 2025
It seems that planning a plane ticket to Oxford this fall is in order.
