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'We'll see when the lights come on': Chris Beard waiting to see which Malik Dia Ole Miss will get

11by: Jake Thompson08/02/25JakeThompsonOn3
NCAA Basketball: NCAA Tournament South Regional-Mississippi at Michigan State
Mar 28, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; Mississippi Rebels forward Malik Dia (0) reacts after a basket in the second half of a South Regional semifinal of the 2025 NCAA tournament against the Michigan State Spartans at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

One of two returners from last season’s team is Malik Dia, who was a big part of Ole Miss’ run to a Sweet 16 appearance. But Chris Beard is cautious to say major progress was made by his veteran forward over the Summer.

In his first season at Ole Miss Dia finished tied as the third-best scorer with 10.8 points per game and lead the team with 5.7 rebounds. Though it is that second average Beard would like to see improve at a consistent level for the 2025-26 season.

Dia had a breakthrough performance in the win at Alabama back in January with 23 points and 19 rebounds. While Dia had plenty of big scoring nights after his outing in Tuscaloosa, he did not pull down more than eight boards in a game the final 19 games of the season.

Entering year two with the Rebels and under Beard there are plenty of expectations of Dia to be a major part of a run for a second straight NCAA Tournament appearance. But Dia’s Summer review by Beard on Thursday looked to cause the need to temper those expectations, at the moment.

“I’m proud of Dia. I’ve seen some positives but there’s also a truth-telling part of who we are. We’ll see when the lights come on,” Beard said. “I think whenever you have a returning player that had a good season, coming back, expectations, you’re going to get those questions every press conference every day.

“My thing is Dia is going to have to show that. Is Dia a five-rebound guy that can help you win a game or is Dia going to be one of the best rebounders in the SEC that can help us win championships and puts him in a position where is pro opportunity’s a different door. There’s one door for a guy that averages five rebounds, there’s another door for a guy that averages eight or nine.”

Dia is back at Ole Miss as one of the key leaders along with a returning Eduard Klafke.

Klafke is just now stepping into a bigger role after getting his feet wet last year in his first season on the court with the Rebels.

For Dia, the goal is to be one of the best in the SEC and not just at rebounding. But an overall player who can fill the box score on a nightly basis.

Proving he can be the producer Beard wants him to be is going to ultimately determine the role Dia is going to have on this Ole Miss roster.

“I think Dia’s worked hard at it. He spends time, he wants to do the right things,” Beard added. “But, ultimately, it’s a production-based world, game, life, program. Just like all you guys and everybody, I’m looking forward to it. We’ve seen the improvement but I think the next step is consistency. In an hour Summer practice or a 20-minute intersquad (scrimmage) that only allows you a certain body of work. I’m looking forward to seeing Dia when gets back to being 40-minute games and the competition of live practices.”

With the transfer additions of forwards Agusto Cassia (Butler), Corey Chest (LSU), Hobert Grayson (Ouachita Baptist) and James Scott (Louisville) Dia will certainly have enough competition to improve within the Touhy Center this season.

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