Ole Miss men's basketball coaches rock custom Air Force 1's vs. Michigan State in Sweet 16
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Should the NCAA transfer portal open before the end of March Madness?
Rick Pitino, John Calipari and even J.J. Watt sound off on the transfer portal opening during the NCAA Tournament.
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ATLANTA — Ole Miss men's basketball coaches warmed up in style before its Sweet 16 matchup against second-seeded Michigan State.
Every coach sported a pair of crimson and deep blue Air Force 1's with '4:1,' 'Hotty Toddy' and 'culture' on the back end of the shoe.
The '4:1' phrase is a testament to legendary coach Bob Knight, who died in 2023, and highlights 'the mental is to the physical as four is to one' — a phrase that Knight used to preach.
The Rebels are taking that same approach into its matchup with the Spartans.
'The most important game in the four-team tournament is the first game. So for us, it's Michigan State in the first game, and that's where all of our focus is 100%,' Ole Miss men's basketball coach Chris Beard said during Thursday's media availability.
The coaches also wore matching Nike pullovers with an SEC logo on the right arm and the signature swoosh on the left side in tandem with dark blue pants — highlighting their school colors.
The style switch up is not tradition for the Rebels, with this being the first time the coaches have worn the outfits this season, confirmed Mike Swartz, the Ole Miss assistant director of communications.
Andy Mathis is a student in the University of Georgia's Sports Media Certificate program.
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