For the first time since moving to the John and Sandy Black Pavilion eight years ago, the Ole Miss men’s basketball team will play a game in the Tad Smith Coliseum.
The Rebels, led by first-year head coach Chris Beard, will host Sam Houston State on Friday, November 17 at 8 p.m. CT for their first Throwback Game in the Tad Pad. Ole Miss is encouraging fans to attend the game, which will not be televised or live-streamed, in person.
The team will be honoring former head coach Rob Evans, who won national and conference coach of the year honors in 1997 and spent six seasons at the helm in Oxford.
“When Coach Beard first mentioned the idea, we all thought it could be a great way to bring exposure to the program and incorporate some of the people that helped put Ole Miss basketball on the map,” Athletics Director Keith Carter said. “Tad Smith Coliseum hosted many great games over its 50-year lifespan and it will be fun to bring back some nostalgic feelings for our longtime hoops fans, plus showcase the history of the building to some of our younger fans.”
First opening on February 21, 1966, the Rebels played 700 games in their former home on campus, going 490-210 for a win percentage of 70 percent. Ole Miss closed a 50-year chapter on the Tad Smith Coliseum, commonly called the “Tad Pad,” on December 22, 2015, with an 83-80 win against Troy.
Just over two weeks later, the men’s basketball program broke in the court at the Sandy and John Black Pavilion at Ole Miss with a 74-66 victory over Alabama in front of a sellout crowd.
In honor of Evans’ 1997 coach of the year awards, the admission price will be $19.97. Should seats be available on game day, tickets will be sold for $25 at the Tad Smith Coliseum Ticket Office.
Vaught Society members and current men’s basketball season ticket holders will be able to purchase their tickets on Tuesday, September 5, followed by a release to the general public on Thursday, September 7 if supplies last.
A VIP package is also available for purchase as an add-on, separately from the purchase of a game ticket. This will include an invitation to a Thursday night reception for Coach Evans and his players, followed by an invitation to watch the team’s shootaround following the event.
On the day of the game, this package also includes an invitation to an on-court experience from 6:45 p.m. to 7:45 p.m., where fans can enjoy refreshments while watching the teams warm up.
The VIP package includes an exclusive t-shirt and credentials to access each event. The price for this package is $200 per person.
Further details including parking and student tickets will be released at a later date.
