NASHVILLE ― Barring an accepted NIT bid, Ole Miss basketball's season is over.

Let the season of uncertainty begin.

After Texas A&M beat Ole Miss 80-71 in the SEC tournament Thursday at Bridgestone Arena, Ole Miss coach Chris Beard said he expects to begin the 2024-25 season with a drastically different roster.

"The game has changed," he said. "One thing we've always done, is done a pretty good job of adapting, thinking ahead, play offense, not defense. We don't make the rules, but you can sit around and complain about 'em or you can figure out how to win within the system. That's exactly what we're going to do."

Transfers Allen Flanigan and Jamarion Sharp have no eligibility remaining. Matthew Murrell, Ole Miss' leading scorer and best player, could return, but reiterated Thursday that he intends to go pro.

Beyond that trio, there are 10 scholarship players remaining on the roster, and 10 question marks to be answered in the coming weeks.

Jaemyn Brakefield, who previously had expressed his intent to return, said he hadn't "even thought about it" when asked again about his plans in the locker room postgame.

Another starter, guard Jaylen Murray, feels similarly.

"I ain't worried about that now," he said.

Moussa Cisse, who usually starts at center despite ceding that duty to Sharp against the Aggies (18-13), said he intends to return to Ole Miss if he goes back to college.

The lesson? Those projecting how the Rebels (20-12) will fair in the second year of Beard's tenure might want to wait a few months.

The transfer portal officially opens Monday, although Beard said work is already being done.

"Portal is open now," he said. "A lot of players already in it. With the coaching changes and all, guys get fired, guys change jobs, a lot of players are already in it.

"Our coaching staff is already talking about recruiting five minutes after the SEC tournament ends for us. Yeah, our roster will look different. I'm not sure that any coach could sit up here after the season and say, 'Hey, we got everybody coming back, we're going to roll it back.' That would be a special team if that happens."

GAME RECAP: Ole Miss basketball offense sputters as Texas A&M ousts Rebels from SEC Tournament

If there's indeed a roster overhaul ahead, Beard could draw lessons from how he handled it last offseason. The Rebels brought in six transfers after he took the job, including three starters in Flanigan, Murray and Cisse.

Beard's primary complaints as the team folded down the stretch involved its mentality. He has said repeatedly that the roster was made up of players who lacked the discipline needed to win the SEC. After Thursday, it's safe to say they lacked the discipline to even make the NCAA tournament.

Murrell, whose improvement under Beard's tutelage has been remarkable, believes his coach will strike the right balance this time.

"This program's going to be great," Murrell said. "And it'll be great being able to come back and spend time with guys and just be able to celebrate all the great things they're going to do."

David Eckert covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at deckert@gannett.com or reach him on Twitter @davideckert98.

Get the latest news and insight on SEC football by subscribing to the SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Another offseason of change for Chris Beard, Ole Miss basketball