Five Takeaways From Thursday’s Men’s Hoops Media Session

by Matt Dunaway, Associate Director/Communications

STARKVILLE – Following its sixth official practice in preparation for the upcoming 2021-22 season, the Mississippi State men's basketball program had an opportunity to meet with the media on Thursday.

Below are five takeaways from the media session, which featured head coach Ben Howland along with Iverson Molinar and D.J. Jeffries.

(1) A locker room view on how the team chemistry is coming together.

"We've done a lot of team bonding since day one," Jeffries said. "We all reach out to each other, and we just like being around each other. We try to make sure that everybody feels loved and welcomed. We don't want anybody to feel left out. We're trying to embrace each other and build a brotherhood. If you have a brotherhood and when times get tough, we are going to stick together instead of going separate ways. Being in that brotherhood is going to be good for us when we hit adversity in games, because adversity is going to come. How we are going to overcome it is [determined by] how strong our bond is."

(2) What has caught Coach Howland's eye through the first six practices.

"Number one, I think our guys are playing hard and competing," Howland said. "We have a competitive group, so I like that a lot. I think that we have some very good unselfish play out there. We have some excellent passers that create for others. I think when we get everybody back and we're at full strength, I really will be excited about that … We really have to do a good job of executing at both ends of the floor. I think that we've had some really good leadership, especially from Iverson [Molinar] and Garrison [Brooks]. They're doing a good job. I think Cameron Matthews is providing good leadership [as well]. He's very vocal out there, so I'm proud of that because it's helping a lot of the other guys who are new."

(3) The end goal is a return trip to March Madness.

"We're blocking out all of the outside noise," Molinar said. "We're just focusing on us, how we can get better and how to bring all the talent together by building good chemistry. I feel like we've been doing well with that."

"That's what our number one goal is," Howland said. "I think our team definitely has the opportunity to do that. If we get healthy and can stay healthy, this team has a chance to do that. We're not going to rush either Rocket [Watts] or Tolu [Smith] back. So, we have to see how they continue to evolve coming back from those injuries."

(4) Iverson Molinar is poised for another big jump.

"Iverson is obviously a very critical player for us," Howland said. "He's in his third year. So, he kind of knows everything that we want to do and how we want to play. He's worked incredibly hard this offseason. I think he really made another big jump, especially with his decision making. I think he's even improved his shot some. He's done a lot of things to grow as a player between last year and now. There's no question that he's our starting point guard, and things will start with your starting point guard most of the time."

"I feel like [I've improved on] being more vocal than last year and just involving my team a little bit more and bringing them together," Molinar said. "Something that I've been working on, and I'm still working on is making plays for others. I'm making sure that I see the open guy as the point guard. That's something I'm really focused on this year."

(5) Shakeel Moore is continuing to improve in all facets of his game.

"He's doing a good job. I will continue to echo what I said, his shooting from three is very impressive," Howland said. "He has a quick release with great rotation and really does a good job, form-wise, staying in his shot. He's very confident. He's a good scorer. He can put the ball on the floor and has a nice mid-range game. He can finish at the basket, and he can be very good defensively, on the ball, in particular. We have to get him to keep improving off the ball defensively. We expect him to be a huge piece for this team this season."

Mississippi State begins the 2021-22 season with a four-game homestand against North Alabama (Nov. 10), Montana (Nov. 13), Detroit Mercy (Nov. 17) and Morehead State (Nov. 21).

The Mississippi State Athletic Ticket Office is selling 2021-22 season tickets. New season ticket purchasers can call (662) 325-2600, (888) Go Dawgs (888-463-2947) or visit www.HailState.com for more information.

Mississippi State has landed a quartet of impact transfers in Garrison Brooks (North Carolina), D.J. Jeffries (Memphis), Rocket Watts (Michigan State) and Shakeel Moore (North Carolina State), coupled with a solid freshmen class which features ESPN top 100 recruit KeShawn Murphy, Alden Applewhite and Cam Carter.

The Bulldogs also return two of their top three scorers in Iverson Molinar and Tolu Smith from 2020-21. Molinar ranked among the SEC's top 10 in points per game (16.7 – 4th), field goal percentage (47.8 – 5th) and 20-plus point games (8 – T-7th), while Smith was the SEC leader in rebounds per game (8.5) and double-doubles (8) last season.

Mississippi State captured a runner-up finish at the 2021 NIT as the Bulldogs earned a bid in postseason play for the third consecutive time when postseason tournament have been played. State won seven of its last 10 games, highlighted by a combined five NCAA NET Quad 1 and Quad 2 victories down the stretch.

Visit www.HailState.com for the latest news and information on the men's basketball program. Fans also can follow the program on its social media outlets by searching 'HailStateMBK' on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Five Takeaways From Thursday’s Men’s Hoops Media Session

Players Mentioned

Cameron Matthews

Iverson Molinar

Tolu Smith III

Mississippi State University Athletics