Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics
WATCH: Coach Jans Media Session
November 30, 2022 | Men's Basketball
STARKVILLE - Mississippi State men's basketball coach Chris Jans met with the media on Wednesday leading into practice.
2022-23 Mississippi State Men's Basketball Quotes
November 30th, 2022 – Media Session
Head Coach Chris Jans
Q: What is your thought process on the emphasis in practice this week, and what you want to get done?
CJ: "I'm looking forward to the next couple of weeks as a matter of fact. We play Saturday in the afternoon, and we'll have three full days of practice [to prepare]. We'll do our scouting and our prep work, but we'll also spend a lot of time on us."
"It'll be the same focus next week with seven or eight days between games. We'll have lots of time to do a deep dive into us. We've already started more of a self-scout – trying to look at it from a perspective of, if you were trying to play us, how would you want to attack us? What would you to try to think about our offense, transition and every facet of the game? We just want to try to critique ourselves if you will and then use that information. Obviously, we've got a bunch of guys [coaches] up there who are smart guys that are already working hard at it. We're going to meet this afternoon and see what we can implement to try and make us better. So, I'm excited to have this time."
"As a player, it's a different perspective. At this point, they just want to play games. So, we're going to have to get them to understand how vital this time is and how important this time is. They're going to have to be mature and understand that if we use this time wisely and have the right type of focus that we can get better as a basketball team."
Q: When did you first see this team buy into your defensive philosophy?
CJ: "There's definitely been a growth I would think you would have to ask the players individually, but it's been more of guys jumping on the train if you will. I think some, from the jump, were where we needed them to be. But over time from when we've arrived and to this day, there's been more commitment to what we're trying to do. It's basically jumping off the bridge and saying 'I'm going to trust, and I'm going to get on the same page.' I guess they aren't playing when they say you have to defend and rebound to get on the court."
"I've been preaching that since I arrived, and it's been good. That's one thing that I tell people – colleagues that I talk to, friends, et cetera. Our culture and our buy-in is even better than what I anticipated it being this early in our tenure. I'm not complaining about it. It's been a pleasant surprise. People are talking about our defense, and it's been really good, but the best thing about this team, and I don't want to sound like a broken record, is that we're just scratching the surface of what we could be and should be in my opinion."
"I wasn't really happy, even more so now after watching the tape, with our effort and our attention to detail in our last game. We had some nice turnovers that led to easy baskets, but we had stretches on defense where we were on our heels, not our toes. We weren't dominating the ball or dictating on the ball. We were allowing the offense to do what they wanted to do. That was disappointing, and the team is going to see it for the first time. I talked postgame about playing against the game, and the standard that we've set. That's going to continue every day. What we try to tell them, is that regardless of where we are in the season, we've got some big games down the road. Our job as coaches is to get them to understand that every day you're either winning or losing. You're either getting better or you're not. For young people, sometimes it's hard to look in the future. You're concerned about today and only today. We're not worried about January or February. That's where we're at right now, and hopefully we can get more of that buy in. If we do, then we have a chance to be good later."
Q: How important is it to have in-state matchups during nonconference games to try and build basketball in the state of Mississippi?
CJ: "I'm glad that we're able to do that. I think to grow the game in our state and get young people more aware of all the schools and universities playing this game that we all love. I've been on the other side of that, and it's fun to have a crack at the bigger school from the bigger conference. Certainly, it's a little risky at times when you're Mississippi State playing those type folks, because they've circled that game on their calendars and what a big opportunity for them. That'll be something we talk about as we get closer to those games, but I'm really glad we get the chance to do that this year."
Q: What have you seen from Shakeel Moore and what's going on with his shot right now, because they look good, but just aren't going in?
CJ: "In terms of Shak, he works at his craft. He's frustrated, but he's getting wide open looks. That's what I keep telling a lot of our guys. 'Take advantage of it. They're not guarding you.' If I was you, I'd be living in the gym and just getting that thing ready. They're going to give you open looks. So, be ready and take advantage of it. Until you knock them down, they're going to guard you the same way. What an opportunity for you to get in that gym, earn that confidence and watch that ball go through the net. Then, when the lights are on and the shots are meaningful, you can step up and make some big ones and not have to work as hard to get shots with how they're guarding Tolu [Smith] and a lot of our guys on the perimeter."
"Specifically with Shak, like you mentioned, the shots look good. Every time he rises up, I think it's going to go down. We haven't talked about it a ton. In my opinion, the way to get out of it is to just get in the gym, rep it out, trust your stroke and feel good about it. Like I said postgame, I think individually and collectively we're going to have some breakout games coming up. The lid is going to come off the basket, and it's going to help us score the ball a lot better."
Q: How important will a good in state crowd be for the Jackson game in couple of weeks?
CJ: "I'm looking forward to it. Not to bring up a sore subject, but I played in that building. I know what it feels like, I know what it looks like and what it sounds like. So, that will be comforting to me. It won't be as foreign as you would expect with a new coach playing in a building outside of where you play your home games."
"I'd assume, with them [Jackson State] being a local team and us being two hours away, knowing we have a ton of Bulldogs and fans around the area … I don't have a huge expectation. I don't know what to expect to be honest with you. We're hopeful that we'll get a lot of Bulldogs in the building, and it'll feel like a home game for us. I would anticipate a really good crowd for that matchup."
2022-23 Mississippi State Men's Basketball Quotes
November 30th, 2022 – Media Session
Head Coach Chris Jans
Q: What is your thought process on the emphasis in practice this week, and what you want to get done?
CJ: "I'm looking forward to the next couple of weeks as a matter of fact. We play Saturday in the afternoon, and we'll have three full days of practice [to prepare]. We'll do our scouting and our prep work, but we'll also spend a lot of time on us."
"It'll be the same focus next week with seven or eight days between games. We'll have lots of time to do a deep dive into us. We've already started more of a self-scout – trying to look at it from a perspective of, if you were trying to play us, how would you want to attack us? What would you to try to think about our offense, transition and every facet of the game? We just want to try to critique ourselves if you will and then use that information. Obviously, we've got a bunch of guys [coaches] up there who are smart guys that are already working hard at it. We're going to meet this afternoon and see what we can implement to try and make us better. So, I'm excited to have this time."
"As a player, it's a different perspective. At this point, they just want to play games. So, we're going to have to get them to understand how vital this time is and how important this time is. They're going to have to be mature and understand that if we use this time wisely and have the right type of focus that we can get better as a basketball team."
Q: When did you first see this team buy into your defensive philosophy?
CJ: "There's definitely been a growth I would think you would have to ask the players individually, but it's been more of guys jumping on the train if you will. I think some, from the jump, were where we needed them to be. But over time from when we've arrived and to this day, there's been more commitment to what we're trying to do. It's basically jumping off the bridge and saying 'I'm going to trust, and I'm going to get on the same page.' I guess they aren't playing when they say you have to defend and rebound to get on the court."
"I've been preaching that since I arrived, and it's been good. That's one thing that I tell people – colleagues that I talk to, friends, et cetera. Our culture and our buy-in is even better than what I anticipated it being this early in our tenure. I'm not complaining about it. It's been a pleasant surprise. People are talking about our defense, and it's been really good, but the best thing about this team, and I don't want to sound like a broken record, is that we're just scratching the surface of what we could be and should be in my opinion."
"I wasn't really happy, even more so now after watching the tape, with our effort and our attention to detail in our last game. We had some nice turnovers that led to easy baskets, but we had stretches on defense where we were on our heels, not our toes. We weren't dominating the ball or dictating on the ball. We were allowing the offense to do what they wanted to do. That was disappointing, and the team is going to see it for the first time. I talked postgame about playing against the game, and the standard that we've set. That's going to continue every day. What we try to tell them, is that regardless of where we are in the season, we've got some big games down the road. Our job as coaches is to get them to understand that every day you're either winning or losing. You're either getting better or you're not. For young people, sometimes it's hard to look in the future. You're concerned about today and only today. We're not worried about January or February. That's where we're at right now, and hopefully we can get more of that buy in. If we do, then we have a chance to be good later."
Q: How important is it to have in-state matchups during nonconference games to try and build basketball in the state of Mississippi?
CJ: "I'm glad that we're able to do that. I think to grow the game in our state and get young people more aware of all the schools and universities playing this game that we all love. I've been on the other side of that, and it's fun to have a crack at the bigger school from the bigger conference. Certainly, it's a little risky at times when you're Mississippi State playing those type folks, because they've circled that game on their calendars and what a big opportunity for them. That'll be something we talk about as we get closer to those games, but I'm really glad we get the chance to do that this year."
Q: What have you seen from Shakeel Moore and what's going on with his shot right now, because they look good, but just aren't going in?
CJ: "In terms of Shak, he works at his craft. He's frustrated, but he's getting wide open looks. That's what I keep telling a lot of our guys. 'Take advantage of it. They're not guarding you.' If I was you, I'd be living in the gym and just getting that thing ready. They're going to give you open looks. So, be ready and take advantage of it. Until you knock them down, they're going to guard you the same way. What an opportunity for you to get in that gym, earn that confidence and watch that ball go through the net. Then, when the lights are on and the shots are meaningful, you can step up and make some big ones and not have to work as hard to get shots with how they're guarding Tolu [Smith] and a lot of our guys on the perimeter."
"Specifically with Shak, like you mentioned, the shots look good. Every time he rises up, I think it's going to go down. We haven't talked about it a ton. In my opinion, the way to get out of it is to just get in the gym, rep it out, trust your stroke and feel good about it. Like I said postgame, I think individually and collectively we're going to have some breakout games coming up. The lid is going to come off the basket, and it's going to help us score the ball a lot better."
Q: How important will a good in state crowd be for the Jackson game in couple of weeks?
CJ: "I'm looking forward to it. Not to bring up a sore subject, but I played in that building. I know what it feels like, I know what it looks like and what it sounds like. So, that will be comforting to me. It won't be as foreign as you would expect with a new coach playing in a building outside of where you play your home games."
"I'd assume, with them [Jackson State] being a local team and us being two hours away, knowing we have a ton of Bulldogs and fans around the area … I don't have a huge expectation. I don't know what to expect to be honest with you. We're hopeful that we'll get a lot of Bulldogs in the building, and it'll feel like a home game for us. I would anticipate a really good crowd for that matchup."
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's BasketballJosh Hubbard - "I'm Back"
Friday, April 17
MEN'S BASKETBALL | Chris Jans & Players SEC Tournament Postgame vs. Auburn - 3/11/26
Thursday, March 12
MEN'S BASKETBALL | Chris Jans Media Session - 3/9/26
Monday, March 09
MEN'S BASKETBALL | Josh Hubbard & Ja'Borri McGhee Postgame Press Conference vs. Georgia - 3/7/26
Sunday, March 08