Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics
WATCH: Coach Jans Media Session
November 06, 2023 | Men's Basketball
STARKVILLE - Head coach Chris Jans met with the media leading into Monday's practice to preview opening week against Arizona State (Wednesday - ~ 8 PM CT) in Chicago and UT Martin (Saturday - 4 PM CT) at Humphrey Coliseum.
2023-24 Mississippi State Men's Basketball
Media Session – November 6, 2023
Head Coach Chris Jans
Opening Statement
CJ: "Christmas is finally here. I think we've all been waiting for this day for quite some time. Certainly, as a coach and as a fan of college basketball, excited that the opening night is here. Unfortunately, we don't get to be a part of it. Our schedule didn't come together that way. So, we obviously have to wait a couple days before we play our first game. Then, a week before we get to play in the Hump [Humphrey Coliseum], but we're definitely looking forward to the season."
"I want to wish Coach Purcell, his staff and their players good luck tonight. They get to open the Hump, and I'm sure they're very, very excited to do that with the renovations, etcetera. I know they're preparing for an unbelievable season."
"I do have some injury updates before you ask me. Tolu Smith is still injured, and there's no update to his timeline of return, still. What the doctors and the trainers have told me mid-January. KeShawn Murphy has progressed. His timeline has been updated to mid-December instead of a later December return. Knock on wood, hopefully, that will continue. I do have one non-injury update, and that is that Shakeel Moore will not be with us this week due to a violation of team rules."
Q: Talk about being back in the Barstool event for the second straight year.
CJ: "For us, it's more just the matchup and the neutral court, which will include the possibilities of the NET [rankings] gain being higher than it would be if we've played someone at home. So, in terms of how it felt for our players or as a coach, it's like any other game. I think the experience of playing in that particular event is more so for the attendees. Then, how it's broadcasted and things of that nature, but from a basketball perspective there's no difference."
Q: What are some of your early impressions of what you've seen from Arizona State?
CJ: "Like most teams, right, they've got a lot of new players with a mix of returnees. They're known for their guard play. They're known for just how fast and downhill they play especially out front. From what we've heard and seen, I can't imagine it'll be any different this year. It starts out front and trying to contain those guys as best as you can. They've always had great length, and they do again this year, especially around the rim."
"They're known for their offensive plan and players. But if you get inside the numbers, their defense is what's rated higher, at least last year in terms of effective field goal percentage, defensive efficiency ratings and whatnot. A lot of that has to with not just their size at the rim, but even on the wings. They'll probably start 6-6 and 6-8 at the two and the three. We're not even close to something like that. So, that'll be different for us to play against that kind of length. We'll have to adjust as the ball starts bouncing, and we get comfortable out there. They're a formidable team. Coach Hurley obviously coming off an NCAA Tournament appearance. He's been there, done that. It'll be a heck of an opener for both of us."
Q: Where does Adrian Myers fit in the rotation? What confidence did Josh Hubbard give you to where he can maybe take a bigger role from the charity exhibition game last week?
CJ: "Like most true freshmen across the country, he's [Myers] trying to figure it out. He's going from 30 to 75 [miles per hour] in a hurry, and he's gotten better. He can really, really shoot the ball. He's gifted offensively."
"We're trying to change his body, get him to be a little more athletic and get him to understand what's required on the other parts of the game with defense, rebounding, accountability and understanding the system. All of that goes into getting comfortable enough to be on the court. He definitely could help us, and time will tell how the season unfolds."
"But in terms of Josh, he doesn't have an approach of a true freshman. He's just got a personality and a presence about him that's a little bit different than most kids walking in the door, and he's got a lot of confidence. That confidence comes from not only his ability, but the work ethic, what he's done to make himself the player that he is. He's proven to us at least thus far, we haven't played any meaningful games yet, that he's willing and able to help us move the needle and to be a part of the rotation. What that looks like later, time will tell."
Q: How have you felt Andrew Taylor and Jimmy Bell Jr. have adjusted to their roles?
CJ: "Jimmy's a vet. He's been around the block a couple times. He started 34 games in the Big 12 [at West Virginia]. So, he's been there and done that. I don't think we've done anything or said anything that's surprised him since he's arrived. I love his approach. He's very business-like. You know what you're going to get when he's on the court. That's something with all of our guys that we're trying to get them to understand. It's not a grab bag, right? We want to know, for the most part, what we're going to get when we put you in the game. We're still trying to figure that out with a lot of our guys. But with Jimmy, we're pretty comfortable with his adjustment to our scheme, our vocabulary and how we like to play."
"With Andrew, certainly there's maybe been a bigger adjustment for him, because of the levels that he used to play against on a daily basis. He's got to figure out angles, how to defend and how to keep some guys that are maybe a little quicker than he is in front of him. But he certainly has an offensive repertoire that he brings with him. That's why we brought him here to help us on the scoring end, and he's trying to do enough on the defensive end to keep him on the floor."
Q: How excited are you about renovations to Humphrey Coliseum on Saturday?
CJ: "Well, I'm not going to be the spoiler guy. I'm going to let everyone see it on their own, but that's all I know is the Hump under construction. Since I've arrived, it's been under construction. So, to me, it's the norm. So, I'm looking forward to the abnormal, if you will, which it'll be a finished product."
"I think both the men's and the women's teams are excited to get back in their quarters, if you will. Their locker rooms, their video rooms and their lounges, because we haven't been in them since the season ended. There's been some obstacles that we've all had to overcome to keep moving forward and to make sure we can get this thing renovated in a timely manner, but I think people are going to be excited to see it. I definitely know it's going to be a different feel than it was last year. I've spent some time yesterday walking around it trying to stay away from the people that were putting the finishing touches on it, but I think people are really going to enjoy it."
2023-24 Mississippi State Men's Basketball
Media Session – November 6, 2023
Head Coach Chris Jans
Opening Statement
CJ: "Christmas is finally here. I think we've all been waiting for this day for quite some time. Certainly, as a coach and as a fan of college basketball, excited that the opening night is here. Unfortunately, we don't get to be a part of it. Our schedule didn't come together that way. So, we obviously have to wait a couple days before we play our first game. Then, a week before we get to play in the Hump [Humphrey Coliseum], but we're definitely looking forward to the season."
"I want to wish Coach Purcell, his staff and their players good luck tonight. They get to open the Hump, and I'm sure they're very, very excited to do that with the renovations, etcetera. I know they're preparing for an unbelievable season."
"I do have some injury updates before you ask me. Tolu Smith is still injured, and there's no update to his timeline of return, still. What the doctors and the trainers have told me mid-January. KeShawn Murphy has progressed. His timeline has been updated to mid-December instead of a later December return. Knock on wood, hopefully, that will continue. I do have one non-injury update, and that is that Shakeel Moore will not be with us this week due to a violation of team rules."
Q: Talk about being back in the Barstool event for the second straight year.
CJ: "For us, it's more just the matchup and the neutral court, which will include the possibilities of the NET [rankings] gain being higher than it would be if we've played someone at home. So, in terms of how it felt for our players or as a coach, it's like any other game. I think the experience of playing in that particular event is more so for the attendees. Then, how it's broadcasted and things of that nature, but from a basketball perspective there's no difference."
Q: What are some of your early impressions of what you've seen from Arizona State?
CJ: "Like most teams, right, they've got a lot of new players with a mix of returnees. They're known for their guard play. They're known for just how fast and downhill they play especially out front. From what we've heard and seen, I can't imagine it'll be any different this year. It starts out front and trying to contain those guys as best as you can. They've always had great length, and they do again this year, especially around the rim."
"They're known for their offensive plan and players. But if you get inside the numbers, their defense is what's rated higher, at least last year in terms of effective field goal percentage, defensive efficiency ratings and whatnot. A lot of that has to with not just their size at the rim, but even on the wings. They'll probably start 6-6 and 6-8 at the two and the three. We're not even close to something like that. So, that'll be different for us to play against that kind of length. We'll have to adjust as the ball starts bouncing, and we get comfortable out there. They're a formidable team. Coach Hurley obviously coming off an NCAA Tournament appearance. He's been there, done that. It'll be a heck of an opener for both of us."
Q: Where does Adrian Myers fit in the rotation? What confidence did Josh Hubbard give you to where he can maybe take a bigger role from the charity exhibition game last week?
CJ: "Like most true freshmen across the country, he's [Myers] trying to figure it out. He's going from 30 to 75 [miles per hour] in a hurry, and he's gotten better. He can really, really shoot the ball. He's gifted offensively."
"We're trying to change his body, get him to be a little more athletic and get him to understand what's required on the other parts of the game with defense, rebounding, accountability and understanding the system. All of that goes into getting comfortable enough to be on the court. He definitely could help us, and time will tell how the season unfolds."
"But in terms of Josh, he doesn't have an approach of a true freshman. He's just got a personality and a presence about him that's a little bit different than most kids walking in the door, and he's got a lot of confidence. That confidence comes from not only his ability, but the work ethic, what he's done to make himself the player that he is. He's proven to us at least thus far, we haven't played any meaningful games yet, that he's willing and able to help us move the needle and to be a part of the rotation. What that looks like later, time will tell."
Q: How have you felt Andrew Taylor and Jimmy Bell Jr. have adjusted to their roles?
CJ: "Jimmy's a vet. He's been around the block a couple times. He started 34 games in the Big 12 [at West Virginia]. So, he's been there and done that. I don't think we've done anything or said anything that's surprised him since he's arrived. I love his approach. He's very business-like. You know what you're going to get when he's on the court. That's something with all of our guys that we're trying to get them to understand. It's not a grab bag, right? We want to know, for the most part, what we're going to get when we put you in the game. We're still trying to figure that out with a lot of our guys. But with Jimmy, we're pretty comfortable with his adjustment to our scheme, our vocabulary and how we like to play."
"With Andrew, certainly there's maybe been a bigger adjustment for him, because of the levels that he used to play against on a daily basis. He's got to figure out angles, how to defend and how to keep some guys that are maybe a little quicker than he is in front of him. But he certainly has an offensive repertoire that he brings with him. That's why we brought him here to help us on the scoring end, and he's trying to do enough on the defensive end to keep him on the floor."
Q: How excited are you about renovations to Humphrey Coliseum on Saturday?
CJ: "Well, I'm not going to be the spoiler guy. I'm going to let everyone see it on their own, but that's all I know is the Hump under construction. Since I've arrived, it's been under construction. So, to me, it's the norm. So, I'm looking forward to the abnormal, if you will, which it'll be a finished product."
"I think both the men's and the women's teams are excited to get back in their quarters, if you will. Their locker rooms, their video rooms and their lounges, because we haven't been in them since the season ended. There's been some obstacles that we've all had to overcome to keep moving forward and to make sure we can get this thing renovated in a timely manner, but I think people are going to be excited to see it. I definitely know it's going to be a different feel than it was last year. I've spent some time yesterday walking around it trying to stay away from the people that were putting the finishing touches on it, but I think people are really going to enjoy it."
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Basketball
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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