Jans And Dawgs Eagerly Eye Hump Debut
November 10, 2023 | Men's Basketball, Joel Coleman
State men play their first home game of the season Saturday at 4 p.m.
STARKVILLE – Fences. Loud noises. Paint.
Since Chris Jans became Mississippi State's head men's basketball coach back in March of 2022, he's seen or heard plenty of the above as the Humphrey Coliseum received its year-and-a-half-long makeover. Finally, after months and months of pardoning the progress, Jans' team can finally reap the reward of their patience.
Saturday at 4 p.m., MSU has its home opener against UT Martin. To say that Jans and his players are excited to try out their new-look digs is quite an understatement.
"Since I've arrived, this place has been under renovation," Jans said. "It's all I really know. So, for me, it's kind of the way it is. It's been the norm. I can't wait to see what the abnormal is with it being finished."
Adds first-year Bulldog, Josh Hubbard: "It's fun as a freshman to come on the team and there's a new renovation to The Hump. All the fans in there, it's definitely going to be fun. Me and the team, we've thought a lot about [this first game at home] for sure."
Jans actually got a sneak peek of the new Hump's game day atmosphere earlier this week. The Mississippi State women's program christened the refreshed arena with a 77-42 victory over Alcorn State on Monday.
Among those in the crowd? Jans himself.
"I watched some of [MSU women's head coach Sam Purcell's] opening win and walked around the concourse and took it all in – more from a fan perspective," Jans said. "It looked good. It felt good. I can't wait to get down there [on the floor for our game]."
Jans' players feel the same way and want to enjoy the moment with the Bulldog family.
"We need y'all to pack The Hump," Shawn Jones Jr. said of his message to the fans. "Y'all give us more support, more go and more energy. If you're there, we're going to surprise y'all and excite y'all."
Dashawn Davis insists the fans are such a critical part of State's success. He saw it last year and hopes that gets taken up a notch this season in the renovated building.
"[The fans] definitely helped us win a lot of big games last year," Davis said. "We need that energy and need [them] there again to help us win."
Saturday's game is perfectly placed between a couple of other big Bulldog sporting events. State soccer will host Providence College in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at the MSU Soccer Field at 1 p.m. At 6:30 p.m., the football Bulldogs take on Texas A&M on the road.
It's no accident Jans and company are playing when they are, and they hope folks take advantage of it.
"We're sandwiched in between everything," Jans explained. "We did that on purpose, so people have no excuse not to come out and watch us in person. Hopefully, we'll see a bunch on Saturday."
Tickets are still available. Get yours at hailstate.com/tickets.
