Starting A New Journey
November 07, 2023 | Men's Basketball, Joel Coleman
Bulldogs begin quest to get back to the madness of March.
STARKVILLE – Every journey has a first step. For head coach Chris Jans and his 2023-24 Mississippi State men's basketball team, that step comes Wednesday night at 8 p.m. in Chicago as the Bulldogs tip off the season against Arizona State in the Barstool Sports Invitational.
"Christmas is finally here," Jans said. "I think we've all been waiting for this day for quite some time."
About eight months, in fact. That's how long it's been since the Dawgs last played a game that counted.
The last time on the court was a bittersweet moment back in March.
The sweet part was the fact the contest was in the NCAA Tournament as part of the Bulldogs' return to the big dance in Jans' debut season.
The bitter? Of course, the heartbreaking result.
Yet as State starts a new year, last season's disappointing ending is serving as a driving force.
"We know what we need to do," Shawn Jones Jr. said. "Our goal this year is to make a run and go as far as we can. We know we have to step it up, play even harder, be physical and do even more. That's basically the plan, is just to do more."
Said D.J. Jeffries: "We're just trying to be better than last year and grow each and every day."
So many from last year's special bunch have returned. In fact, the Bulldogs bring back 80.9 percent of their points, 72.4 percent of their rebounds, 83.8 percent of their assists, 83.6 percent of their steals and 75.2 percent of their blocks from a season ago.
That's been supplemented with a tremendous wave of newcomers ranging from college basketball veterans like transfers Jimmy Bell Jr. from West Virginia and Andrew Taylor from Marshall, as well as promising freshmen including the state of Mississippi's all-time leading scorer in the high school ranks, Josh Hubbard.
"Man, we have a lot of great talent and people that can do a lot of great things," Jeffries said. "Once the season starts, I feel like everyone is going to see how good of a team we are."
With a challenging nonconference schedule and the grueling Southeastern Conference slate ahead, there's no doubt the Bulldogs will have chances aplenty to prove their ability. And it starts right from the jump.
Like MSU, Arizona State begins its season fresh off an NCAA Tournament appearance. The Sun Devils won 23 games a year ago – the most for the school since 2009.
However, this will be a new-look ASU squad. Arizona State features 11 new players on this year's roster, including seven from the transfer portal. But with the Sun Devils still under the direction of ninth-year head coach Bobby Hurley, Jans has an idea of what the Bulldogs will be up against in the Windy City.
"They're known for their guard play," Jans said of ASU. "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."
And when the Sun Devils don't have the basketball?
"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," Jans explained. "A lot of that has to with not just their size at the rim, but even on the wings. They'll probably start [6-foot-6 and 6-foot-8 guys] 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."
Jans sums it all up this way: "It'll be a heck of an opener for both of us."
It should indeed be an exciting beginning to what has the potential to be another special year for the Maroon and White.
And step No. 2 of this year's ride will be pretty cool, too. That'll come Saturday in State's home opener at the newly-renovated Humphrey Coliseum.
The Dawgs are excited for that moment but…
"It'll be a lot more exciting if we're 1-0," Jans said.
No doubt about it.
Let the journey begin.
