WATCH: Coach Jans Media Session

STARKVILLE - Mississippi State men's basketball head coach Chris Jans met with the media before Tuesday's practice to preview the team's matchup with Rutgers heading into the Holiday break.

2023-24 Mississippi State Men's Basketball Quotes
Media Session – December 19, 2023

Mississippi State Head Coach Chris Jans
Q: What are some of your impressions on Rutgers and the battle they present on Saturday?
CJ: "Yeah, it's going to be quite the challenge. We knew that when we scheduled it. Coach Pikiell's done a tremendous job. I think he's been up there for seven or eight years, and he's built a brand of basketball that people who follow the game respect. They've got a toughness about them. They play together. They've got a core group of guys that have been there, done that for them. He's just done a really good job with the program."

"They've got great size. They protect the rim at an elite level. They've got some dynamic scoring to go along with it, and they're getting healthy. They just got a kid back [Mawot Mag] that hadn't been playing, and he was a core player for them in years past. They're getting healthier it seems like every week."

Q: Will you and the team get any time off for Christmas? What's the schedule like after Rutgers?
CJ: "Yeah, we'll go our separate ways for the most part when that game's complete. Then, we don't play until the 31st [New Year's Eve Day]. So, we still have a chance to have a nice break which I'm a big proponent of. That's where they need to be. They need to be with their families celebrating Christmas. Equally important from a basketball perspective is just to get away from it a little bit and get off their legs. Kind of resting their bodies and their minds and enjoying the holiday with their families. But we'll bring them back on the 27th that evening. So, we'll still have three and a half full days of preparation for our game against Bethune-Cookman."

Q: What have you seen from Cameron [Matthews] and D.J. [Jeffries] in terms of the way they play together on their court with their chemistry and how it's continued to grow, knowing they've played together since high school?
CJ: "Yeah, I didn't really answer Paul's two-person question earlier, but I will now. Cam was ticked off. I could use a different word, but that's probably more appropriate. He just had an edge about him before the ball was tipped [before Sunday's game]. You'd have to ask him why, I'm not sure. I've got my own thoughts on it, but he's better that way. Some guys aren't. Some guys need to be more chill and more relaxed. Cam needs his motor running hot. He needs to be just aggressive from the jump. Like I said, I'm not sure exactly like I said how he got to that point before the ball was tipped, but I could see it. That influenced his play on the court."

"When we're our best, I don't think we expect him to have a stat line like that every single night, but we expect him to play with that kind of aggressiveness and that kind of athleticism. Just knowing that's his responsibility for us. He has to be that energy warrior, if you will, and a guy that plays so hard that everybody feels like, 'Man, I've got to join in or he might get mad at me.' Whatever the case may be. We've been encouraging him behind the scenes to be more vocal with his teammates. They will listen to you, and they respect you. He's been doing that. He did it in that game. Then, even like I said when people watch him, when he's teammates watch him, I've got to believe they think, 'Hey, I better get with it too.' Otherwise, I don't want to be called out by my teammates for not playing with that kind of intensity.""

Q: With Tolu [Smith] easing his way back into practice with SEC play approaching sooner than we all know it, do you have a target date in mind for him?
CJ: "I've got a target date, today [laughter]. But unfortunately, I don't have a vote. They don't ask me when I want him back."
"It's entirely up to the trainers, the doctors, and Tolu himself. He's got a progression that he's got to go through. It's still going to be a while. He's got a lot of things that he's got to do [before he's able to play]. He's just kind of gotten in the shallow end the past couple days prior to the North Texas game. We'll reconvene today for physical practice. We were off yesterday, and we'll see where he's at, but there's no [official] date that I've been told yet."

Q: With KeShawn [Murphy] and the ability he has to stretch the floor, we haven't seen that much this season. How much of that is him trying to get a rhythm and get some consistent playing time to be able to find his stroke from outside?
CJ: "KeShawn is a capable shooter. His biggest strength is just his overall skill set. He can do a little bit of everything. He's an excellent passer. He's got great vision. He's got good feel especially as a pick-and-roll guy. He knows where the space is or isn't. So, he reads it appropriately in terms of whether it should be a roll or a pop. Sometimes, that's hard for kids on the fly to see that. For some guys that can't shoot the ball as well, I mean they're choices are limited too. They need to be rolling more than popping. But Murph has the ability to do different things and stretch the floor. He's unique enough that he can actually be both the screener and a receiver of a ball screen, because he can put it on the deck and make plays for himself and others."

"It all boils down to the other end [defense] for him. He's still a work in progress in terms of just understanding the defense, buying into it, playing harder and competing longer. He knows that. I just saw him walking in, and he's a wonderful, wonderful human being. I love that he's in our program, and I love coaching him. He gets it. His minutes and his productivity are going to be tied to his continued growth on that end of the floor and just being more aggressive on the backboards as well as playing with a little more toughness than maybe he's used to. He gives us such a different threat on the perimeter, and his ability to play both the four and the five. Like we talked about after the game on Sunday, he just gives us more flexibility with our lineups if he can get that other end going a little better."

Q: We saw Josh [Hubbard] getting some work in late after the Murray State game. We've seen what he's been able to bring. When it comes behind the scenes and the stuff we can't see, what's his reputation among the coaching staff, and what have you noticed about him?
CJ: "Yeah, he's a joy to coach. He's a dream that way. He's all about the right stuff. He's got a great approach, mindset and work ethic. You can coach him hard, and he looks you directly in the eye and takes coaching. He tries to get it on the floor. We're so fortunate that he's with us. He's already made a big impact on the court and even off the court."

Recently, what he's been doing that I've been impressed with, is just bringing more energy to practice, not just for himself but for others. Finding his voice. I talked about that a few weeks ago with him. He's got the ability to be a leader even at a young age because he understands the game. He's got respect because of his work ethic, and how he goes about his business every day. But sometimes, as a young player, there's some steps you have to go through. There may be a little bit of fear of, 'Hey, this isn't my place.' But he's done it the right way, and I hope he continues to do that. We're certainly going to encourage him behind the scenes because he's a guy that I think, regardless of age, other players will heed their advice because they respect him. He's been great so far, and hopefully he'll continue."

Q: Rutgers is last in the Big Ten in scoring offense but first in scoring defense. Having just played another defensive minded oriented team like North Texas, does that make this game a little easier to prepare for?"
CJ: "I wouldn't say easy, but I understand the question. You're on point. I love North Texas and their program, as well as Coach Hodge and their staff. But just look at the paper. They're going to be bigger, stronger and faster. It's going to be a different version of that, but it's similar in terms of how they want to win. They want to get you into rock fights. They want to get you into some halfcourt games as best as possible. They want to control the tempo to their favor, and they just want to impose their will on you. It's going to be a very hard-fought game. I imagine the intensity level will be as high as any game we've played in thus far. They'll certainly want to defend their [home] turf, if you will. No one wants to go into Christmas break without that winning feeling heading into conference play. So, it's a big game for both programs."

Mississippi State University Athletics

WATCH: Coach Jans Media Session

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