Bulldogs Getting Even More From Moore
February 09, 2023 | Men's Basketball, Joel Coleman
MSU guard has been a huge part of State’s recent surge.
STARKVILLE – It was back on January 25 at Alabama when Mississippi State head coach Chris Jans made the call to put guard Shakeel Moore in the starting lineup for the first time all season.
For the campaign's first two-plus months, Moore had served as a spark off of Jans' bench. Moore was getting key Bulldog buckets and was a huge piece of the State puzzle as a reserve, but an even larger opportunity knocked for Moore in Tuscaloosa.
"It was just time," Jans said that night.
Pretty much ever since, all Moore has done is prove his coach right.
Mississippi State heads to Arkansas this weekend on a four-game winning streak and right at the center of the surge has been Moore. In State's four consecutive victories, Moore has scored in double-figures in three of the games, averaging 13.5 points per contest over the entire stretch. At South Carolina, Moore led his team to the triumph behind a career-best 22-point showing.
None of this is to even mention all Moore has been providing on the defensive end as one of 15 players nationally on the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Watch List.
It's arguable Moore is playing the very best basketball of his Bulldog career. Jans attributes it to Moore's developing trust in his shooting ability.
"I've been telling him to shoot more," Jans said. "He's turned down too many shots. He's a guard, and he's a scorer. He's got to have that confidence internally.
"He's got a wonderful shot fake. It's a heck of a weapon. But it's almost been to the point where he relies on it too much and he turns shots down we think he should take. And I hear his teammates tell him the same thing. But if you pay attention, he's taking shots that normally in closeout situations with the defender coming at him, he would've shot faked and tried to get in the lane or tried to kick it out to someone else. So, he's heeding the advice and he's shooting more open shots and he needs to do that."
It's easy to keep taking more shots when they're falling, and Moore's certainly have of late. His success behind the three-point line illustrates it.
Moore has made 23 3-pointers this season and close to half of them have come in the five games since he's been inserted in the starting lineup. He's 9-for-22 from deep since the game at Alabama, proving his shot is absolutely one the Bulldogs can trust.
Before the ball was going through the net for Moore though, he did have to overcome some shooting woes. Moore was only 6-for-his-previous-29 from long range in the seven games before becoming a starter. However, Moore has never been one to let struggles get him down.
"I've got three words [for how I deal with adversity]: trials and tribulations," Moore explained. "I've always been a soldier in my life and always had to battle through things. I just feel like this was probably the easiest battle I've had because I've had so many battles for so long. It's just staying the course, trusting my work, trusting my efforts and it's making me successful."
Moore has always been one who's not afraid to put in the extra time when no one's watching to iron out kinks in his game. Last season, on occasion, he'd return to the floor after games to get up extra shots. This year, Moore has dug into film and put in even more time on his own.
Moore continually benefits from an incredibly strong work ethic – something he attributes to his mother.
"I saw her raise four boys by herself and struggled by herself," Moore said. "Seeing her has made me stronger. She has never, ever given up, so I don't think I could ever give up. I take on her traits."
Moore's efforts have him shining as brightly as ever for the Bulldogs. Mississippi State has always got a lot from him, but now MSU is getting even more from Moore.
He's obviously loving producing for his team as a starter, too. But don't get it twisted. Moore is always willing to take on whatever role Jans wants him to. Whatever it takes to give the Dawgs the best chance to win again and again and again.
"Of course, everybody wants to start, but I've seen it all," Moore said. "I've been the guy to come off the bench. I started last year 29 of 34 games. So, whatever coach wants me to do to help the team win, I'll do it. I'm one of those guys. I'm not a guy that feels things should be a certain way. Whatever coach says, I'm going to do it."
