Gameday: Five Things To Know MSU-Florida

by Matt Dunaway, Director/Communications

NASHVILLE, Tennessee – Mississippi State men's basketball turns its attention to the SEC Tournament as the Bulldogs meet Florida in the event's return to Nashville to open up Thursday's second round action at Bridgestone Arena, home of the NHL's Nashville Predators.

State (20-11, 8-10 SEC) finished the regular season as one of the SEC's hottest teams winning eight of their last 11 games. The run has been highlighted by a trio of NCAA NET Quad 1 wins over No. 11 TCU (01/28), at Arkansas (02/11) and against No. 25 Texas A&M (02/25) in addition to NCAA NET Quad 2 triumphs over Missouri (02/14) and securing a rivalry sweep over Ole Miss (02/18).

The Bulldogs season profile is fueled by a three-point victory over No. 6 Marquette, the BIG EAST regular season champion. State is joined by No. 5 Purdue, No. 8 Arizona and No. 11 Connecticut to earn an undefeated mark with multiple victories over NCAA NET Quad 1 opponents.

Florida (16-15, 9-9 SEC) emerged with back-to-back wins at Georgia (77-67 – 02/28) and against LSU (79-67 – 03/04) to close out the regular season on a strong note. The signature win for the Gators during the regular season was a 67-54 victory over No. 2 Tennessee (02/01).

One of the staples of a Coach Jans team is all-out effort and a suffocating defense. State is the nation's only program to rank inside the top 15 in scoring defense (60.4 – 2nd SEC • 8th nationally), opponent field goal percentage (39.3 – 3rd SEC • 10th nationally) and steals (8.94 – 2nd SEC • 17th nationally).

Historically at State, the 60.4 points per game allowed is the program's fifth-lowest average through 31 games in the modern era since 1955-56, which was Babe McCarthy's first season.

The Maroon and White has dialed up 277 steals on an 8.9 per game clip through 31 games. The 8.9 steals average is third-best in program history through 31 games trailing only the 1991-92 squad coached by Richard Williams and the SEC championship 2003-04 team led by Rick Stansbury.

According to KenPom, the Bulldogs are among the nation's top 25 in six additional categories which include steal percentage (13.6 – 5th), adjusted defensive efficiency (91.8 – 7th), effective defensive field goal percentage (46.0 – 15th), offensive rebounding percentage (35.1 – 18th), defensive turnover percentage (22.4 – 22nd), two-point field goal percentage defense (45.7 – 24th).

State also possesses top 5 SEC marks and has forced its opponents into 14.71 turnovers per game (3rd), secured a +2.19 turnover margin (3rd), limited opponents to a 30.9 three-point percentage (4th), compiled a 1.15 assist-to-turnover ratio (4th), grabbed 37.14 rebounds per game (4th), notched a +3.81 rebounding margin (5th) and dished out 14.42 assists per game (5th).
Florida's Todd Golden won all seven of his regular season meetings versus his fellow SEC first-year coaches. The Gators have weathered the storm of losing All-SEC First-Team pick Colin Castleton (16.0 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 3.0 BPG, 2.7 APG) to injury.

Riley Kugel (9.7 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 1.0 APG), an All-SEC Freshman Team selection, has done the heavy lifting for Florida as of late. He has piled up 18.3 points per contest and eight consecutive outings in double figures ignited by a trio of 20-plus point performances. His eight-game run in conference play is the most by a UF freshman since Bradley Beal in 2011-12.

Will Richard (10.8 PPG, 4.5 RPG) has provided double digit points in four of his last six games. He has drained a team-leading 50 treys and posted a career-best 24 points aided by five trifectas at Georgia.

Kyle Lofton (9.0 PPG, 3.5 APG, 1.1 SPG) tops the Gators in assists and steals. He has secured 10+ points in four of his last seven sparked by a SEC season's best 16 points versus LSU last time out, while Myreon Jones (5.2 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.0 SPG) posted a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds at Georgia.

Kowacie Reeves (8.7 PPG, 2.6 RPG), Trey Bonham (6.0 PPG, 1.2 APG) and Alex Fudge (5.9 PPG, 4.6 RPG) have been Florida's top performers off the bench for a majority of the season. Reeves pumped home a SEC season-high 16 points versus Kentucky.

SERIES HISTORY VS. FLORIDA AND SEC TOURNAMENT HISTORY
The Bulldogs have won three of the last five in the series over Florida since 2018-19 with all five meetings being decided by single digits. Earlier this season, the Gators earned a 61-59 decision in Starkville. Overall, Florida possesses a 67-52 series advantage

The two programs have split its four previous SEC Tournament meetings. State opened a run to the 2010 SEC Tournament Finals with a 75-69 win over the Gators. Barry Stewart led the way with 17 points followed by Jarvis Varnado's 15 points and four blocks.

The Maroon and White has won its last five SEC Tournament openers and captured three SEC Tournament titles in program history (1996, 2002, 2009).

The Matchup: Mississippi State (20-11, 8-10 SEC) vs. Florida (16-15, 9-9 SEC)
Where: Nashville, Tennessee – Bridgestone Arena
When: Thursday, March 9, noon CT
Live Stats: StatBroadcast (https://hailst.at/MBKLiveStats)

TV: SEC Network
Talent: Karl Ravech, Jimmy Dykes, Marty Smith
Channel Lineup: Ch. 611 (DirecTV); Ch. 404/408 (Dish); Ch. 220 (C-Spire); Ch. 1026 (MaxxSouth)
Online: ESPN App (Cable Subscription Required)
(https://hailst.at/WatchESPN)

Radio: Mississippi State Sports Network – Powered by Learfield
Talent: Neil Price, Richard Williams
Affiliates: WKBB-FM 100.9 Starkville/West Point (Full List: https://hailst.at/MBKAffiliates)
Free Online Audio: Hail State On-Demand (https://hailst.at/MBKListen); The Varsity Network App

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT MISSISSIPPI STATE
1. Chris Jans, one of the nation's premier bench bosses, leads State's program. He is assisted by James Miller, David Anwar and George Brooks. His New Mexico State program which Miller and Anwar were apart of became the Western Athletic Conference's (WAC) standard bearer after racking up four regular season championships, three NCAA Tournament appearances and three WAC Tournament titles.

Jans, a three-time WAC Coach of the Year, owns an impressive .748 winning percentage (163-55) in his seventh season as a NCAA Division I head coach. The .748 clip is fifth nationally trialing only Gonzaga's Mark Few (.836), Kansas' Bill Self (.769), Kentucky's John Calipari (.760) and San Diego State's Brian Dutcher (.757).

Jans is the only men's basketball coach at State to win his opening 11 games. The previous mark was held by E.C. Hayes, who completed the 1911-12 season at 9-0 and won the opening game of the 1912-13 campaign.

The 11-0 start for the Maroon and White was the program's fourth start with at least 11 straight wins and the program's best start since the 2003-04 SEC regular season championship campaign began with a 13-0 mark.

Jans is one of three coaches in SEC history to start his first season with at least 11 consecutive victories (John Calipari, Kentucky, 2009-10; Floyd Burdette, Alabama, 1946-47).

The 20 wins for Jans at State are tied with Rick Stansbury in 1998-99 for the program's highest total during his first season.

As a junior college head coach, Jans won the 1997-98 NJCAA Division II National Championship at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He also played a vital role as an assistant coach at Wichita State which was headed by a 2013 NCAA Final Four run, five NCAA Tournament trips and four Missouri Valley Conference regular season crowns.

2. Tolu Smith (15.4 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 1.8 APG) is one of five SEC players to dial up All-SEC First-Team and All-SEC Preseason First-Team accolades. The Bulldogs have had an All-SEC First-Team pick in four of the last five seasons. Smith's company includes Quinndary Weatherspoon (2018-19), Reggie Perry (2019-20) and Iverson Molinar (2021-22).

Smith, the 2023 Bailey Howell Trophy recipient awarded to the State of Mississippi's top college player, has started 81 of his 82 career appearances where he has amassed 1,152 points, 648 rebounds and connected on 57.6 percent of his field goal attempts in Maroon and White. The 57.6 shooting clip is 5th in program history among players who have made at least 400 field goals.

Smith and Kentucky's Oscar Tshiebwe are the only SEC players in 2022-23 to rank among the league's top 10 in points (15.39 – 8th) along with league's top 5 in double-doubles (10 – 2nd), rebounds (8.32 – 3rd) and field goal percentage (58.3 – 1st).

Smith and Tshiebwe are two of five Power 5 players to average at least 15.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and shoot 55 percent or better from the field. The others are Zach Edey (Purdue), Trayce Jackson-Davis (Indiana) and Azuolas Tubelis (Arizona).

Smith has piled up 62 career outings in double figures, 23 double-doubles and registered 11 of his 17 outings of 20-plus points versus SEC competition. He became the sixth MSU player since 2017-18 and the 42nd player overall to reach 1,000 points with a SEC season's best 25 points during the Missouri game (02/04).

Smith has stepped it up with 17.3 points and 9.1 rebounds per game over his last 15 outings sparked by all 15 games in double figures and eight double-doubles. He dialed up a career-high tying 27 points at Vanderbilt (03/04) and versus No. 11 TCU (01/28). Overall, Smith has piled up nine career 20-10 outings.

3. In addition to Smith, State's returning group is highlighted by D.J. Jeffries, Cameron Matthews and Shakeel Moore.

Jeffries (9.0 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.2 SPG) reached 1,000 career points in-style with a season's best 18 points ignited by a career-high five treys versus LSU (02/08). He collected his fourth career double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds at Vanderbilt (03/04).

Jeffries provided double figures in three of his last five outings and in 16 total games, which is second on the team. The Olive Branch product has racked up 58 career games where Mississippi State and Memphis has garnered a 43-15 record.

Jeffries continues to showcase his versatility with 50 career games of 5+ rebounds, 27 outings with 2+ three-pointers made, 27 career outings with 3+ assists, 25 career games with multiple steals and 19 career outings with multiple blocks.

Matthews (7.4 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 2.4 APG, 1.6 SPG) has already secured 8 of his top 11 career scoring performances in 2022-23. He collected a season's best and SEC career-high 17 points coupled with 7 rebounds and 3 assists at Ole Miss (02/18).

Matthews has fired in double figures in four of his last seven and six of his last 11 outings. He has amassed 9.1 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 2.9 APG and 1.8 SPG over his last 11 games.

Matthews is the only SEC player and one of four Power 5 players to average at least 7.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game. The others are Jamie Jaquez (UCLA), Kevin McCullar (Kansas) and Justyn Mutts (Virginia Tech).

Like Jeffries, his high school teammate from Olive Brach where the duo won a state championship in 2017-18, Matthews is a stat sheet stuffer. For his career, he has piled up 23 of his 41 outings with 2+ assists, 20 of his 38 performances of 5+ rebounds and 17 of his 36 games with 2+ steals during the 2022-23 campaign.

Matthews secured his first career double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds versus No. 11 TCU (01/28). He is the only SEC player in 2022-23 to hit at least five blocks, five assists and five steals during a game. Matthews has secured 5+ assists three times and 5+ steals twice in 2022-23.

Moore (9.8 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.8 SPG) has collected 25 of his 30 career games with 10-plus points in Maroon and White. Mississippi State and NC State are a combined 21-9 when Moore secures double figures.

Over his last 14 games, Moore has accounted for 12.5 points per contest. He ripped off a career-high 22 points on 9-of-11 shooting at South Carolina (01/31) followed by 20-point performances versus No. 9 Tennessee (01/17) and South Carolina (02/28). The North Carolina native has tucked away 10+ points in six of his last eight, eight of his last 11 and 10 of his last 14 outings.

Moore was one of three SEC players joined by Kentucky's Tshiebwe and Tennessee's Zakai Zeigler and one of 15 players nationally on the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Watch List.

Moore has tallied multiple steals in 43 of 88 career games and his 1.8 steals per contest are 8th on the SEC leaderboard this season. The North Carolina native's 1.6 SPG were 12th in the SEC (2021-22), while his 1.4 SPG were 9th in the ACC (2020-21).

Both Moore and Matthews have gone over the century mark in steals for their careers. The last time State had two players on its roster with 100-plus steals at the same time was Quinndary Weatherspoon and Lamar Peters during the 2018-19 season.

4. The Bulldogs have four talented transfers making contributions which include Dashawn Davis (Oregon State), Will McNair Jr. (New Mexico State), Eric Reed Jr. (Southeast Missouri) and Tyler Stevenson (Southern Miss).

Davis was the Pac-12's leader in assists with 5.5 dimes per game and a 2.2 assist-to-turnover ratio in 2021-22 with Oregon State. The last Oregon State player to lead the Pac-12 was Gary Payton, a Naismith Hall of Famer and NBA 75th Anniversary Team member.

Davis (8.3 PPG, 3.4 APG, 1.7 SPG) finished among the SEC's top 10 with a 2.0 assist-to-turnover ratio (4th), 3.7 assists per game (8th) and 1.9 steals per game (5th) in league games.

Davis secured a SEC season-high 17 points at Arkansas (02/11), posted a 16-point outing during State's win over No. 11 TCU (01/28) and provided all 12 of his points during the second half/overtime at Ole Miss (02/18).

Earlier this season, Davis averaged 15.0 points per contest en route to Fort Myers Tip-Off All-Tournament Team honors. The New York native drained five of his career-high six treys against Utah (11/23) during the second half.

For his career, Davis has turned in 24 games of 10+ points and 2 games of 20+ points to go along with 16 of his 29 games of 2+ steals in 2022-23 and 27 career games of 5+ assists. He has equaled his season's best with six assists four times in SEC play: at No. 8 Tennessee (01/03), versus Missouri (02/04), against LSU (02/08) and versus South Carolina (02/28).

Reed Jr., a 2022 All-Ohio Valley First-Team and NABC All-District 18 Second-Team pick, has started 70 of his 88 career games between MSU and Southeast Missouri.

Reed Jr. (4.1 PPG, 2.1 RPG) came away with a season's best 15 points during the Marquette game (11/21), while his best SEC outing was 9 points against Ole Miss (01/07) and at Missouri (02/21). He has drained multiple triples in 6 games in 2022-23 and in 43 career games.

McNair Jr. improved his stat averages over his first three seasons under Coach Jans at New Mexico State. He has amassed 14 games of 10+ points coupled with 36 games of 5+ rebounds, 13 games of 2+ blocks and 10 games of 2+ assists over his career.

McNair Jr. (3.4 PPG, 3.1 RPG) has piled up his top 3 scoring efforts in Maroon and White all against SEC opponents: 13 points versus Ole Miss (01/07) followed by 10 points against No. 8 Alabama (12/28) in the SEC opener and 10 points versus Florida (01/21).

McNair Jr. has hauled down 7 rebounds versus Ole Miss (01/07), No. 8 Alabama (12/28) and Arkansas – Pine Bluff (11/11). For the season, he's notched 11 efforts of 5+ points and 10 outings of 5+ rebounds in 2022-23.

Stevenson registered 74 starts over four seasons where he notched 2021-22 All-Conference USA Honorable Mention and was a Bailey Howell Trophy finalist at Southern Miss. He was one of three USM players to pile up over 1,200 career points and 600-plus rebounds during the 2000s.

Stevenson's (4.0 PPG, 1.8 RPG) season-high is 15 points during a start at No. 8 Tennessee (01/03). He also ripped off double figures in three consecutive games against No. 11 TCU (01/28), at South Carolina (01/31) and versus Missouri (02/04). Stevenson has collected 9 outings of 5+ points and 3 efforts of 5+ rebounds in 2022-23.

5. Mississippi State freshmen class includes redshirt freshman KeShawn Murphy coupled with true freshmen Kimani Hamilton, Martavious Russell and Shawn Jones Jr.

Jones Jr. (3.4 PPG, 1.6 RPG) has ripped off 7 of top 10 scoring efforts against SEC squads with all seven coming over State's final eight games of the regular season (02/08-03/04). He poured in a season's best 11 points versus South Carolina (02/28), his first career outing in double figures.

Jones Jr. has doubled his season average to 6.8 points per contest over his last five appearances. He is shooting 12-of-24 from the field during the five-game run.

Hamilton's season's best 9 points at No. 8 Tennessee (01/03). His best all-around effort was 4 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists versus South Dakota (11/17). He has tallied 5+ points on four occasions.

Murphy came away with a career-high 11 points against No. 8 Alabama (12/28) during the SEC opener and a 10-point effort versus Drake (12/20). He has tallied 5+ points five times.

Russell collected a season-high 7 points against Arkansas – Pine Bluff (11/11). His one-handed flush inside the contest's final minute earned the No. 5 spot on SportsCenter's Top 10.

Visit www.HailState.com for the latest news and information on the men's basketball program. Fans also can follow the program on its social media outlets by searching 'HailStateMBK' on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Gameday: Five Things To Know MSU-Florida

Players Mentioned

Dashawn Davis

Kimani Hamilton

D.J. Jeffries

Shawn Jones Jr.

Cameron Matthews

Will McNair Jr.

Iverson Molinar

Shakeel Moore

KeShawn Murphy

Eric Reed Jr.

Martavious Russell

Tolu Smith III

Tyler Stevenson

Mississippi State University Athletics