Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics
WATCH: Coach Jans Media Session
May 16, 2023 | Men's Basketball
STARKVILLE - Mississippi State men's basketball coach Chris Jans met with the media on Tuesday for the first time since the 2022-23 season ended.
2023-24 Mississippi State Men's Basketball Quotes
Media Session – May 16th, 2023
Q: What has been the plan of action since the season ended?
CJ: "It's been fast and furious. A lot of coaches have talked about the changes, and they're real. Every day, you wake up with a plan in mind. Some days that plan gets thrown out the window pretty quickly. It literally is adjusting on some days hourly to what is going on out there. We're no different than every other staff. We're trying to manage it as best we can, but there's a lot of moving parts. It's just different than it used to be back in the day. Everybody is trying to figure it out and make good decisions along the way. The offseason hasn't started yet. Hopefully, it will soon in terms of slowing down, but we're getting amped up for the guys to return for summer school, academics, getting back on the court and preparing for next season."
Q: What are your thoughts on Jimmy Bell Jr. and Andrew Taylor and bringing them in to what you are trying to build?
CJ: "People probably thought we were taking a vacation there for a few weeks. It was pretty quiet on the recruiting scene for us, but we weren't. There's a lot to it. We were doing a lot of evaluating. A lot of conversations were had on the phone. Everyone's roster is so fluid right now with the portal and potential graduate transfers. We're really excited about the two portal additions that we've had thus far."
"You mentioned Jimmy Bell [Jr.]. He just gives us an anchor if you will around the basket. He's got great size. He's a lefty and started 34 games for West Virginia in the Big 12. His numbers aren't maybe as gaudy as one would like. If you get underneath it and look, he did all of that in 18 minutes a game against great competition almost every single night. Just getting to know him, his background and what kind of person he is, we're excited for him to join our basketball family. We think he'll fit right in for what we want to do in terms of just our daily expectations. We're excited that he's part of us now."
"Andrew [Taylor] is someone that his numbers jump out of you, right? Albeit at a mid-major level but a successful program. Coach [Dan] D'Antoni is very respected. They won 24 games last year. He [Taylor] put up ridiculous numbers. I'm not trying to temper it. But, in reality, they also play a very wide-open style. The ability to put up bigger numbers on raw data is there for the individuals on that team because of the higher number of possessions that they have. So, he'll have to make somewhat of an adjustment to our style of play. It's different than what he's been used to. Having said all that – the ability to make baskets, the ability to be a good decision maker in the pick-in-roll game both for himself and for other guys on the court, I think it gives us another dynamic that we have been searching for since the season ended."
Q: Did you find yourself having a different approach in the transfer portal this season in compared to last season?
CJ: "Sure, it's different. We were in scramble-mode last year just trying to put a team together around the guys who decided to stay. So, we ended up having to sign a lot more guys in the spring than we are this year. It definitely was a different approach having a season under our belt, understanding the league better and understanding what we feel is required to be competitive and win SEC basketball games. Just now having gone through it, it just makes sense, right? Then again, we were pretty specific on what we thought we needed in the offseason, and we'll see if we make good decisions or not."
Q: Can you give us an update on Tolu Smith? Has he come to you for any advice?
CJ: "Just like last year when we first got here with the individual group meetings we had the days following after we arrived. We've been through this now, and we've had the same mindset for every one of the young men that are in Tolu's position. The guys we inherited last year, we told them from the jump that we were going to give them space. We understood that they had decisions to make. When we were new, it was more about them giving us a chance to know them. Let us share our vision for this program for you specifically."
"Now, since we have been here a year, it's a different type of retention. Tolu knows us, and he knows me. It's not as if I feel like it's straight recruiting mode like it was last year when we arrived. It's more go through the process mentally and physically. We're going to support you. We're here for you to be a sounding board if needed. At the same time, he knows we're biased. He's not just leaning on us when he's trying to figure out what's in store for his future. He's been great. We've had great open lines of communication. I'm sure everyone is wanting to know what his near future plans are, and we are too. He's on his own timetable, and he's trying to figure it out."
Q: A lot of excitement around the program coming off the NCAA Tournament appearance and you signing your contract extension. What's your message to the fanbase heading into the summer?
CJ: "Well, it's part of our sell to be honest with you. We talked to a lot of recruits and potential recruits about a year ago at this time when we arrived. We were new. I had no experience in the power five level, and most of my staff didn't either. We were selling them a dream if you will, a vision that we had for what we could do at Mississippi State. We weren't going to wait. We didn't have a two or three-year plan. It was about our first season, and our goal was to make the [NCAA] tournament. Now, after accomplishing that goal and doing what we did, we're just like we did what we said. We do what we say around here. We feel like we're in a better position now than we were a year ago. Things can change, like I said earlier, hourly and daily."
"In terms of our fans, that's kind of what we sold our guys. It was kind of flat and dormant when we walked out there for the first few games of the season. I'm not going to lie to you, I was a little disappointed, but I didn't know exactly what to expect either. I was just so pleasantly surprised by the continued addition of people in The Hump as the season unfolded. The students were unbelievable especially after the first couple of weeks. It kept growing and growing. Then, we had some sell outs. What we're selling everybody on is that we're going to unfurl a chapter in the Mississippi State history books with adding our year to the banner of an appearance in the [NCAA] tournament. We're going to open a 50-million-dollar renovation of The Hump. There's a lot of good things that are going on. We've established ourselves now. People are excited about Bulldog Basketball. I think our community has proven to be excited about our style of play at least from the comments that I'm receiving and by the continued addition of fans as the season progressed."
"Hopefully, we'll have better crowds in the fall. Hopefully, people are excited about next season. Obviously, a lot of people will come up to me and say that they can't wait for next year. My response is usually the same; I can [wait]. I'm looking forward to a break. The stress of a season, it will get here when it gets here. By then, we'll be ears back and ready to go. Right now, we're knee deep in a lot of other things and that season will roll around."
Q: How are the returning guys who got a taste of the NCAA Tournament and March Madness responding as they are getting ready for next year?
CJ: "I think they're excited slash relieved. For all of us when we're a part of college basketball, that's always a goal. To be a part of March Madness and to experience March Madness. I said it many times since the season ended that I feel good that we were able to get that done for these guys that have never experienced it. We had one guy in our program as a player [Will McNair Jr.] that had played in March Madness prior to last season. For them to have those memories and put that bullet point on their resume if you will, makes all of us feel really good."
"Certainly, we didn't stay as long as we wanted, and we left some meat on the plate if you will. I think they're motivated. I think they know now what it takes and what it could feel like if you're able to not only get in but advance. We're a long way away from talking about anything like that. We haven't obviously got our team on the floor yet. We've got no idea what that's going to feel like. I do believe that the returnees are pretty excited about what happened and are motivated going forward."
2023-24 Mississippi State Men's Basketball Quotes
Media Session – May 16th, 2023
Q: What has been the plan of action since the season ended?
CJ: "It's been fast and furious. A lot of coaches have talked about the changes, and they're real. Every day, you wake up with a plan in mind. Some days that plan gets thrown out the window pretty quickly. It literally is adjusting on some days hourly to what is going on out there. We're no different than every other staff. We're trying to manage it as best we can, but there's a lot of moving parts. It's just different than it used to be back in the day. Everybody is trying to figure it out and make good decisions along the way. The offseason hasn't started yet. Hopefully, it will soon in terms of slowing down, but we're getting amped up for the guys to return for summer school, academics, getting back on the court and preparing for next season."
Q: What are your thoughts on Jimmy Bell Jr. and Andrew Taylor and bringing them in to what you are trying to build?
CJ: "People probably thought we were taking a vacation there for a few weeks. It was pretty quiet on the recruiting scene for us, but we weren't. There's a lot to it. We were doing a lot of evaluating. A lot of conversations were had on the phone. Everyone's roster is so fluid right now with the portal and potential graduate transfers. We're really excited about the two portal additions that we've had thus far."
"You mentioned Jimmy Bell [Jr.]. He just gives us an anchor if you will around the basket. He's got great size. He's a lefty and started 34 games for West Virginia in the Big 12. His numbers aren't maybe as gaudy as one would like. If you get underneath it and look, he did all of that in 18 minutes a game against great competition almost every single night. Just getting to know him, his background and what kind of person he is, we're excited for him to join our basketball family. We think he'll fit right in for what we want to do in terms of just our daily expectations. We're excited that he's part of us now."
"Andrew [Taylor] is someone that his numbers jump out of you, right? Albeit at a mid-major level but a successful program. Coach [Dan] D'Antoni is very respected. They won 24 games last year. He [Taylor] put up ridiculous numbers. I'm not trying to temper it. But, in reality, they also play a very wide-open style. The ability to put up bigger numbers on raw data is there for the individuals on that team because of the higher number of possessions that they have. So, he'll have to make somewhat of an adjustment to our style of play. It's different than what he's been used to. Having said all that – the ability to make baskets, the ability to be a good decision maker in the pick-in-roll game both for himself and for other guys on the court, I think it gives us another dynamic that we have been searching for since the season ended."
Q: Did you find yourself having a different approach in the transfer portal this season in compared to last season?
CJ: "Sure, it's different. We were in scramble-mode last year just trying to put a team together around the guys who decided to stay. So, we ended up having to sign a lot more guys in the spring than we are this year. It definitely was a different approach having a season under our belt, understanding the league better and understanding what we feel is required to be competitive and win SEC basketball games. Just now having gone through it, it just makes sense, right? Then again, we were pretty specific on what we thought we needed in the offseason, and we'll see if we make good decisions or not."
Q: Can you give us an update on Tolu Smith? Has he come to you for any advice?
CJ: "Just like last year when we first got here with the individual group meetings we had the days following after we arrived. We've been through this now, and we've had the same mindset for every one of the young men that are in Tolu's position. The guys we inherited last year, we told them from the jump that we were going to give them space. We understood that they had decisions to make. When we were new, it was more about them giving us a chance to know them. Let us share our vision for this program for you specifically."
"Now, since we have been here a year, it's a different type of retention. Tolu knows us, and he knows me. It's not as if I feel like it's straight recruiting mode like it was last year when we arrived. It's more go through the process mentally and physically. We're going to support you. We're here for you to be a sounding board if needed. At the same time, he knows we're biased. He's not just leaning on us when he's trying to figure out what's in store for his future. He's been great. We've had great open lines of communication. I'm sure everyone is wanting to know what his near future plans are, and we are too. He's on his own timetable, and he's trying to figure it out."
Q: A lot of excitement around the program coming off the NCAA Tournament appearance and you signing your contract extension. What's your message to the fanbase heading into the summer?
CJ: "Well, it's part of our sell to be honest with you. We talked to a lot of recruits and potential recruits about a year ago at this time when we arrived. We were new. I had no experience in the power five level, and most of my staff didn't either. We were selling them a dream if you will, a vision that we had for what we could do at Mississippi State. We weren't going to wait. We didn't have a two or three-year plan. It was about our first season, and our goal was to make the [NCAA] tournament. Now, after accomplishing that goal and doing what we did, we're just like we did what we said. We do what we say around here. We feel like we're in a better position now than we were a year ago. Things can change, like I said earlier, hourly and daily."
"In terms of our fans, that's kind of what we sold our guys. It was kind of flat and dormant when we walked out there for the first few games of the season. I'm not going to lie to you, I was a little disappointed, but I didn't know exactly what to expect either. I was just so pleasantly surprised by the continued addition of people in The Hump as the season unfolded. The students were unbelievable especially after the first couple of weeks. It kept growing and growing. Then, we had some sell outs. What we're selling everybody on is that we're going to unfurl a chapter in the Mississippi State history books with adding our year to the banner of an appearance in the [NCAA] tournament. We're going to open a 50-million-dollar renovation of The Hump. There's a lot of good things that are going on. We've established ourselves now. People are excited about Bulldog Basketball. I think our community has proven to be excited about our style of play at least from the comments that I'm receiving and by the continued addition of fans as the season progressed."
"Hopefully, we'll have better crowds in the fall. Hopefully, people are excited about next season. Obviously, a lot of people will come up to me and say that they can't wait for next year. My response is usually the same; I can [wait]. I'm looking forward to a break. The stress of a season, it will get here when it gets here. By then, we'll be ears back and ready to go. Right now, we're knee deep in a lot of other things and that season will roll around."
Q: How are the returning guys who got a taste of the NCAA Tournament and March Madness responding as they are getting ready for next year?
CJ: "I think they're excited slash relieved. For all of us when we're a part of college basketball, that's always a goal. To be a part of March Madness and to experience March Madness. I said it many times since the season ended that I feel good that we were able to get that done for these guys that have never experienced it. We had one guy in our program as a player [Will McNair Jr.] that had played in March Madness prior to last season. For them to have those memories and put that bullet point on their resume if you will, makes all of us feel really good."
"Certainly, we didn't stay as long as we wanted, and we left some meat on the plate if you will. I think they're motivated. I think they know now what it takes and what it could feel like if you're able to not only get in but advance. We're a long way away from talking about anything like that. We haven't obviously got our team on the floor yet. We've got no idea what that's going to feel like. I do believe that the returnees are pretty excited about what happened and are motivated going forward."
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Basketball
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