Five Things To Know: MSU vs. Alabama

by Matt Dunaway, Director/Communications

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State men's basketball will look to protect its home floor once again as the Bulldogs wrap up a two-game SEC homestand against Alabama in-front of a sold-out Humphrey Coliseum on Saturday evening.

The Bulldogs (12-3, 1-1 SEC) will continue their stretch of four straight NCAA NET Quad 1 games to begin SEC action and have eight of their first nine SEC outings as NCAA NET Quad 1 opportunities. Overall, State, Florida and Vanderbilt are the only SEC schools slated to play 10-plus NCAA NET Quad 1 games during its league schedule.

Last time out, the Maroon and White bounced back in a big way with a thrilling 77-72 victory over No. 5 Tennessee on Wednesday. It marked the 5th consecutive season that State has defeated a ranked SEC opponent. The Bulldogs also earned the program's first victory over an Associated Press Top 5 opponent going back to a 54-49 win over No. 5 Oklahoma on 12/28/2002.

State's non-conference resume is headlined by a quartet of Power 5 neutral court victories over Arizona State (Pac-12), Northwestern (Big Ten), Rutgers (Big Ten) and Washington State (Pac-12). Only the Bulldogs and Memphis possess at least four non-conference wins over Power 5 opponents on road/neutral floors this season.

State is joined by Florida Atlantic as the only teams in the country to amass six neutral court victories in 2023-24. The Bulldogs also defeated North Texas (American) and Tulane (American) en route to their six neutral court triumphs by an average of 15.7 points per contest.

State features a suffocating defense under second-year coach Chris Jans after being one of two teams to rank inside the nation's top 25 in scoring defense (61.0 – 2nd SEC – 9th nationally), field goal percentage defense (39.4 – 3rd SEC – 10th nationally) and steals (8.6 – 2nd SEC – 23rd nationally) in 2022-23.

Once again, the Bulldogs are back at it as one of four squads nationally (Houston, Morehead State, SMU) among the NCAA's top 30 in three categories: three-point field goal percentage defense (27.0 – 1st SEC – 8th nationally), scoring defense (63.7 – 2nd SEC – 24th nationally) and field goal percentage defense (39.3 – 3rd SEC – 30th nationally).

State also possesses national top 30 rankings from KenPom.com in three additional categories: adjusted defensive efficiency (93.2 – 9th), effective field goal percentage defense (44.5 – 10th) and steal percentage (12.8 – 26th).

The Maroon and White has drained 112 three-pointers which is tied for fifth-most in program history over the team's first 15 games. Josh Hubbard, Trey Fort, Dashawn Davis and D.J. Jeffries have combined for 85 of the team's 112 treys (75.9 percent).

SERIES HISTORY
Saturday's meeting marks the first time since 2019-20 that the Bulldogs will square off with an unranked Alabama squad although the Crimson Tide are receiving votes in this week's polls.

Alabama has won the last four in the series en route to a 133-78 series advantage. The last victory for State in the series was a 78-76 decision on 01/15/2022 in Starkville.

The last win in the series for the Bulldogs was an 86-73 decision during the 2019-20 season when both schools were unranked. Iverson Molinar led the way for the Maroon and White with 24 points, four assists and two steals, while Garrison Brooks tucked away a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds.

The Matchup: Mississippi State (12-3, 1-1 SEC) vs. Alabama (10-5, 2-0 SEC)
Where: Humphrey Coliseum – Starkville, Mississippi
When: Saturday, January 13, 7:30 p.m. CT
Live Stats: StatBroadcast (https://hailst.at/3MdElCC)

TV: SEC Network
Channels: Ch. 611 (DirecTV); Ch. 404/408 (Dish); Ch. 1026 (MaxxSouth); Ch. 220 C-Spire
App: ESPN App (Subscription Required – https://hailst.at/4aqjfuX)
Talent: Dave Neal, Jon Sundvold

Radio: Mississippi State Sports Network – Powered by Learfield
Talent: Neil Price, Richard Williams
Affiliates: WZLA-FM 96.1 Starkville/West Point
Free Online Audio: Hail State App (https://hailst.at/3vkn5Ga); The Varsity Network App

5 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. The Iowa native was one of 10 SEC coaches in league history to amass at least 21 victories and secure a NCAA Tournament berth during their first season in 2022-23.

Jans, a three-time WAC Coach of the Year during his tenure at New Mexico State, owns an impressive .746 winning percentage (176-60) in his eighth season as a NCAA Division I head coach. He is fifth among NCAA active coaches with a .746 winning percentage behind only Mark Few (Gonzaga), Bill Self (Kansas), Brian Dutcher (San Diego State) and John Calipari (Kentucky).

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. The Maroon and White are among the nation's leaders returning 80.9 percent of its points, 72.4 percent of its rebounds, 83.8 percent of its assists, 83.6 percent of its steals and 75.2 percent of its blocks from last season.

Over the last five games, State's returning players have tallied 70.6 percent of the team's points (312-of-451). The Bulldogs have continued to showcase their depth and piled up 32.93 bench points per contest which is 3rd on the SEC leaderboard and check in 13th nationally.

3. Tolu Smith III, Shakeel Moore, D.J. Jeffries, Dashawn Davis and Cameron Matthews combined for 85.3 percent of the team's starts (145-of-170) as State's top five scorers in 2022-23.

Smith III (17.3 PPG, 5.7 RPG) has been showered with numerous preseason accolades headed by the Karl Malone and Naismith Trophy Watch Lists. He also was a consensus 2022-23 All-SEC First-Team pick and a consensus 2023-24 All-SEC Preseason First-Team selection joined by Texas A&M's Wade Taylor IV. Smith has racked up 1,262 points and 696 rebounds and has started 85 of 88 games at State. He is joined by Purdue's Zach Edey as the only returning college players in 2023-24 to average at least 15.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and shoot 55-plus percent from the floor last season. He has ripped off 21 consecutive games in double figures (01/14/23 to 01/10/24) sparked by 10 double-doubles.

Moore (7.6 PPG, 1.8 APG) has registered 32 of his 37 career games with 10-plus points over the last three seasons while at Mississippi State. He came away with a season's best 16 points against Murray State (12/13) and has posted 9.6 points per game over his seven starts. Defensively, Moore has accounted for at least one steal in 73 of 104 career games sparked by 46 times with multiple steals. His 153 career steals are eighth among SEC active players and his 118 steals at State are tied for 19th on the program's all-time list.

Jeffries (6.7 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.2 SPG) has found his way into State's starting five in 80 of 83 career games. He eclipsed 600 career rebounds against UT Martin (11/11) and followed that up by surpassing 1,100 career points versus Washington State (11/18). Jeffries secured a season-high 13 points versus North Texas (12/17). He also added a season's best 12 rebounds to go along with 11 points versus Murray State (12/13) to tuck away his first double-double of the season. Jeffries secured a career-high five steals against No. 5 Tennessee (01/06).

Davis (8.1 PPG, 3.5 APG, 1.9 SPG) is ranked 6th in steals and tied for 13th in assists among SEC players this season. Five of his six games of 10+ points in 2023-24 have come on the road/neutral floors fueled by season's bests of 13 points and 7 assists against Rutgers (12/23). In those six games in double figures, Davis is shooting 47.1 percent from three-point territory. He also posted consecutive games in double figures en route to Hall of Fame All-Tournament Team. Davis came away with a MSU-best of 18 points against Utah in the Fort Myers Championship Game, while his SEC career-high is 17 point at Arkansas, both coming last season.

Matthews (9.3 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 3.1 APG, 2.6 SPG) has showcased his as the one of two Power 6 players and one of six players nationally to dial up at least 9.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game this season. He has posted seven outings of 10+ points sparked by a season-high 18 points coupled with 11 rebounds versus Rutgers (12/23). The Bulldogs are 15-3 lifetime when Matthews collects 10 or more points. He also has secured multiple steals on nine occasions and handed out multiple assists in nine outings this season. Matthews has garnered at least one steal in 57 of his 82 outings over the last three seasons.

4. The Bulldogs have brought in an impressive group of newcomers which include Jimmy Bell Jr. (West Virginia), Trey Fort (Howard College), Scott (Salt Lake Community College) and Andrew Taylor (Marshall) from the transfer portal and the junior college ranks.

Bell Jr. (8.6 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 1.1 BPG), the SEC's Player of the Week for 12/26, has started 48 games over the last two seasons and was a key member of West Virginia's 2022-23 NCAA Tournament squad. He has already notched six of his 13 career outings of 10-plus points for State this season. Bell Jr. ripped off a season's best 17 points and hauled down a career-high 18 rebounds against Rutgers (12/23). His 8.2 rebounds per contest are 5th on the SEC's , and he's pulled down 10+ rebounds on six occasions.

Fort (5.6 PPG), one of the nation's top junior college recruits, was a All-America Second-Team honoree at Howard College in Texas last season. His 24.9 points per game was fourth among JUCO players. Fort has notched double figures two times highlighted by a 21-point explosion versus Arizona State (11/08) on opening night. The 21 points were the most scored by a MSU player during a season opener since Tyson Carter secured 23 points in 2019-20.

Scott (1.7 PPG, 1.9 RPG) posted 16.8 points and 10.0 rebounds per game at Salt Lake CC last season, and his team was the 2021-22 Runner-Up. He secured nine points and nine rebounds versus Southern Miss in the charity exhibition game. Scott's best regular season outing was six points and six rebounds against Tulane (12/09).

Taylor (3.9 PPG, 1.3 APG) was dubbed a SEC Impact transfer by CBS' Jon Rothstein. His 1,636 career points are 5th among SEC active players. Last season, Taylor joined by St. John's Shamorie Ponds (2017-18) as the only college players over the last decade to average at least 20.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.0 steals per game. He tallied a season's best nine points versus North Alabama (11/14). Taylor has missed the last four games due to a personal matter.

5. Mississippi State's talented freshmen class features Gai Chol, Josh Hubbard and Adrian Myers. The Bulldogs also brought back Shawn Jones Jr. and KeShawn Murphy who will look to build on their freshmen campaigns.

Hubbard (15.1 PPG, 1.6 APG), the SEC Freshmen of the Week on 11/20 and an ESPN top 100 recruit for the Class of 2023, capped his high school career as the state of Mississippi's all-time leading scorer with 4,367 career points which broke a record that stood for 37 years previously held by Mississippi State's Robert Woodard.

Hubbard has piled up 227 points through his first 15 games which is 5th-most for a MSU freshman and the most since Rickey Brown (1976-77). His 15.1 points per game are tops among SEC freshmen, and he delivered 10 consecutive games in double figures from 11/11 to 12/17. Hubbard tallied 25 points versus No. 5 Tennessee during his SEC home debut, and his four outings of 20-plus points off the bench is tied with Darryl Wilson in 1993-94 for the most by a State player going back to the 1988-89 season.

Hubbard's season-high of 29 points versus Northwestern (11/19) is the most for a State player under Coach Jans. It also marked the most points scored by a State player off the bench since Tony Watts also scored 29 points at Ole Miss in 1989-90. Hubbard is the only Power 6 freshmen since 2005-06 to average at least 15 points off the bench with a minimum of 15 games played, not including games in which the player started, according to Elias Sports Bureau.

Murphy (5.4 PPG) made his season debut returning from injury against Nicholls (11/24). His top performance in 2023-24 was a career-best 18 points on 8-of-14 shooting versus North Texas (12/17). Murphy also posted a career-high 10 rebounds versus Tulane (12/09). His SEC best is 11 points versus No. 8 Alabama (12/28/22).

Chol (2.9 PPG), a native of South Sudan, took advantage of extended minutes with 11 points and six rebounds against UT Martin (11/11). He also tallied five points versus Nicholls (11/24) coupled with four points and four rebounds during the Tulane game (12/09).

SCOUTING ALABAMA
Alabama (10-5, 2-0 SEC) has won two of the last three SEC regular season titles under fifth-year coach Nate Oats. The Crimson Tide's high-octane offense has scored a program-best 1,359 points, an average of 90.6 per contest, through 15 games. Last time out, Alabama put together its best defensive effort of the season during a 74-47 rout of South Carolina on Tuesday.

Mark Sears (20.2 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.6 SPG), one of 25 players named to the 2024 Wooden Award Midseason Watch List, has ripped off double figures in all 15 games. He ripped off 31 points, his second-highest output of the season, during the South Carolina game. Sears has seven games where he has drained three-plus treys in 2023-24.

Aaron Estrada (13.5 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 4.1 APG, 1.5 SPG) and Grant Nelson (12.9 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.3 BPG) give the Crimson Tide three players averaging double figures. Estrada secured his first double-double of the season, 13 points and 10 rebounds, versus Liberty (12/30) to close out the non-conference portion of the schedule.

Rylan Griffen (9.3 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 1.9 APG) has provided double figures in four of his last six outings, while Alabama's top performers off the bench has been Sam Walters (7.0 PPG) and Latrell Wrightsell Jr. (6.7 PPG) who have combined for six outings in double figures. Wrightsell Jr.'s season's best is 19 points against Liberty (12/30).

Mississippi State is selling single-game tickets and $96 mini plans for the 2023-24 campaign. Visit www.HailState.com/Tickets for more information.

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

Five Things To Know: MSU vs. Alabama

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Jimmy Bell Jr.

Gai Chol

Dashawn Davis

Trey Fort

Josh Hubbard

D.J. Jeffries

Shawn Jones Jr.

Cameron Matthews

Shakeel Moore

KeShawn Murphy

Adrian Myers

Tolu Smith III

Mississippi State University Athletics