Five Things To Know: State vs. Vandy

by Matt Dunaway, Director/Communications

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State men's basketball will look to snap a two-game skid as the Bulldogs return home to face Vanderbilt for a Saturday afternoon matchup.

The Bulldogs are one of three SEC squads (Auburn and Tennessee) and one of 33 schools nationally with at least five combined NCAA NET Quad 1/Quad 2 victories.

State (12-4, 1-2 SEC) and Vanderbilt (5-12, 0-4 SEC) are the only two SEC teams slated to face 10 or more combined NCAA NET Quad 1/Quad 2 opponents during league action.

The Maroon and White was the only SEC program and one of six Power 6 schools to start conference play with four consecutive NCAA NET Quad 1 games. The Bulldogs are in the midst of playing eight of their first nine SEC contests as NCAA NET Quad 1 opportunities.

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.

Last time out, State fell 90-77 at No. 8 Kentucky. The Bulldogs dished out 22 assists on 31 field goals as five players delivered at least three dimes. A key to the win for the Wildcats was a 23-6 advantage in free throws made.

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 last season 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).

This season, the Bulldogs possesses national top 35 rankings from KenPom.com in four defensive categories: three-point field goal defense (27.9 – 9th), adjusted defensive efficiency (94.7 – 15th), steal percentage (12.6 – 23rd) and effective field goal percentage defense (45.9 – 33rd).

The Maroon and White has drained 128 three-pointers which is sixth-most in program history over the team's first 17 games. Josh Hubbard, Trey Fort, Dashawn Davis and D.J. Jeffries have combined for 96 of the team's 128 treys (75.0 percent).

SERIES HISTORY
State has won four of the last six meetings in the series over Vanderbilt dating back to the 2018-19 season. Overall, the Commodores hold an 81-53 series edge and picked up a 77-72 win during last season's meeting in Nashville.

As of late, the Bulldogs have protected their home court winning five of the last six outings over Vanderbilt going back to the 2014-15 season at Humphrey Coliseum. State earned a 74-69 victory on 02/26/2022 in Starkville as Tolu Smith III delivered 22 points and 8 rebounds off the bench.

The Matchup: Mississippi State (12-5, 1-2 SEC) vs. Vanderbilt (5-12, 0-4 SEC)
Where: Humphrey Coliseum – Starkville, Mississippi
When: Saturday, January 20, 2:30 p.m. CT
Live Stats: StatBroadcast (https://hailst.at/3QtJN6I)

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/48cqm95)
Talent: Tom Hart, Jimmy Dykes

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/3HrfJmY); 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 .739 winning percentage (176-62) in his eighth season as a NCAA Division I head coach. He is fifth among NCAA active coaches with a .739 winning percentage behind only Mark Few (Gonzaga), Brian Dutcher (San Diego State), Bill Self (Kansas), 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.

During four games of SEC action, State's returning players have tallied 69.0 percent of the team's points (200-of-290). The Bulldogs have continued to showcase their depth and piled up 32.18 bench points per contest which is 3rd on the SEC leaderboard and check in 14th 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 (18.6 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 1.4 APG) 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 III has racked up 1,303 points and 706 rebounds and has started 87 of 90 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 23 consecutive games in double figures (01/14/23 to 01/17/24) sparked by 11 double-doubles. Smith III produced his SEC-leading 26th double-double among active players with 15 points and 10 rebounds against Alabama (01/13) and a season's best 26 points at No. 8 Kentucky (01/17).

Moore (7.8 PPG, 1.7 APG) has registered 33 of his 38 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 9.4 points per game over his nine starts. Defensively, Moore has accounted for at least one steal in 75 of 106 career games sparked by 48 times with multiple steals. His 157 career steals are 7th among SEC active players and his 122 steals at State are tied for 17th on the program's all-time list.

Jeffries (6.8 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 1.2 SPG) has found his way into State's starting five in 82 of 85 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 (01/10).

Davis (7.4 PPG, 3.3 APG, 1.8 SPG) is ranked 7th in steals and 12th in assist-to-turnover ratio 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 State career-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 (9.4 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 3.1 APG, 2.4 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 eight outings of 10+ points sparked by a season-high 18 points coupled with 11 rebounds versus Rutgers (12/23). The Bulldogs are 15-4 lifetime when Matthews collects 10 or more points. He also has handed out multiple assists in 10 outings and secured multiple steals on nine occasions this season. Matthews has garnered at least one steal in 58 of his 84 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. (8.1 PPG, 7.5 RPG), 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 7.5 rebounds per contest are 7th on the SEC's , and he's pulled down 10+ rebounds on six occasions.

Fort (6.1 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 three times highlighted by a 21-point explosion versus Arizona State (11/08) on opening night, while his SEC season watermark is a 13-point effort coming at No. 8 Kentucky (01/17).

Scott (1.3 PPG, 1.6 RPG) posted 16.8 points and 10.0 rebounds per game at Salt Lake CC last season, and his team was the 2021-22 NJCAA 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 6th 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 six 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 (14.4 PPG, 1.5 APG), a two-time SEC Freshmen of the Week on 11/20 and 01/15 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 is one of two Power 6 freshmen since 2005-06 to average at least 14 points off the bench with a minimum of 15 games played, not including games in which the player started, according to Elias Sports Bureau.

Hubbard has piled up 244 points through his first 17 games which is 5th-most for a MSU freshman and the most since Rickey Brown (1976-77). His 14.4 points per game are second among SEC freshmen, he tallied 25 points versus No. 5 Tennessee during his SEC home debut. 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 since 1988-89.

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.

Jones Jr. (5.0 PPG) wrapped up 2022-23 on a strong note with seven of his top 10 scoring efforts coming against SEC opponents. He carried that momentum into the start of the 2023-24 campaign with a trio of 8-point efforts versus Arizona State (11/08), UT Martin (11/11) and Washington State (11/18). Jones Jr.'s career-high is 11 points against South Carolina (02/28/23).

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). His SEC best is 11 points versus No. 8 Alabama (12/28/22). He has missed State's last three games due to a personal matter.

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 VANDERBILT
The Commodores are led by fifth-year coach Jerry Stackhouse. Like State, Vanderbilt first four SEC opponents have a cumulative record of 13-3 in league games fueled by SEC co-leaders Auburn and Alabama.

Ezra Manjon (16.0 PPG, 3.2 APG, 1.3 SPG) and Tyrin Lawrence (13.7 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 2.0 SPG) ripped off seven consecutive games in double figures for the Commodores. Both players have notched a trio of games of 20-plus points. Lawrence provided 20 points versus Alabama in the team's SEC opener.

Vanderbilt's top option off the bench has been Jason Rivera-Torres (8.8 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 1.1 SPG) who has boosted his scoring average to 14.0 points per game in SEC action. His top two scoring games on the season was a 20-point output against Alabama (01/06) followed by a 14-point performance versus Auburn (01/17).

Mississippi State is selling single-game tickets for all remaining SEC home contests. 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: State vs. Vandy

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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