Photo by: Mike Mattina/MSU Athletics
Echoes Of The Hardwood: Part 2 The Culture Of The Weight Room
October 11, 2024 | Men's Basketball
by Matt Dunaway, Director/Communications
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State men's basketball opens its season in less than a month as the Bulldogs face West Georgia during their 2024-25 season opener on Monday, Nov. 4 at Humphrey Coliseum and officially embark on the program's third season under head coach Chris Jans.
Recently, the players were asked about their work in the weight room led by strength and conditioning coach Dominick Walker.
Martavious Russell
"It's nothing but hard work. You're in there to get bigger, get stronger, get faster and get more agile. Dom has a really good routine, and he knows what he's doing in the weight room. Going through that process with him and seeing the results is a sight to see."
Trey Jackson III
"I have a really good relationship with Dom. He always tries to make sure we're seeing things as people, not just as basketball players, but he's trying to teach us lessons for life too. His approach is very, very professional. He wants us to understand why we're doing the movement. I think that helps us better retain what we're doing and how it's helping us. The atmosphere and culture in the weight room is you better be in there to work hard, and you better be ready to get better."
Kanye Clary
"Dom is a great dude, I love being around him. He's always got positive energy, even when things get tough. You know you might have your days when you're not at your best. You might not feel like lifting, but Dom always makes you feel like the best. He always finds a way to make you go harder."
Josh Hubbard
"Dom set things straight for sure. He knows that the weight room is important. It's going to help with things on the court, and he takes his job really seriously. He's held us accountable with conditioning and weights, and he's pushing us. He's pushing us to our limits. Some days, he even gives us one-on-one talks. I think that's really important to do things like that. In a group setting, it creates an environment where you just want to win."
Jeremy Foumena
"Dom is a great strength coach. He pushes us to be better every day. Sometimes, you feel tired and everything. He gives speeches to you about how it'll reflect on the way you practice on the court, and you need to push through in the weight room. He really pushes us as a team too, I'm happy he's my strength coach."
Adrian Myers
"You want somebody that's going to push you to 100 percent every time, and Dom is going to do that in the weight room. He knows what it feels like to feel like a basketball player. If he knows we're hurting, he'll work around it and find a way to get the most out of you. But he also knows when we're playing around, there's no doubt he's going to make you work."
Dellquan Warren
"Dom is a great guy. I feel like he leads the right way, and he wants to see us do well. He's always doing something to try and improve us. He's always trying to make us improve any way he can, even if it's not in the weight room."
Gai Chol
"Dom is the best. He's obviously very intense, and he wants you to become stronger. For me, when I came here, I was smaller. Then, I got stronger and bigger because of him. I came here when I was 235 [pounds], and now I'm 240. I've gained a lot of muscle because of how much work I've been putting in with him."
EJ Paymon
"I love it, Dom is a one-of-a-kind coach. He does it all. It's been new for me as a freshman, but I feel I've been able to adjust to it quick. You constantly must get better with the weights to have success on the court."
Cameron Matthews
"Dom is a great strength coach. I've got utmost belief and faith in him, and I know that he knows what he's doing. I don't really think there's too much question about that. We've been in there grinding – getting bigger, getting stronger and getting our movements better, swifter and faster."
KeShawn Murphy
"It's been really specific. Dom has gotten all of us better in certain places in areas where people need to work on. He gets us better at wherever we were lacking and makes us stronger."
Claudell Harris Jr.
"Dom, he pushes us to our limits. It's the same thing that Jans does. I feel like all aspects of what we do is on the same line, an upward trend. Dom has helped me personally put on weight and get in better shape. My body has come a long way since the day I stepped foot on this campus."
RJ Melendez
"It's been great. I feel like I've gained a lot of muscle pounds. I'm constantly 210, and that's good. Now, we're going to 215, straight muscle. I'm in great shape thanks to coaches and the practices. All that running has gotten me to the point where I can regenerate fast and keep on going every day."
Riley Kugel
"Ever since I got here, Dom has been on my behind. I love things like that. We just want to work hard. I feel like we push each other, and he's definitely getting me better. He's getting my body right, and I'm thankful for that."
Shawn Jones Jr.
"Dom has definitely upped it this year. He definitely pushed us this summer and continues to push us every day. He's had more expectations for us as a team and maybe just wanted to see if we were going to fold. I feel like we didn't, and we got through those hard days during the summer. We learned more about him, and he learned more about us."
Michael Nwoko
"It was good for sure. I will say it was a lot, but I feel like I got better over the summer."
Harrison Alexander
"Dom is going to push you, but he always makes it fun. He's going to push you hard, but you're always going to get your work in at the same time."
Humphrey Coliseum was one of the nation's most electric environments in 2023-24 and posted the program's fifth highest attendance average for a season. The Bulldogs boasted seven sellouts, the most on record for a season dating back to 2008-09, highlighted by four in a row to conclude the season.
Fans can purchase season tickets through Mississippi State's Athletic Ticket Office starting as low as $225 at www.HailState.com/tickets or by calling (662) 325-2600 / (888) 463-2947 (GO DAWGS).
State has secured back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances fueled by a pair of 21-win campaigns with Coach Jans at the helm. The last time the Bulldogs collected back-to-back NCAA Tournament bids was during the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons. State will look to secure three straight NCAA Tournament trips for the third time in program history this season.
Last season, the Bulldogs captured three victories over Associated Press Top 10 opponents for the first time since 2001-02. State validated its regular season home win over No. 5 Tennessee by upending the top-seeded Vols at the SEC Tournament in addition to defeating No. 8 Auburn at Humphrey Coliseum.
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 and Instagram.
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State men's basketball opens its season in less than a month as the Bulldogs face West Georgia during their 2024-25 season opener on Monday, Nov. 4 at Humphrey Coliseum and officially embark on the program's third season under head coach Chris Jans.
Recently, the players were asked about their work in the weight room led by strength and conditioning coach Dominick Walker.
Martavious Russell
"It's nothing but hard work. You're in there to get bigger, get stronger, get faster and get more agile. Dom has a really good routine, and he knows what he's doing in the weight room. Going through that process with him and seeing the results is a sight to see."
Trey Jackson III
"I have a really good relationship with Dom. He always tries to make sure we're seeing things as people, not just as basketball players, but he's trying to teach us lessons for life too. His approach is very, very professional. He wants us to understand why we're doing the movement. I think that helps us better retain what we're doing and how it's helping us. The atmosphere and culture in the weight room is you better be in there to work hard, and you better be ready to get better."
Kanye Clary
"Dom is a great dude, I love being around him. He's always got positive energy, even when things get tough. You know you might have your days when you're not at your best. You might not feel like lifting, but Dom always makes you feel like the best. He always finds a way to make you go harder."
Josh Hubbard
"Dom set things straight for sure. He knows that the weight room is important. It's going to help with things on the court, and he takes his job really seriously. He's held us accountable with conditioning and weights, and he's pushing us. He's pushing us to our limits. Some days, he even gives us one-on-one talks. I think that's really important to do things like that. In a group setting, it creates an environment where you just want to win."
Jeremy Foumena
"Dom is a great strength coach. He pushes us to be better every day. Sometimes, you feel tired and everything. He gives speeches to you about how it'll reflect on the way you practice on the court, and you need to push through in the weight room. He really pushes us as a team too, I'm happy he's my strength coach."
Adrian Myers
"You want somebody that's going to push you to 100 percent every time, and Dom is going to do that in the weight room. He knows what it feels like to feel like a basketball player. If he knows we're hurting, he'll work around it and find a way to get the most out of you. But he also knows when we're playing around, there's no doubt he's going to make you work."
Dellquan Warren
"Dom is a great guy. I feel like he leads the right way, and he wants to see us do well. He's always doing something to try and improve us. He's always trying to make us improve any way he can, even if it's not in the weight room."
Gai Chol
"Dom is the best. He's obviously very intense, and he wants you to become stronger. For me, when I came here, I was smaller. Then, I got stronger and bigger because of him. I came here when I was 235 [pounds], and now I'm 240. I've gained a lot of muscle because of how much work I've been putting in with him."
EJ Paymon
"I love it, Dom is a one-of-a-kind coach. He does it all. It's been new for me as a freshman, but I feel I've been able to adjust to it quick. You constantly must get better with the weights to have success on the court."
Cameron Matthews
"Dom is a great strength coach. I've got utmost belief and faith in him, and I know that he knows what he's doing. I don't really think there's too much question about that. We've been in there grinding – getting bigger, getting stronger and getting our movements better, swifter and faster."
KeShawn Murphy
"It's been really specific. Dom has gotten all of us better in certain places in areas where people need to work on. He gets us better at wherever we were lacking and makes us stronger."
Claudell Harris Jr.
"Dom, he pushes us to our limits. It's the same thing that Jans does. I feel like all aspects of what we do is on the same line, an upward trend. Dom has helped me personally put on weight and get in better shape. My body has come a long way since the day I stepped foot on this campus."
RJ Melendez
"It's been great. I feel like I've gained a lot of muscle pounds. I'm constantly 210, and that's good. Now, we're going to 215, straight muscle. I'm in great shape thanks to coaches and the practices. All that running has gotten me to the point where I can regenerate fast and keep on going every day."
Riley Kugel
"Ever since I got here, Dom has been on my behind. I love things like that. We just want to work hard. I feel like we push each other, and he's definitely getting me better. He's getting my body right, and I'm thankful for that."
Shawn Jones Jr.
"Dom has definitely upped it this year. He definitely pushed us this summer and continues to push us every day. He's had more expectations for us as a team and maybe just wanted to see if we were going to fold. I feel like we didn't, and we got through those hard days during the summer. We learned more about him, and he learned more about us."
Michael Nwoko
"It was good for sure. I will say it was a lot, but I feel like I got better over the summer."
Harrison Alexander
"Dom is going to push you, but he always makes it fun. He's going to push you hard, but you're always going to get your work in at the same time."
Humphrey Coliseum was one of the nation's most electric environments in 2023-24 and posted the program's fifth highest attendance average for a season. The Bulldogs boasted seven sellouts, the most on record for a season dating back to 2008-09, highlighted by four in a row to conclude the season.
Fans can purchase season tickets through Mississippi State's Athletic Ticket Office starting as low as $225 at www.HailState.com/tickets or by calling (662) 325-2600 / (888) 463-2947 (GO DAWGS).
State has secured back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances fueled by a pair of 21-win campaigns with Coach Jans at the helm. The last time the Bulldogs collected back-to-back NCAA Tournament bids was during the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons. State will look to secure three straight NCAA Tournament trips for the third time in program history this season.
Last season, the Bulldogs captured three victories over Associated Press Top 10 opponents for the first time since 2001-02. State validated its regular season home win over No. 5 Tennessee by upending the top-seeded Vols at the SEC Tournament in addition to defeating No. 8 Auburn at Humphrey Coliseum.
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 and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's BasketballMEN'S BASKETBALL | Chris Jans & Players SEC Tournament Postgame vs. Auburn - 3/11/26
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Monday, March 09
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Sunday, March 08
MEN'S BASKETBALL | Chris Jans Postgame Press Conference vs. Georgia - 3/7/26
Saturday, March 07