Echoes Of The Hardwood: Part 1 Team Chemistry and Team Mindset

by Matt Dunaway, Director/Communications

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State men's basketball opens its season in 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 the team's chemistry and the team's mindset going into the season.

Josh Hubbard
"Summer workouts were difficult as it should be. You don't want it to be easy, or you're not doing something right. You've got to have those hard days and those hard nights. Building chemistry, we've come a long way so far. We've really got something special. The potential is out of this world. We've got a lot of good players that can do a lot of great things for this team. Coach Jans did a terrific job in the offseason picking these players. Now, we've just got to put the pieces together and perform on the court together."

Kanye Clary
"Our chemistry has come a long way since the beginning of summer. Everybody has gelled, and we became a close, tight-knit family. Going forward in these practices, it's been really good. We're all really excited and feel like it could be a great year."

Cameron Matthews
"We're starting to gel more as a family. Everybody knows that we're a little more talented than in past years, but we're starting to build bonds with each other now. So, I feel like that's going to elevate our game even more."

Riley Kugel
"I think everybody's starting to get on the same page. We've got a whole bunch of transfers coming in. We've got a couple guys that stayed here from last year. I feel like everybody's got the same kind of goals. I feel like everybody just wants to compete, win, play hard and play for each other."

Claudell Harris Jr.
"I love our team chemistry. All the guys get along on and off the court. We're going through tough times together. I feel like that's the most important thing is knowing that we're all in it together. We're all going through the same struggles, and we're going to be able to work through it together."

Martavious Russell
"We're really coming together. We all hang out off the court. On the court when someone is having a bad day, everyone else is picking that guy up. It's not just one person going through something alone, we're all there for each other. We're getting pushed to our limits together, and that really just makes us closer."

KeShawn Murphy
"I call it hungry. This year, I feel like we're hungry. We corrected mistakes. Everybody is learning each other, and I feel like we clicked real fast. I feel like this group is really mentally strong. We're ready to battle."

Gai Chol
"We have a lot of people who are already really good players. The good thing is that everybody plays a lot of positions. Some outside, some play inside, some play both. Then, we have a good connection with the team on and off the court. We go to the football games together, and we're hanging out together. Everyone is encouraging each other."

Jeremy Foumena
"The chemistry on the team is probably the best I've been a part of since I started playing basketball. As we play together on the court, it's the same as off the court. We chill together outside of the court, be at somebody's house and just talk. We eat together, speak about practice and speak about our lives. On the court, it's like everybody's pushing each other. It can only get better."

RJ Melendez
"It's great, I could be around those guys 24/7, honestly. You don't get tired of them. We're always in the gym three hours early and after every practice. Everybody's in the gym just spending time together and being a team and bonding. Not just doing meals, but we're always bonding 24/7. That's something that carries on into the season with the family that you create."

Trey Jackson III
"I see us in a really good position to focus on the task at-hand. I think all summer we've been working to get better. We've been gelling, but now it comes to the part where it's time to reel everything in and prepare for what's next."

Michael Nwoko
"Our chemistry is really good, and I feel like we're all really gelling. I know that's a cliche thing to say, but I genuinely feel like I know every single one of my teammates pretty well. Our goal is trying to figure each other out right now in practice and be the best team we possibly can be."

Shawn Jones Jr.
"It's definitely been a work in process. I feel every day we get better and better with our chemistry. It's just coming together where we're starting to figure each other out on and off the court. It's all about building a bigger bond throughout the program."

Dellquan Warren
"We're really just trying to get on the same page with new players coming in. It's basically just bonding outside of the basketball part. We honestly just want to win, whatever it takes."

Adrian Myers
"We're trying to get everything together, running the sets right and running the pace right. We're trying to make sure we're hitting shots, getting rebounds, checking out, and playing defense."

EJ Paymon
"It's great. We still have things to work on, but it's getting better day-by-day."

Harrison Alexander
"I love our team. I feel like all of our guys get along, and we're all focused trying to get to the same goal. I feel like our entire team is coming together, and we'll be good during the season."

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.

Mississippi State University Athletics

Echoes Of The Hardwood: Part 1 Team Chemistry and Team Mindset

Players Mentioned

Cameron Matthews

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