“Just Go Out There And Give It Our All”
March 13, 2024 | Men's Basketball, Joel Coleman
D.J. Jeffries and the Bulldogs are driven to make noise in Nashville and hopefully beyond.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – D.J. Jeffries has seen a little bit of everything over the course of his college basketball career.
So, it shouldn't come as much of a surprise to learn that as Mississippi State gets set for a huge game against LSU at noon on Thursday in the Southeastern Conference Tournament – a contest that could potentially determine MSU's March Madness fate – Jeffries is handling it like the veteran he is.
"Just go out there and give it our all," Jeffries said of his mindset shortly after the Bulldogs finished a shootaround inside Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday afternoon. "It's like a survive and advance. Around this time in March, you don't know what'll happen. So, you just go out and play your hardest. We're all locked in right now trying to get the win and advance in the tournament."
A victory might not just keep the Bulldogs singing in Music City. It could also solidify an invite to the big dance.
ESPN's Joe Lunardi has consistently projected throughout this week that a State win over LSU would lock up a Bulldog at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament. While that's only a prediction and not a certainty, a Thursday triumph at the very least would allow MSU to enter Selection Sunday this weekend with confidence.
Speaking of confidence, Jeffries and the Bulldogs already have plenty of it headed into Thursday versus the Tigers. Despite a tough couple of weeks to close out the regular season, these Dawgs haven't been shaken.
"We've all been there and done that," Jeffries said. "I've been a part of a lot of losing streaks and I've been a part of a lot of winning streaks. We've just learned to never get too high and never get too low."
Adds Jeffries' teammate Cameron Matthews: "I feel like the core guys we have, we've been in situations like this. We know that [losses] shouldn't impact you because you've got another game, another opportunity to go out there and compete."
It's easy to speak such things, but much harder to put it into practice. However, State assistant coach George Brooks notes the Bulldogs aren't just saying the right things headed into Thursday's critical contest. They've been showing it's just who they are.
"They're really levelheaded," Brooks shared. "They've been in this situation before. Not that that makes it any easier, but I think that helps with some of the nerves of it and they're ready to perform."
Indeed, you need only to go back to last year to find out how the Bulldogs respond with their postseason fate potentially on the line. Remember, last March, the Bulldogs made the NCAA Tournament. That likely wouldn't have been the case if not for MSU's win over Florida in last year's SEC Tourney.
A victory Thursday could very well have a similar impact. Jeffries is well aware of the situation and seems determined to leave all he has on the court.
"At this point, I just want to do anything to help our team win," Jeffries said. "Whatever coach needs me to do, I'm going to do it…Whatever they need me to do."
It's a mindset that permeates this bunch of Bulldogs and has them chomping at the bit to go out on Thursday, be the aggressor against LSU and let the chips fall where they may.
"[We need to] go out there and punch them in the mouth and do what we always try to do – dictate the game," Jeffries said. "Don't let them dictate the game to us. We need to bring the fight to them, and we'll be fine."
