Five Things To Know: Mississippi State-Michigan State

by Matt Dunaway, Director/Communications

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina – The Mississippi State men's basketball team returns to college basketball's biggest stage for the second consecutive season under the direction of head coach Chris Jans when the Bulldogs square off with Michigan State in an 8-9 NCAA March Madness matchup.

The Bulldogs (21-13, 8-10 SEC) and Spartans (19-14, 10-10 Big Ten) open up Thursday's action of 16 NCAA Tournament games at 11:15 a.m. CT from Spectrum Center, home of the NBA's Charlotte Bobcats. The winner advances to the NCAA Round of 32 and will take on either top-seed and No. 5 North Carolina and the winner between No. 16 seed Howard and Wagner.

Thursday's game is televised by CBS in addition to being streamed online courtesy of the NCAA March Madness Live (all games), Paramount Plus (CBS) and MAX (TBS, TNT, truTV) apps.

In total, Mississippi State has secured nine of its 13 NCAA Tournament selections dating back to the 2001-02 season. The Bulldogs advanced to the 1996 NCAA Final Four under Richard Williams when Mississippi State defeated VCU, Princeton, Connecticut and Cincinnati.

The Bulldogs, who are one of eight SEC schools to earn a bid into the NCAA Tournament, faced one of the SEC's toughest schedules in the regular season as their 18 league opponents amassed 177 victories, which was the hardest among the top 10 in the SEC standings.

Overall, State and Vanderbilt were the only SEC squads scheduled to play 10+ NCAA NET Quad 1 games in league action.

State is one of three SEC schools (South Carolina, Texas A&M) and one of 16 schools in the country (Connecticut, Creighton, Georgia Tech, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Nebraska, North Carolina, Northwestern, Purdue, Seton Hall, TCU, Washington State) to capture a pair of Associated Press Top 10 wins in conference play during the regular season.

The Bulldogs did their heavy lifting with a 77-72 victory over No. 5 Tennessee on 01/10 followed by a 64-58 triumph over No. 8 Auburn on 01/27. State added on a 73-56 win over No. 5 Tennessee on 03/15 in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament. The last time the Maroon and White accomplished the feat of defeating three AP top 10 teams was in 2001-02 when State knocked off No. 6 Kentucky and No. 5 Alabama in the regular season coupled with another win over No. 8 Alabama in the SEC Tournament Championship Game.

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 State, Gonzaga and Memphis possess at least four non-conference wins over Power 5 opponents on road/neutral floors this season.

State was joined by New Mexico as the only schools nationally to secure eight wins on neutral courts entering the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs and Florida Atlantic were the only teams in the country to amass six neutral court victories during the regular season in 2023-24.

SERIES HISTORY
The two programs will meet for the only the second time on the hardwood. Michigan State won the lone meeting between the two schools, 90-82, on 01/02/1973 at Senior Bowl Tournament in Mobile, Alabama. Jerry Jenkins held the game-high honors for the Bulldogs with 22 points.

State has won all three of its previous meetings over Big Ten opponents under Coach Jans. The Bulldogs earned a 66-57 victory against Northwestern followed by a 70-60 triumph over Rutgers earlier this season and picked up a 69-51 road win over Minnesota last season.

The Matchup: Mississippi State (21-13, 8-10 SEC) vs. Michigan State (19-14, 10-10 Big Ten)
Where: Spectrum Center – Charlotte, North Carolina
When: Thursday, March 21, 11:15 a.m. CT

TV: CBS
Apps: NCAA Madness Live/Paramount Plus
Talent: Brian Anderson, Jim Jackson, Allie LaForce

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/3wX4Pn6); 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.

Jans, a three-time WAC Coach of the Year during his tenure at New Mexico State, owns an impressive .725 winning percentage (185-70) in his 8th season as a NCAA Division I head coach. He is sixth among NCAA active coaches with a .725 winning percentage behind only Mark Few (Gonzaga), Bill Self (Kansas), Brian Dutcher (San Diego State), John Calipari (Kentucky) and Darian DeVries (Drake).

In his two seasons leading Mississippi State, Jans has amassed 42 victories, which is tops among the six, SEC second-year coaches. He is joined by Calipari (Kentucky) and Eric Musselman (Arkansas) as the SEC's only active coaches to post consecutive 20-win campaigns over their first two seasons with their respective schools.

Jans, Calipari (Kentucky – 2009-10 & 2010-11) and Bruce Pearl (Tennessee – 2005-06 & 2006-07) are the only SEC coaches to take their squads to back-to-back NCAA Tournaments over their first two seasons during the 2000s. Nationally, Jans is joined by Jon Scheyer (Duke) and Rodney Terry (Texas) as the only second-year coaches to take their squads to the 2023 & 2024 NCAA Tournaments.

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 18 games of SEC regular season action, State's returning players have tallied 69.5 percent of the team's points (939-of-1352). The Bulldogs have continued to showcase their depth and piled up 26.12 bench points per contest which is 7th on the SEC leaderboard and checks in 38th 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 (15.2 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 1.3 APG) was showered with numerous preseason accolades headed by the Karl Malone and Naismith Trophy Watch Lists. He also is the only SEC player to be named a consensus 2022-23 and 2023-24 All-SEC First-Team pick.

For Smith III, he gives the Maroon and White an All-SEC First-Team pick in five of the last six seasons. He also became the 15th player in program history to pick up multiple All-SEC First-Team selections. The last State player to accomplish the feat was Jarvis Varnado, the NCAA's all-time leading shot blocker, during the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons.

Smith III has racked up 1,545 points (11th) and 863 rebounds (6th) and has started 102 of 107 games at State. He is joined by Oregon's N'Faly Dante, Kansas' Hunter Dickinson, Purdue's Zach Edey, West Virginia's Jesse Edwards, Miami's Norchad Omier, Stanford's Maxime Raynaud and Indiana's Kel'el Ware as the only Power 6 players in college basketball to average at least 15.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and shoot 55.0+ percent from the floor this season.

Smith III has ripped off 19 double-doubles over his last 38 games dating back to mid-January of last season. He produced his SEC-leading 34th double-double among active players with 14 points and 10 rebounds versus No. 12 Auburn (03/16). Smith III's season's best is 26 points at No. 8 Kentucky (01/17), whereas his last 20-10 outing was a 21-point, 10-rebound performance during the Kentucky game (02/27).

Matthews (9.5 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 2.9 APG, 2.0 SPG) has showcased his versality as one of only two Power 6 players (Kadary Richmond of Seton Hall) and one of three players nationally (Robert Ford – Montana State) to dial up at least 9.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.0 steals per game this season.

Matthews has posted 15 outings of 10+ points sparked by season-highs of 18 points versus No. 5 Tennessee (03/15), No. 17 South Carolina (03/09) and Rutgers (12/23) coupled with a pair of 12-rebound efforts against North Texas (12/17) and at Ole Miss (01/30).

Matthews has a quartet of double-doubles in SEC action: 18 points, 11 rebounds against No. 17 South Carolina (03/09), 14 points, 11 rebounds versus No. 8 Auburn (01/27), 16 points, 12 rebounds at Ole Miss (01/30) and 17 points, 10 rebounds against Arkansas (02/17). The Bulldogs are 19-7 lifetime when Matthews collects 10 or more points.

Matthews has handed out multiple assists 25 times and secured multiple steals on 17 occasions this season. He has garnered at least one steal in 72 of his 101 outings over the last three seasons. His 188 career steals are 3rd among SEC active players and are 5th on State's all-time list. Matthews posted 7 steals, tied for the 3rd most by a State player in a game, at Missouri (02/10).

The All-SEC Defensive nod for Matthews enabled him to become the fourth player in program history to etch his name to the record book. His company includes Abdul Ado (2020-21), Greg Carter (1990-91) and Varnado (2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10).

Moore (8.0 PPG, 1.8 APG) has registered 40 of his 45 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).

Moore has reached double-digit points in 13 total outings over a 22-game stretch as a member of State's starting five this season.

Defensively, Moore has accounted for at least one steal in 84 of 123 career games sparked by 52 times with multiple steals. His 170 career steals are tied for 9th among SEC active players and his 135 steals at State are 16th on the program's all-time list.

Jeffries (6.4 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 1.1 SPG) has found his way into State's starting five in 91 of 100 career games. He eclipsed 700 career rebounds against No. 8 Auburn (01/27) preceded by surpassing 1,200 career points versus Vanderbilt (01/20). The Olive Branch native returned to extended action with nine points against Ole Miss (02/21) and managed a SEC season's best 12 points against No. 12 Auburn (03/16) during the SEC Tournament semifinals.

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 against Murray State (12/13) to tuck away his only double-double of the season. Jeffries secured a SEC season's best 10 points against Vanderbilt (01/20) and a career-high five steals against No. 5 Tennessee (01/10).

Davis (6.7 PPG, 2.6 APG, 1.6 SPG) is ranked 7th in steals among SEC players this season. Eight of his 10 games of 10+ points in 2023-24 have come on the road/neutral games. In those 10 games in double figures, Davis is shooting 57.6 percent (19-of-33) from three-point territory. His top three SEC scoring efforts are 16 points versus No. 17 South Carolina (03/09), 15 points at Ole Miss (01/30) and 15 points at Texas A&M (03/06) The New York native also matched his State career-best with eight dimes against Georgia (02/07).

Davis posted consecutive games in double figures versus Washington State and Northwestern en route to Hall of Fame Tipoff All-Tournament Team (11/19) earlier this season. Davis also came away with a State career-best of 18 points against Utah in the Fort Myers Tipoff Championship Game, while his SEC career-high is 17 point at Arkansas. Both of those marks came last season.

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

Bell Jr. (5.1 PPG, 5.1 RPG), the SEC's Player of the Week for 12/26, has started 50 games over the last two seasons and was a key member of West Virginia's 2022-23 NCAA Tournament squad. He has notched 6 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). He also has pulled down 10+ rebounds on six occasions this season.

Fort (5.2 PPG), one of the nation's top junior college recruits, was a NJCAA All-America Second-Team honoree at Howard College last season. His 24.9 points per game was 4th 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). He missed five games (01/30-02/17) due to a hand injury before he returned to action during the Ole Miss game (02/21).

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.

After winning a program-record five SEC Freshman of the Week during the season, Hubbard (17.1 PPG, 1.8 APG) became the second State freshmen to come away with All-SEC Second-Team honors. He joins an illustrious list which includes Erick Dampier in 1993-94.

According to Elias Sports Bureau, Hubbard holds the top spot nationally with 13 games of 20+ points among true freshmen in 2023-24. His 17.1 points per game also are 1st among SEC freshmen, while his 583 points are tops for a State freshmen and 10th overall for a single-season.

Hubbard's SEC top scoring efforts are 34 points versus No. 16 Kentucky (02/27), 32 points at LSU (02/24) followed by 28 points versus No. 17 South Carolina (03/09), 26 points at Florida (01/24) and 25 points against No. 5 Tennessee (01/10) during his SEC home debut. With his back-to-back outings of 30-plus points during the LSU and Kentucky games, he is joined by Alabama's Brandon Miller (2022-23) as the only SEC freshmen to accomplish the feat in the last 20 seasons.

The 34 points versus Kentucky are the second-most by a State freshmen in a game, behind only Rickey Brown's 40-point performance against Auburn on 03/07/1977. He exploded for 22 points in the second half which included a trio of three-pointers that allowed State to erase an 8-point deficit inside the final minute.

Hubbard's non-conference best of 29 points versus Northwestern (11/19) is the most for a State player off the bench since Tony Watts also scored 29 points at Ole Miss in 1989-90. The Madison native also made the most of his first career start with 15 of his 17 points during the second half of State's win over No. 8 Auburn (01/27).

Hubbard has drained 105 three-pointers which has already shattered Barry Stewart's program freshmen record of 68 in 2006-07. He surpassed Darryl Wilson's single-season watermark of 97 in 1994-95 in the regular season finale versus No. 17 South Carolina (03/09).

Hubbard, 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. He broke a state record that stood for 37 years previously held by Mississippi State's Robert Woodard.

Jones Jr. (4.6 PPG) made his first career SEC start versus Georgia (02/07) where he turned in a solid all-around effort with 7 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocks. He has started eight of the last nine games for State and secured 11 of his top 13 scoring efforts this season fueled by 4 of his top 6 on the road/neutral floor.

Jones Jr.'s career-high is 11 points against South Carolina (02/28/23). He also tallied his 2023-24 season watermark of 10 points at No. 24 Alabama (02/03) and 9 points at Florida (01/24). State has posted an 8-5 mark over the last two seasons when Jones Jr. reaches at least 7 points.

Murphy (5.0 PPG) made his season debut returning from injury against Nicholls (11/24) and returned from an eight-game absence due to a personal matter with a 10-point effort versus Georgia (02/07) sparked by pair of three-pointers. He averaged 8.3 points and 5.8 rebounds over a six-game stretch to close February.

Murphy's top career scoring performance is 18 points versus North Texas (12/17). His SEC career-best is 12 points versus Ole Miss (02/21) coupled with an 11-point performance at LSU (02/24). State is 5-1 over the last two seasons when Murphy reaches double figures.

SCOUTING MICHIGAN STATE
The Spartans are making their 26th straight NCAA Tournament under the leadership of Hall of Famer, Tom Izzo. Michigan State's streak of 26 straight NCAA Tournaments is not only a Big Ten record, it's also the third-longest run in NCAA history.

Michigan State is led by a veteran trio of All-Big Ten performers in Tyson Walker, Malik Hall and A.J. Hoggard. Walker was named to the All-Big Ten Second Team while Hall and Hoggard were both honorable mention selections by both the coaches and media.

Walker enters the NCAA Tournament as the Spartans leading scorer, fifth-best in the Big Ten, at 18.2 points per game, while shooting 44 percent from the floor. Walker, who is averaging over 32 minutes per game this season, has scored in double figures in all but one game this season, including each of the last eight games with back-to-back 15-point performances in the Big Ten Tournament. Additionally, Walker is one of only five Division I players this year averaging at least 18.4 points per game, 2.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.9 steals per game.

Malik Hall is the Spartans best post player and the teams second leading scorer at 12.6 points per game, a career-best mark. He gets after it on the glass averaging 5.6 boards per contest. After a slow start to the season for Hall that saw him average just 9.8 points per game and 4.6 rebounds per game during the non-conference, Hall has found his rhythm in Big Ten play, averaging 14.5 points and 6.3 boards. In the Spartans upset win over No. 10 Illinois, Hall had 22 points and five rebounds.

Hoggard, who runs the point for Coach Izzo, is third on the team in scoring at 10.9 points per game while leading the team in assists at 5.2 per contest. His 5.2 assists per game average currently ranks fourth best in the Big Ten.

On Jan. 30, Hoggard passed the 1,000-point mark in his career at Michigan State. In the process he also became one of just seven Spartans all-time to have at least 1,000 points and 500 assists, joining Cassius Winston, Mateen Cleaves, Scott Skiles, Denzel Valentine, Drew Neitzel and Kailin Lucas.

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: Mississippi State-Michigan State

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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

Jaquan Scott

Tolu Smith III

Mississippi State University Athletics