Five Things To Know: State-No. 17 South Carolina

by Matt Dunaway, Director/Communications

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State men's basketball team wraps the regular season with a Senior Day matchup versus No. 17 South Carolina in-front of another anticipated sold-out crowd at Humphrey Coliseum.

The Bulldogs (19-11, 8-9 SEC) head into the contest in a three-way tie for seventh place with LSU and Texas A&M in the SEC standings. All three teams are one-game clear of Ole Miss, who faces the Aggies in their regular season finale.

State is one of three SEC schools (South Carolina, Texas A&M) and one of 15 schools in the country (Connecticut, Creighton, Georgia Tech, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Nebraska, Northwestern, Purdue, Seton Hall, TCU, Washington State) to capture a pair of Associated Press Top 10 wins in conference play.

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. The last time the Maroon and White accomplished the feat 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 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.

The Bulldogs are the only SEC school and one of four teams in the country (BYU, DePaul, Iowa State) to play seven of their first 9 conference games as NCAA NET Quad 1 opportunities.

State's first five SEC road foes – South Carolina, Kentucky, Florida, Ole Miss and Alabama – have racked up a combined 69-13 (.841) when playing on its home floors this season. Overall, the Bulldogs and Vanderbilt are the only SEC squads scheduled to play 10+ NCAA NET Quad 1 games.

State featured a suffocating defense in year one under Chris Jans 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 55 rankings in three-point field goal percentage defense (29.3 – 1st SEC – 8th nation), rebound margin (+6.2 – 3rd SEC – 25th nation), offensive rebounds (12.57 – 4th SEC – 33rd nation, total rebounds (38.70 – 5th SEC – 47th nation) and steals (7.9 – 2nd SEC – 53rd nation).

State also has dialed up top 50 marks from KenPom.com in three additional defensive categories: adjusted defensive efficiency (96.5 – 18th), steal percentage (11.5 – 43rd) and effective field goal percentage defense (47.6 – 48th).

SERIES HISTORY
Overall, State has won 10 of the last 14 meetings since 2017-18 and 16 of the 20 all-time games in Starkville en route to a 29-18 series advantage.

The Bulldogs dialed up a 74-68 victory over Carolina during last year's Senior Night. Shakeel Moore led the way with 20 points followed by 16 points from Tolu Smith III and a career-best 11 points courtesy of Shawn Jones Jr.

Earlier this season, the Gamecocks notched a 68-62 decision during the SEC opener for both teams. Smith III and Josh Hubbard had team-highs of 13 points apiece. State had a chance to tie the game in the closing seconds, but a pair of turnovers enabled Carolina to sink four free throws.

The Matchup: Mississippi State (19-11, 8-9 SEC) vs. No. 17 South Carolina (24-6, 12-5 SEC)
Where: Humphrey Coliseum – Humphrey Coliseum
When: Saturday, March 9, 1:30 p.m. CT
Live Stats: StatBroadcast (https://hailst.at/45ONE2t)

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/3upqT92)
Talent: Kevin Fitzgerald, Daymeon Fishback

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/3Ij6SUH); 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 .729 winning percentage (183-68) in his 8th season as a NCAA Division I head coach. He is sixth among NCAA active coaches with a .732 winning percentage behind only Mark Few (Gonzaga), Bill Self (Kansas), Brian Dutcher (San Diego State), John Calipari (Kentucky) and Darian DeVries (Drake).

Jans has piled up 40 victories during his first two seasons at State which is at the top of the class among the six SEC second-year coaches.
The team's next victory will give Jans back-to-back 20-win seasons with the Bulldogs as he's attempting to join John Calipari (Kentucky) and Eric Musselman (Arkansas) as the only SEC active coaches to post consecutive 20+ win seasons in their first two seasons with their respective schools.

As a junior college head coach, 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 17 games of SEC action, State's returning players have tallied 69.4 percent of the team's points (852-of-1253). The Bulldogs have continued to showcase their depth and piled up 27.93 bench points per contest which is 5th on the SEC leaderboard and checks in 25th 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 (16.4 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 1.2 APG) was 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 1,505 points (11th) and 825 rebounds (9th) and has started 98 of 103 games at State. He is joined by Kansas' Hunter Dickinson, Purdue's Zach Edey and Miami's Norchad Omier as the only Power 6 players in college basketball to average at least 16.0 points, 8.0 rebounds and shoot 55.0+ percent from the floor this season.

Smith III has ripped off 17 double-doubles over his last 34 games dating back to mid-January of last season. He produced his SEC-leading 32nd double-double among active players with 14 points and 10 rebounds at No. 11 Auburn (03/02). 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 (9.3 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 2.9 APG, 2.1 SPG) has showcased his as one of two Power 6 players (Kadary Richmond – Seton Hall) and one of four players nationally to dial up at least 9.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.0 steals per game this season.

Matthews has posted 13 outings of 10+ points sparked by a season-high 18 points versus Rutgers (12/23) coupled with a pair of 12-rebound efforts against North Texas (12/17) and at Ole Miss (01/30). He has trio of double-doubles in SEC action: 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 18-6 lifetime when Matthews collects 10 or more points.

Matthews has handed out multiple assists 21 times and secured multiple steals on 15 occasions this season. He has garnered at least one steal in 68 of his 97 outings over the last three seasons. His 182 career steals are 3rd among SEC active players and are 6th 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).

Moore (8.4 PPG, 1.9 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 posted 9.8 points per game with seven of his last 11 outings in double figures and has piled up 13 total outings with 10+ points 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 82 of 119 career games sparked by 51 times with multiple steals. His 168 career steals are tied for 9th among SEC active players and his 133 steals at State are 16th on the program's all-time list.

Jeffries (6.0 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 1.0 SPG) has found his way into State's starting five in 87 of 96 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 equaled a season-high 12 rebounds at Texas A&M (03/06).

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 (6.3 PPG, 2.9 APG, 1.5 SPG) is ranked 10th in steals among SEC players this season. Seven of his eight games of 10+ points in 2023-24 have come on the road/neutral games fueled by season's bests of 15 points at Ole Miss (01/30) and at Texas A&M (03/06). In those eight games in double figures, Davis is shooting 58.3 percent (14-of-24) from three-point territory. He 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 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 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 Scott (Salt Lake Community College) from the transfer portal and the junior college ranks.

Bell Jr. (5.3 PPG, 5.5 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). His 5.5 rebounds per contest are 17th on the SEC's , and he's pulled down 10+ rebounds on six occasions this season.

Fort (5.2 PPG), one of the nation's top junior college recruits, was a 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 returning 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.

Hubbard (16.4 PPG, 1.8 APG), a five-time SEC Freshmen of the Week most recently on 02/26 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. He broke a state record that stood for 37 years previously held by Mississippi State's Robert Woodard.

According to Elias Sports Bureau, Hubbard holds the top spot nationally with 10 games of 20+ points among true freshmen in 2023-24. His 16.4 points per game also are 1st among SEC freshmen, while his 493 points are 2nd-most for a State freshmen only trailing Rickey Brown's mark of 520 points from 1976-77.

Hubbard's SEC top scoring efforts are 34 points versus No. 16 Kentucky (02/27), 32 points at LSU (02/24) followed by 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, according to Elias.

The 34 points versus Kentucky are the second-most by a State freshmen in a game, behind only 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 94 three-pointers which has already shattered Barry Stewart's program freshmen record of 68 in 2006-07. He heads into Saturday's action 4 treys away from surpassing Darryl Wilson's single-season watermark of 97 in 1994-95.

Jones Jr. (4.8 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 State's last eight games and secured 10 of his top 12 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 8-4 mark over the last two seasons when Jones Jr. reaches at least 7 points.

Murphy (5.9 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 has averaged 6.5 points and 5.4 rebounds over the eight-game stretch (02/07-03/06).

Murphy's top career scoring performance is 18 points on 8-of-14 shooting 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 SOUTH CAROLINA
The Gamecocks have won three of their last four and 10 of their last 13 games to sit in a four-way tie for second place in the SEC standings under second-year coach Lamont Paris. Carolina has won six SEC games on the road which includes their last two over Ole Miss (72-59 on 02/24) and Texas A&M (70-68 on 02/28).

Three players have dialed up double figures for South Carolina headed by Meechie Johnson (14.3 PPG, 3.0 APG, 1.0 SPG) and B.J. Mack (13.1 PPG, 4.6 RPG). Johnson has amassed 9 outings of 20-plus points which includes SEC-highs of 25 points against Florida (03/02) and 24 points versus Mississippi State (01/06).

Collin Murray-Boyles (10.0 PPG, 5.6 RPG) has emerged as one of the SEC's top freshmen and has started the last 15 games for the Gamecocks. He has poured in double-digit points during eight of his last nine appearances fueled by a 31-point performance against Vanderbilt (02/10).

Ta'lon Cooper (9.8 PPG, 4.3 APG) and Myles Stute (8.9 PPG, 3.2 RPG) have been solid contributors throughout the season. Cooper nearly came away with a triple-double with 11 points, 9 assists and 8 rebounds during the Texas A&M game (02/28), while Stute recently returned from an injury. Stute notched a SEC season-high 15 points against Mississippi State (01/06).

Jacobi Wright (6.2 PPG) and Zachary Davis (5.4 PPG, 3.5 RPG) give Carolina seven players averaging at least 5 points per contest. The duo has combined for 12 outings in double figures. Both players have a season watermark of 16 points. Davis accomplished the feat at Texas A&M (02/28) followed by Wright during the Florida game (03/02).

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.

Mississippi State University Athletics

Five Things To Know: State-No. 17 South Carolina

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

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