WATCH: Coach Jans Media Session

STARKVILLE - Head coach Chris Jans met with the media leading into Thursday's practice to preview the program's first ranked versus ranked matchup with Ole MIss.

2024-25 Mississippi State Men's Basketball Quotes
Media Session – January 16, 2025

Head Coach Chris Jans
Q: You've been around the Mississippi State-Ole Miss Rivalry for a few seasons now, what difference does having home-court advantage make in your mind?
CJ: "In my experience in this particular rivalry, it's a big advantage just like it is in the other rivalries that I've been involved in. Our crowd was amazing the last time we played [at home] last Saturday. We had a chance [to win] obviously, but we couldn't get it done. I would imagine that we'll have a very similar environment, considering how both teams are doing given that Ole Miss is coming in with an undefeated SEC record. We'll need every person, everybody that we can get to create that buzz that we're looking for."

Q: Shawn Jones Jr. has come a long way already especially on the defensive end. Where do you think he's been playing well, and where do you think he can improve?
CJ: "His game has matured, and his understanding of our scheme obviously is really, really good given his experience and his time here. He's rounded into form to understanding where his niche is at, how to play and how to be valuable for us even though it may not all show up on a stat sheet. Even just little things like getting an offensive rebound or driving in into the paint and knowing that there's trees in the lane in the SEC and not throwing up a bad shot. Those things don't show up [on a box score]."

"Just being in the right spot defensively and checking his man out in a religious way. He's the best checkout guy we got. He's not the best rebounding guy we got, but he allows other people to get the rebound because he's so assignment correct on checking his own man out. Knowing that the way people are defending him, he can get a rhythm three off most possessions if needed. The shots that he is taking are mostly uncontested, and in rhythm. He's been working on that, and hopefully he'll knock some down."

Q: This is the first time that Ole Miss and Mississippi State have faced off in a ranked matchup, what is it like for the state and both of these universities to have these schools competing at such a high level?
CJ: "I wasn't aware until about a minute before I walked in … I don't know exactly what I said, but it was something like, 'Really?'. It surprises me. I would've never guessed that or thought that. It kind of amazes me, to be honest with you. You look at all of the times these teams have played and how many years it [the rivalry] goes back. For that not to happen, it is what it is. It's cool, it's great for the state. Hopefully, the environment will be off the charts. It always, but maybe even a little more now because of that opportunity for both programs. It'll be here soon enough."

Q: Josh Hubbard's assist-to-turnover ratio still leads the SEC. Is his role of running the point taking away from his shooting game, or is he just in a little slump right now?
CJ: "As you know, I don't like to speak for my guys. I obviously talk to Josh on a daily basis, but we don't drill deep on that subject matter all the time. I don't know, I think people still circle his name in red pen every single time, and he gets the best defender in a league full of high-level athletes and defenders and coaches in game planning. Certainly, like always, with more and more games under his belt, people understand where his sweet spots are and trying to make it as difficult as they can on him."

"Like you mentioned, for us with his improved vision, progressions and reads as a ballhandler, we're asking him to do more that way. That's been a positive, like you said, with him leading the league in assist-to-turnover especially given the fact that teams are game planning for him. When he comes off the ball screen, there's usually two [defenders] on the ball for an extended period of time where that's not always the case for the rest of our guys. So, he has a little more pressure on him, which is maybe is one of the reasons why his assists are up that way because of having to give up the ball a little bit more."

"The one thing with Josh is, I don't think I've ever believed in a player more than him in my entire career. I've coached some great players, but my confidence in that young man is through the roof. I can't speak for him, but I would imagine that our staff and our locker room feels the same way because of what's inside Josh and how he goes about his business. It's a great reminder that these kids are humans. They're not machines, they're not robots. But again, I'll go back to what I said, I wouldn't want anyone else out there and fulfilling that role for our program than Josh Hubbard."

Q: What are your impressions of Ole Miss based on what you've seen so far?
CJ: "Coach Beard and his staff have done a tremendous job of putting together a tough-minded, connected team on both ends of the floor. They're a much better defensive team this year than they were last year. They're more physical, and they play a more unique style. For the most part, they do a lot of switching on and off the ball with all of the positions. Normally, it's more of the one through three, one through four that do a lot of switching in this day and age, but they'll even get their five involved because they have so many pieces on the floor that are similar in size. I think they have a lot of confidence in their guards to fight the bigs, and their bigs to keep the guards in check. You don't see that very often which causes you on the offensive end to do some more game planning than maybe you normally would. That takes time and thought. So, it's a good approach for them."

"On the offensive end, they've got six guys that average between nine-point something and 13-point something. So, what a luxury to have that much balance and not having to rely on one guy on any given night. They're a little old school in that way. They run more of the motion offense that you don't see very often anymore. South Carolina does some of it too in our league, but you see more spread-out, dribble-drive, ball screens and things that are in vogue. Again, that's another area that you have to tweak going into a game like this because of how they play on both sides of the floor."

Q: Looking back at when you first took over this program, what do you think the key to rebuilding this program to where it is right now?
CJ: "Right now in the middle of the season, that's not something that I ponder. That's more maybe of an offseason question. And even then, I don't know. We just try to work every day and keep our nose to the grindstone. We just try to make the program better in all areas. Hopefully, we'll continue to do that."

Mississippi State University Athletics

WATCH: Coach Jans Media Session

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