WATCH: Coach Jans Media Session

2024-25 Mississippi State Men's Basketball
Media Session – January 2, 2025

Head Coach Chris Jans
Q: Collin Murray-Boyles caught people by surprise last year as a freshman. Not to give away the scouting report, but how difficult is he to defend with the things he can do in the post?
CJ: "He's a special player, probably my favorite player in the league thus far. I haven't gotten to see everybody obviously this season, but he can do it all. He doesn't shoot the three. He's made I think a handful of them on the year. But, the way he impacts the game and every other facet of the game is pretty remarkable."

"He's got such a great feel. He's got soft hands, he's uber-competitive and they can run their offense through him. He's obviously unbelievable on the glass. He's just got a great combination of size, skill, feel, IQ and competitive spirit. He's got to be their leader I would imagine when things get hard for them. Everybody in the gym knows where it's going. We do and the guys that have already played him do, but unfortunately there's not that much you can do about it because he's a good passer as well. They've got a lot of good players, but it definitely starts with him."

Q: You have several players who have SEC experience already. How valuable is having that experience and being used to the grind of the SEC?
CJ: "Well, like always, we're going to find out. I don't know yet. Hopefully, it'll be valuable, but they do too. They've got some guys that transferred in from at least one from the SEC in addition to the returnees that they have. So, both teams will have plenty of SEC experience."

"If you look at them like I have, they've won eight in a row. They had a stinker out of the gate that I'm sure they want back like 95 percent of college basketball teams want one [game] back at this point. We're no different. Other than that, they got beat at Indiana and by Xavier who's both are really, really good."

"So, they're a well-coached team. They've very well versed, they play together and they're old school in terms of controlling the tempo. It starts with their defense, they just don't give you anything. They make you work your tail off to get any good looks, and they're a really good basketball team."

Q: We've talked about how fantastic the SEC is this season, but just from Mississippi State's standpoint, what do you think is going to be the key of coming out of this conference schedule and being one of the top teams in the SEC when it's over?
CJ: Yeah, your next game is the biggest game of the year. It's kind of been our mantra as a coaching staff for a long, long time is that we treat every game like the Super Bowl. Our kids have to adopt that as well. If you don't, you're for sure going to get beat. You might get beat anyway if you're super prepared and super focused and the opponent plays pretty good. You can still get beat on any given night, home or road."

"But, I think they all have to try to get on board with that and get excited about being a part of the game plan and buying into that. Not just the coaches presenting it and trying to get them to understand it, but really be locked in as a group because a lot these games are going to come down to the last possession or two. You're hoping that you can give your kids a chance by putting them in the right position, but it's just going to be that the next game is the biggest game of the year."

Q: After last game, you talked about Claudell Harris Jr. fitting into a role and doing a lot of the little things and meeting your expectations. Just the way he is as a team player, is that something you saw that jumped off the page when you were recruiting him?
CJ: "Not really, I saw him as more of a scorer. I didn't see him being what you described. That's why I said what I said after the game about how excited I am for him and for us, because he's rounding into form for this year's team. For him to impact it in a bunch of different areas, rather than not just how many points he scores each game. He's probably in the top two or three in talking on defense for us every day, and that's invaluable for our team. The growth the other night of not taking a field goal attempt in the first half. Then, having patience but still impacting the game on the defensive end or just the hockey assist. Then, waiting and being rewarded, getting more open looks in the second half."

"Sometimes, when people use the term 'role player,' I feel like there's almost a negative connotation with it. Like, he's not a great player, he's a 'role player.' That's not true at all, coaches know that. Sometimes, others around the industry don't understand that, but everyone has a role. If your role is to be the leading scorer, then you're the leading scorer. It doesn't mean you're the best player, it means you're the leading scorer for that particular team. But, I think all of us at times say you need to play a role for this team."

"I don't really talk about role playing with our guys at all, to be honest with you. We don't talk about it because I don't look at it that way, man. If you want to play more minutes, here's what you need to focus on and things of that nature. So, when people put Claudell or anyone in a 'role player' deal, it makes me cringe at times because he's having a great year for us, and I think he's going to have a better year as we go down the stretch of SEC play."

Q: Obviously, defending the home court is always crucial each season. With the SEC being what it is, does that take it to another level knowing how tough road games will be this year?
CJ: "I'm just worried about Saturday, man. I'm all in on South Carolina. Certainly, I know the first five or six games of who we play and where, but I don't give that much thought. Certainly, protecting your home court, will be talked about by every team in America starting league play opening at home. We'll be no different, probably, but it's a marathon, man. This league is going to be a gauntlet. Everybody's talking about it, but I think we're just all in on South Carolina."

Q: Cameron Matthews has been through the wars of the SEC for a long time. We know how valuable he is as a leader of this team, but how much more now that SEC is starting? Also, is his foot 100 percent, or is it still giving him some trouble?
CJ: "I wouldn't say he's a 100 percent, you'd have to ask him. We still have modifications in practice for him, but I'd say he's better now than he was three or four weeks ago in terms of being able to be more involved in more reps in practice. But, in terms of relying on him and because he's been there done that, I certainly hope so. He's one of our main leaders, and he's who we want to be personality wise on gameday, especially. Hopefully, he'll use his experience to share with the other players leading into it. And, probably more importantly, when we have adversity which we obviously will in some of these games coming up."

Mississippi State University Athletics

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