WATCH: Coach Jans Media Session
November 03, 2025 | Men's Basketball
STARKVILLE - Mississippi State head coach Chris Jans met with media leading into Monday's practice to preview Wednesday's season opener against North Alabama on Wednesday.
2025-26 Mississippi State Men's Basketball Quotes
Media Session – November 3, 2025
Mississippi State Head Coach Chris Jans
Opening Statement
CJ: "I want to lead off with a big congrats to Coach Lebby, Coach Hutzler and the rest of the staff for the awesome win on the road after three tough ones. Overtime, overtime and then a last drive that got stalled, if you will. Just so happy for those guys and those players to stay together and to keep fighting, scratching and clawing when there's a lot of negative noise from people in the community, from fans. I just love it that they stuck together and found a way to win."
"They've got three tough ones left, obviously, with Georgia, Missouri and Ole Miss. Nothing's easy in this league as we all know. I'm just really happy for him and excited for what they're doing in their second year. Then, certainly congrats to Nick Zimmerman as well, winning their first-round game [at the SEC Tournament], and good luck to the ladies down in Pensacola."
Q: What did you take away from the Houston exhibition in terms of how your team has started to develop an identity?
CJ: "Well, we can take a punch. We've shown that this team can take a punch, and we got hit pretty hard in the first five or six minutes. It rocked us. They got themselves up off the mat and fought back. That's what we talked about in the locker room after the game. That was probably the biggest thing in my mind that we did."
"I knew it was going to be hard, and I knew it was going to be a struggle for us. We don't do a ton of game planning for those [exhibition] situations. We just like to see how they react to the other team and what they're doing. I thought for the most part that they handled the intensity of the game."
"In the first five minutes, we had three kids that had blood on them. I love how Coach Sampson runs his team, his culture and how they practice. I've never seen it, but I've heard a lot about it. Then, how they compete, and the results speak for themselves. So, when we got the game finally organized, I couldn't have been more excited for that opportunity. Hopefully, it'll be learning lessons for us as we start the season."
"We talked a lot about valuing the ball and making tough decisions under duress, because the way they defend that, they put you in those situations. I really like the energy that our kids maintained throughout the 40 minutes, all the way down the bench and on the floor. We'll see if those lessons are going to help us here going forward."
Q: How do you feel about your team entering the first game of the season?
CJ: "I can't remember if I shared it with you folks or just with a bunch of people that I've talked to. I kept telling my staff that I just don't feel like we have embraced who we are. I know who we want us to be. But eventually, this team will morph into who they are. I was frustrated because I didn't feel like we were getting there."
"I think that a lot of coaches and teams throughout the country are probably in a similar boat, just because of the reality of having so many new players. It's like a young person, and they're forming their personality on the fly. It's taking us a little bit longer. I don't know when we'll get there, hopefully we will soon, but we're certainly not there yet."
"Like, anything in life, you need to have some adversity and some tough times to be able to rally together, or not. To decide what your makeup's going to be, and what you stand for. Like I alluded to earlier, certainly the Houston experience, was a step in that right direction."
Q: What are your early impressions of North Alabama?
CJ: "Again, it's really difficult. It's more difficult than ever in these early season games because of roster turnover. They were terrific last year. They had a great season, I think they won 24 or 25 games [at one point]. They made the NIT."
"Just looking at their stats as a whole, they were unbelievable at taking care of the basketball. I mean they just didn't turn the ball over. Their rebounding numbers were off the charts as well. That's something that concerns me because valuing the ball hasn't been our strength recently. We've got to make sure that we're not just giving the ball away. Then, rebounding is something we always talk about every day. I've got a lot of respect for Coach Pujol. I've known him for a long, long time. I know they're going to be tough-minded, and I know they're going to be prepared, I know they're going to throw everything at us. We've got to make sure that we're ready to go."
Q: What are you looking for from your players to earn more playing time?
CJ: "My standard line with that is always the same, and it's no different this year. I always tell our players individually that if you can move the needle in the right direction, I'll find minutes for you. But you've got to take advantage of the opportunities that you receive and make the most of them."
"That's the big thing about the bench. People get into that [who is in the starting lineup], and I understand that. I'm sure we'll talk more about that as the season unfolds in the early games. But everybody comes off the bench after the starters. That's what I think the players have to understand is that you have to get yourself ready mentally and maybe physically ready to go. Each one is different in how you do that is up to the individual. That's a big thing for me, for our players. You don't have the excuse of I need two or three possessions to get going, to get a feel for the game and to understand the flow. That ain't the way it works. The game doesn't stop for anyone to insert yourself and get a couple of warm-up possessions, if you will."
"It's something that we'll talk about a lot in these early season games. That's a big reason why you're good or why you're not. Kids understanding if they're a starter or not and being in the right frame of mind and having the right approach when you're given the opportunity to make the most of it. It's easy, right? I mean, if you do well, you usually play longer. Then, the next game comes around, your number is called maybe a little bit earlier. That will all unfold in real time here shortly."
Q: Jayden Epps didn't play much in the exhibition after getting hurt early, what's the update on him and when he's good to go?
CJ: "Jayden was concussed [during the Houston game] and went through the protocol. He returned to action this past weekend. So, he's through it. Obviously, he's just got to get back in rhythm and get back in game shape. He'll have enough time before we tip on Wednesday at 8 p.m. in my opinion to be locked and loaded and ready to go."
Q: What do you want to see from your freshmen on Wednesday?
CJ: "Just compete. It's like what I tell our guys a lot during practice, especially during the early parts of trying to put the team together, is that we're going to make mistakes. I'm going to make mistakes, and you're going to make mistakes. Basketball isn't one of those games where you don't have mistakes all night and all day. That's just how it works."
"You're trying to be as mistake-free as you can, obviously, and get better and tighter with it as you get more games under your belt. Just pin your ears back, and if you're going to make a mistake, make it full speed. Make it out of aggression and make it out of want to. Don't make it being hesitant and just compete. That's kind of what we preach, and that will be what I'll talk to them about leading up to the game too. I'm sure there'll be plenty of nerves going around for the freshmen and even for the guys who haven't played here before. I'll be curious, like everyone else is as to how they perform."
Q: Some of your players have talked about the team chemistry being high this year, what have you seen from this team's bonding?
CJ: "Well, I love hearing that. I don't ask them those kinds of questions. You kind of keep your fingers crossed. Back in the day, it was always like, how's the chemistry of your team? Certainly, as a coach, you can do things and put them in a position where they have to talk to each other and have to interact outside of just communicating on the floor."
"At the end of the day, in my opinion, a lot of it is about recruiting. A lot of it is about leadership, which Josh Hubbard is as fine of a leader as I think I'll eventually probably have ever had. He's definitely more vocal this year than he ever has. Shawn [Jones Jr.] has been assisting him at times as well. Obviously, he's been around here the longest. So, he gets it and understands it. He's been through a ton for this program and with us."
"At the same time, a lot of teams across the country are saying this about their team. We like each other, we hang out, and we've got a good bond. Well, ask us in a month where we're at. When the games start, starters start and guys come off the bench, some guys don't play the minutes that they think they deserve to play. Then, you'll find out what kind of close-knit family basketball team you have. It's easy when those things aren't happening. Everybody likes each other, because in everybody's mind, things that all their dreams and goals for this particular year are all going to come true. Obviously, they're not. More often than not, they're not. So, that'll be something in a month if you remember, that you can ask me. We'll see where we're at then."
2025-26 Mississippi State Men's Basketball Quotes
Media Session – November 3, 2025
Mississippi State Head Coach Chris Jans
Opening Statement
CJ: "I want to lead off with a big congrats to Coach Lebby, Coach Hutzler and the rest of the staff for the awesome win on the road after three tough ones. Overtime, overtime and then a last drive that got stalled, if you will. Just so happy for those guys and those players to stay together and to keep fighting, scratching and clawing when there's a lot of negative noise from people in the community, from fans. I just love it that they stuck together and found a way to win."
"They've got three tough ones left, obviously, with Georgia, Missouri and Ole Miss. Nothing's easy in this league as we all know. I'm just really happy for him and excited for what they're doing in their second year. Then, certainly congrats to Nick Zimmerman as well, winning their first-round game [at the SEC Tournament], and good luck to the ladies down in Pensacola."
Q: What did you take away from the Houston exhibition in terms of how your team has started to develop an identity?
CJ: "Well, we can take a punch. We've shown that this team can take a punch, and we got hit pretty hard in the first five or six minutes. It rocked us. They got themselves up off the mat and fought back. That's what we talked about in the locker room after the game. That was probably the biggest thing in my mind that we did."
"I knew it was going to be hard, and I knew it was going to be a struggle for us. We don't do a ton of game planning for those [exhibition] situations. We just like to see how they react to the other team and what they're doing. I thought for the most part that they handled the intensity of the game."
"In the first five minutes, we had three kids that had blood on them. I love how Coach Sampson runs his team, his culture and how they practice. I've never seen it, but I've heard a lot about it. Then, how they compete, and the results speak for themselves. So, when we got the game finally organized, I couldn't have been more excited for that opportunity. Hopefully, it'll be learning lessons for us as we start the season."
"We talked a lot about valuing the ball and making tough decisions under duress, because the way they defend that, they put you in those situations. I really like the energy that our kids maintained throughout the 40 minutes, all the way down the bench and on the floor. We'll see if those lessons are going to help us here going forward."
Q: How do you feel about your team entering the first game of the season?
CJ: "I can't remember if I shared it with you folks or just with a bunch of people that I've talked to. I kept telling my staff that I just don't feel like we have embraced who we are. I know who we want us to be. But eventually, this team will morph into who they are. I was frustrated because I didn't feel like we were getting there."
"I think that a lot of coaches and teams throughout the country are probably in a similar boat, just because of the reality of having so many new players. It's like a young person, and they're forming their personality on the fly. It's taking us a little bit longer. I don't know when we'll get there, hopefully we will soon, but we're certainly not there yet."
"Like, anything in life, you need to have some adversity and some tough times to be able to rally together, or not. To decide what your makeup's going to be, and what you stand for. Like I alluded to earlier, certainly the Houston experience, was a step in that right direction."
Q: What are your early impressions of North Alabama?
CJ: "Again, it's really difficult. It's more difficult than ever in these early season games because of roster turnover. They were terrific last year. They had a great season, I think they won 24 or 25 games [at one point]. They made the NIT."
"Just looking at their stats as a whole, they were unbelievable at taking care of the basketball. I mean they just didn't turn the ball over. Their rebounding numbers were off the charts as well. That's something that concerns me because valuing the ball hasn't been our strength recently. We've got to make sure that we're not just giving the ball away. Then, rebounding is something we always talk about every day. I've got a lot of respect for Coach Pujol. I've known him for a long, long time. I know they're going to be tough-minded, and I know they're going to be prepared, I know they're going to throw everything at us. We've got to make sure that we're ready to go."
Q: What are you looking for from your players to earn more playing time?
CJ: "My standard line with that is always the same, and it's no different this year. I always tell our players individually that if you can move the needle in the right direction, I'll find minutes for you. But you've got to take advantage of the opportunities that you receive and make the most of them."
"That's the big thing about the bench. People get into that [who is in the starting lineup], and I understand that. I'm sure we'll talk more about that as the season unfolds in the early games. But everybody comes off the bench after the starters. That's what I think the players have to understand is that you have to get yourself ready mentally and maybe physically ready to go. Each one is different in how you do that is up to the individual. That's a big thing for me, for our players. You don't have the excuse of I need two or three possessions to get going, to get a feel for the game and to understand the flow. That ain't the way it works. The game doesn't stop for anyone to insert yourself and get a couple of warm-up possessions, if you will."
"It's something that we'll talk about a lot in these early season games. That's a big reason why you're good or why you're not. Kids understanding if they're a starter or not and being in the right frame of mind and having the right approach when you're given the opportunity to make the most of it. It's easy, right? I mean, if you do well, you usually play longer. Then, the next game comes around, your number is called maybe a little bit earlier. That will all unfold in real time here shortly."
Q: Jayden Epps didn't play much in the exhibition after getting hurt early, what's the update on him and when he's good to go?
CJ: "Jayden was concussed [during the Houston game] and went through the protocol. He returned to action this past weekend. So, he's through it. Obviously, he's just got to get back in rhythm and get back in game shape. He'll have enough time before we tip on Wednesday at 8 p.m. in my opinion to be locked and loaded and ready to go."
Q: What do you want to see from your freshmen on Wednesday?
CJ: "Just compete. It's like what I tell our guys a lot during practice, especially during the early parts of trying to put the team together, is that we're going to make mistakes. I'm going to make mistakes, and you're going to make mistakes. Basketball isn't one of those games where you don't have mistakes all night and all day. That's just how it works."
"You're trying to be as mistake-free as you can, obviously, and get better and tighter with it as you get more games under your belt. Just pin your ears back, and if you're going to make a mistake, make it full speed. Make it out of aggression and make it out of want to. Don't make it being hesitant and just compete. That's kind of what we preach, and that will be what I'll talk to them about leading up to the game too. I'm sure there'll be plenty of nerves going around for the freshmen and even for the guys who haven't played here before. I'll be curious, like everyone else is as to how they perform."
Q: Some of your players have talked about the team chemistry being high this year, what have you seen from this team's bonding?
CJ: "Well, I love hearing that. I don't ask them those kinds of questions. You kind of keep your fingers crossed. Back in the day, it was always like, how's the chemistry of your team? Certainly, as a coach, you can do things and put them in a position where they have to talk to each other and have to interact outside of just communicating on the floor."
"At the end of the day, in my opinion, a lot of it is about recruiting. A lot of it is about leadership, which Josh Hubbard is as fine of a leader as I think I'll eventually probably have ever had. He's definitely more vocal this year than he ever has. Shawn [Jones Jr.] has been assisting him at times as well. Obviously, he's been around here the longest. So, he gets it and understands it. He's been through a ton for this program and with us."
"At the same time, a lot of teams across the country are saying this about their team. We like each other, we hang out, and we've got a good bond. Well, ask us in a month where we're at. When the games start, starters start and guys come off the bench, some guys don't play the minutes that they think they deserve to play. Then, you'll find out what kind of close-knit family basketball team you have. It's easy when those things aren't happening. Everybody likes each other, because in everybody's mind, things that all their dreams and goals for this particular year are all going to come true. Obviously, they're not. More often than not, they're not. So, that'll be something in a month if you remember, that you can ask me. We'll see where we're at then."
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballMEN'S BASKETBALL | Chris Jans & Players SEC Tournament Postgame vs. Auburn - 3/11/26
Thursday, March 12
MEN'S BASKETBALL | Chris Jans Media Session - 3/9/26
Monday, March 09
MEN'S BASKETBALL | Josh Hubbard & Ja'Borri McGhee Postgame Press Conference vs. Georgia - 3/7/26
Sunday, March 08
MEN'S BASKETBALL | Chris Jans Postgame Press Conference vs. Georgia - 3/7/26
Saturday, March 07