Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics
WATCH: Men's NCAA Tournament Media Session
March 16, 2025 | Men's Basketball
2024-25 Mississippi State Men's Basketball
Selection Sunday Media Session – March 16, 2025
Head Coach Chris Jans
Q: I'm sure you and your team will learn more about Baylor later on, but what's the feeling right now of seeing your team's name called for another NCAA Tournament bid?
CJ: "We're excited. It never gets old. Obviously, all the bracketologists led us to believe that it was a pretty good chance that our name was going to be heard today. That's certainly a comforting feeling. Our first year, I remember we weren't so sure because we didn't do a public reveal, if you will. This year was a lot more fun to know and get excited about the possibilities."
"Really, for whatever reason, I'm excited that we play on Friday. After last years' experience of playing on Thursday in the opening game, it felt almost rushed. We played in a further round in Nashville, so we didn't get back as early as we did this year. So, we have plenty of time to soak it all up and obviously do a deep dive on the scout and be better prepared."
Q: Do you know anything off the top of your head about Baylor and what kind of matchup they will present to your team?
CJ: "No, not really to be honest with you. I certainly know Coach Drew and their staff. He's a national champion coach, and their program has been one of the best programs in America for years. So, they've got a great culture and great reputation. I'm sure once we open the laptop they're going to be a formidable opponent at the least."
Q: The way your team played in Nashville, a lot of things went together. Do you think this team is kind of getting back to where they want to be for the postseason?
CJ: "We were disappointed that we lost in the Missouri game. I thought we played really well against LSU and had a bounce to our step. We didn't have to play guys a ton of minutes in that game, so that was a big bonus going into the day-after-day format."
"Just like I said in the postgame where a lot of you guys were there, we just picked the worst time of the game to play the worst four-minute stretch we had in a 40-minute game. That's winning time, and you can't make up for it."
"As I watched the film over the last couple of days, that's my same analysis now that they played better than us when the possessions mattered the most, and that's disappointing. Hopefully, it's going to happen again when we're in another close game, and we'll play better as the clock is ticking toward the end."
Q: We talked a couple weeks ago about the gauntlet that you've had. It's game by game and you get two a week in the SEC. Now, you get a chance to reset a little bit, and the guys get a little more energized. Do you see it that way, and do you like the rest that you're getting right now?
CJ: "Yeah, I think everybody likes it. I mean, we're knock on wood pretty healthy considering, like you said, the gauntlet and how long college basketball is. We've been lucky, knock on wood, that way all year long for the most part."
"This team's been a really good practice team. We practiced yesterday, and it was as intense a practice as we've had in a long, long time. Not just by my standards, but they put those contraptions around them now, and they read all this stuff. Coach [Dominick] Walker, who's way smarter than I am, he speaks to me in latency terms. He indicated to me that that was one of the most intense practices that we had in a long, long time."
"So, I thought that was a great sign. Certainly, you didn't know what to expect after losing on Thursday and practicing again on Saturday what the mood was. So, I think they know there's a lot more to play for. This group's been a close group all year long, and it's going to be a fun week to prepare."
Q: You talked a lot about building a team for each year, and you certainly had to replace a lot of pieces in the offseason. What does it mean to get back to this same point with the new cast of characters?
CJ: "Yeah, I'm proud of the fact that we've been able to do it three years in a row. That's what we talked about doing when I arrived. We were going to, like you said, build a team each year to get into March Madness. That was the goal from day one."
"Certainly, the goals have changed. We want to win multiple games now. That's what the charge is. We want more. We just don't want to hear our name called. We've had enough guys that have been around here long enough to understand getting there is awesome, but we want to stay longer, win games and go on a run."
"So, I love the fact that we've been able to do it three years in a row. Love the fact that we got another eight seed again two years in a row where seeding is getting better. Now, we've got to win some games."
Q: Some of your guys have played with you in these tournaments, and now with people like [Riley] Kugel, [R.J.] Melendez, even [Claudell] Harris [Jr.], they have a lot of postseason experience as well. How much can they help in getting ready?
CJ: "I mean, you can't teach experience. I think that will be true for a lot of teams though with the portal being what it is. I think a lot of teams and programs that are in the tournament will have new kids that maybe aren't with them the year before when they played, but they were with other programs. So, I'm not sure how much that's going to help us. I just think that everybody's more experienced now."
Q: Early on, you were recruiting V.J. Edgecombe a good bit. Talk about what you know about him and what you've seen from him.
CJ: "Yeah, he's a heck of a player. I'll be honest with you, I don't follow their program like that. I mean, I don't have a lot of downtime where I can just go watch a random college basketball game. I don't even know what kind of year he's having. I'm assuming he's having a really good year, but I'll be getting to know him real quick here."
Forward Cameron Matthews
Q: What's your instant reaction on the seeding and playing Baylor in the first game?
CM: "I'm excited, not as anxious, you know, where we're going and who we're playing. Just ready to get back after it."
Q: You kind of reset the standard since you've been here, and this will be another NCAA Tournament trip. How do you get over that hump and bring a win back to Starkville?
CM: "Yeah, definitely on our checklist. I feel like it starts tomorrow at practice getting a good day in and getting the scout ready."
Q: This team has played a tough schedule. How much does rest help this team to reset things and kind of get over the tiredness?
CM: "I feel like, with the conference that we play, I feel like that really got us going and getting ready for the tournament. I feel like rest is probably the biggest factor mentally and physically. So, you know, just getting our minds right for this game."
Q: With the way the team played in Nashville, does it feel like the team is getting back right? You played better defense for two games there, and the offense seems to be clicking.
CM: "I feel like our showing in Nashville really helped our confidence. Defensively, you know, still getting after people, and you know the offense is going to click."
Q: What does it mean for you as a senior with a very different group of teammates to get back to this point in your last year here?
CM: "It means a lot, just trying to leave the best legacy I can and get some wins in March Madness and go out with a bang."
Guard Josh Hubbard
Q: What's your instant reaction to the number eight seed and facing Baylor in the first game?
JH: "Yeah, Baylor is a great school, a Big 12 school. Great competition for all of us. Man, it's March. Growing up as a kid and now being in this moment is just a surreal feeling. So, I'm just excited to compete against somebody in the Big 12."
Q: You did it last year. How is it different this year?
JH: "We're a special team. We know what it takes to win. If we have the right mindset, we can beat anybody in the country. It's just a blessing that we get this opportunity to show the world what we can do."
Q: I talked to you the other day before the Missouri game and you felt like the team would play differently in that ball game and you did. How well do you feel like you guys were playing now that you've been able to reset a little bit and get into the postseason?
JH: "I feel like in the postseason now, we know what it takes to win. We know in our losses what we could've done better. I feel like our reactions from losses were amazing. Positive vibes, positive energy. I just feel like we know what it takes as far as how we need to win. It's not going to be pretty. It had to be defensive minded, rebounding minded and that's just what it's going to take."
Q: What do you take away from last years' experience going into this year?
JH: "Yeah, I would say you just can't the moment be too big. At the end of the day, it's all basketball. That's what you want to do. You want to advance. Everything matters. Every possession, every minute, every second, especially in March Madness. It was a blessing for last year, for that team, and for this team to have the same opportunity, man, it's crazy what we can do."
Q: What does it mean to lead this team back to the tournament with a different group of teammates?
JH: "Yeah, it means a lot. I couldn't have done it by myself. All credit to God. All credit to my teammates and staff. We all did it. It was one of our goals at the beginning of the season. We're just here and we're accomplished."
Q: Did you go against V.J. Edgecombe any in high school?
JH: "I haven't. I haven't at all, but man, I've seen that he can bounce. He's definitely one of the most athletic guards in this class. I've seen him on TikTok, social media, things like that. He's a very special player, an NBA player for sure. So, it'll be fun to play against him."
Q: Is there anything you're going to possibly see in the NCAA Tournament that you have not seen in the SEC this whole season?
JH: "That's hard to say, because I'm biased. I think the SEC is the best conference in the country. So, from the experience I've had playing these teams in the SEC, man, it's just hard to not say no. I think I've experienced a lot of everything."
Selection Sunday Media Session – March 16, 2025
Head Coach Chris Jans
Q: I'm sure you and your team will learn more about Baylor later on, but what's the feeling right now of seeing your team's name called for another NCAA Tournament bid?
CJ: "We're excited. It never gets old. Obviously, all the bracketologists led us to believe that it was a pretty good chance that our name was going to be heard today. That's certainly a comforting feeling. Our first year, I remember we weren't so sure because we didn't do a public reveal, if you will. This year was a lot more fun to know and get excited about the possibilities."
"Really, for whatever reason, I'm excited that we play on Friday. After last years' experience of playing on Thursday in the opening game, it felt almost rushed. We played in a further round in Nashville, so we didn't get back as early as we did this year. So, we have plenty of time to soak it all up and obviously do a deep dive on the scout and be better prepared."
Q: Do you know anything off the top of your head about Baylor and what kind of matchup they will present to your team?
CJ: "No, not really to be honest with you. I certainly know Coach Drew and their staff. He's a national champion coach, and their program has been one of the best programs in America for years. So, they've got a great culture and great reputation. I'm sure once we open the laptop they're going to be a formidable opponent at the least."
Q: The way your team played in Nashville, a lot of things went together. Do you think this team is kind of getting back to where they want to be for the postseason?
CJ: "We were disappointed that we lost in the Missouri game. I thought we played really well against LSU and had a bounce to our step. We didn't have to play guys a ton of minutes in that game, so that was a big bonus going into the day-after-day format."
"Just like I said in the postgame where a lot of you guys were there, we just picked the worst time of the game to play the worst four-minute stretch we had in a 40-minute game. That's winning time, and you can't make up for it."
"As I watched the film over the last couple of days, that's my same analysis now that they played better than us when the possessions mattered the most, and that's disappointing. Hopefully, it's going to happen again when we're in another close game, and we'll play better as the clock is ticking toward the end."
Q: We talked a couple weeks ago about the gauntlet that you've had. It's game by game and you get two a week in the SEC. Now, you get a chance to reset a little bit, and the guys get a little more energized. Do you see it that way, and do you like the rest that you're getting right now?
CJ: "Yeah, I think everybody likes it. I mean, we're knock on wood pretty healthy considering, like you said, the gauntlet and how long college basketball is. We've been lucky, knock on wood, that way all year long for the most part."
"This team's been a really good practice team. We practiced yesterday, and it was as intense a practice as we've had in a long, long time. Not just by my standards, but they put those contraptions around them now, and they read all this stuff. Coach [Dominick] Walker, who's way smarter than I am, he speaks to me in latency terms. He indicated to me that that was one of the most intense practices that we had in a long, long time."
"So, I thought that was a great sign. Certainly, you didn't know what to expect after losing on Thursday and practicing again on Saturday what the mood was. So, I think they know there's a lot more to play for. This group's been a close group all year long, and it's going to be a fun week to prepare."
Q: You talked a lot about building a team for each year, and you certainly had to replace a lot of pieces in the offseason. What does it mean to get back to this same point with the new cast of characters?
CJ: "Yeah, I'm proud of the fact that we've been able to do it three years in a row. That's what we talked about doing when I arrived. We were going to, like you said, build a team each year to get into March Madness. That was the goal from day one."
"Certainly, the goals have changed. We want to win multiple games now. That's what the charge is. We want more. We just don't want to hear our name called. We've had enough guys that have been around here long enough to understand getting there is awesome, but we want to stay longer, win games and go on a run."
"So, I love the fact that we've been able to do it three years in a row. Love the fact that we got another eight seed again two years in a row where seeding is getting better. Now, we've got to win some games."
Q: Some of your guys have played with you in these tournaments, and now with people like [Riley] Kugel, [R.J.] Melendez, even [Claudell] Harris [Jr.], they have a lot of postseason experience as well. How much can they help in getting ready?
CJ: "I mean, you can't teach experience. I think that will be true for a lot of teams though with the portal being what it is. I think a lot of teams and programs that are in the tournament will have new kids that maybe aren't with them the year before when they played, but they were with other programs. So, I'm not sure how much that's going to help us. I just think that everybody's more experienced now."
Q: Early on, you were recruiting V.J. Edgecombe a good bit. Talk about what you know about him and what you've seen from him.
CJ: "Yeah, he's a heck of a player. I'll be honest with you, I don't follow their program like that. I mean, I don't have a lot of downtime where I can just go watch a random college basketball game. I don't even know what kind of year he's having. I'm assuming he's having a really good year, but I'll be getting to know him real quick here."
Forward Cameron Matthews
Q: What's your instant reaction on the seeding and playing Baylor in the first game?
CM: "I'm excited, not as anxious, you know, where we're going and who we're playing. Just ready to get back after it."
Q: You kind of reset the standard since you've been here, and this will be another NCAA Tournament trip. How do you get over that hump and bring a win back to Starkville?
CM: "Yeah, definitely on our checklist. I feel like it starts tomorrow at practice getting a good day in and getting the scout ready."
Q: This team has played a tough schedule. How much does rest help this team to reset things and kind of get over the tiredness?
CM: "I feel like, with the conference that we play, I feel like that really got us going and getting ready for the tournament. I feel like rest is probably the biggest factor mentally and physically. So, you know, just getting our minds right for this game."
Q: With the way the team played in Nashville, does it feel like the team is getting back right? You played better defense for two games there, and the offense seems to be clicking.
CM: "I feel like our showing in Nashville really helped our confidence. Defensively, you know, still getting after people, and you know the offense is going to click."
Q: What does it mean for you as a senior with a very different group of teammates to get back to this point in your last year here?
CM: "It means a lot, just trying to leave the best legacy I can and get some wins in March Madness and go out with a bang."
Guard Josh Hubbard
Q: What's your instant reaction to the number eight seed and facing Baylor in the first game?
JH: "Yeah, Baylor is a great school, a Big 12 school. Great competition for all of us. Man, it's March. Growing up as a kid and now being in this moment is just a surreal feeling. So, I'm just excited to compete against somebody in the Big 12."
Q: You did it last year. How is it different this year?
JH: "We're a special team. We know what it takes to win. If we have the right mindset, we can beat anybody in the country. It's just a blessing that we get this opportunity to show the world what we can do."
Q: I talked to you the other day before the Missouri game and you felt like the team would play differently in that ball game and you did. How well do you feel like you guys were playing now that you've been able to reset a little bit and get into the postseason?
JH: "I feel like in the postseason now, we know what it takes to win. We know in our losses what we could've done better. I feel like our reactions from losses were amazing. Positive vibes, positive energy. I just feel like we know what it takes as far as how we need to win. It's not going to be pretty. It had to be defensive minded, rebounding minded and that's just what it's going to take."
Q: What do you take away from last years' experience going into this year?
JH: "Yeah, I would say you just can't the moment be too big. At the end of the day, it's all basketball. That's what you want to do. You want to advance. Everything matters. Every possession, every minute, every second, especially in March Madness. It was a blessing for last year, for that team, and for this team to have the same opportunity, man, it's crazy what we can do."
Q: What does it mean to lead this team back to the tournament with a different group of teammates?
JH: "Yeah, it means a lot. I couldn't have done it by myself. All credit to God. All credit to my teammates and staff. We all did it. It was one of our goals at the beginning of the season. We're just here and we're accomplished."
Q: Did you go against V.J. Edgecombe any in high school?
JH: "I haven't. I haven't at all, but man, I've seen that he can bounce. He's definitely one of the most athletic guards in this class. I've seen him on TikTok, social media, things like that. He's a very special player, an NBA player for sure. So, it'll be fun to play against him."
Q: Is there anything you're going to possibly see in the NCAA Tournament that you have not seen in the SEC this whole season?
JH: "That's hard to say, because I'm biased. I think the SEC is the best conference in the country. So, from the experience I've had playing these teams in the SEC, man, it's just hard to not say no. I think I've experienced a lot of everything."
Players Mentioned
F
/ Men's BasketballJosh Hubbard - "I'm Back"
Friday, April 17
MEN'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