WATCH: Coach Jans Media Session
January 12, 2026 | Men's Basketball
STARKVILLE - Mississippi State head coach Chris Jans met with the media leading into Tuesday's game with No. 18 Alabama.
2025-26 Mississippi State Men's Basketball Quotes
Media Session – January 12, 2026
Mississippi State Head Coach Chris Jans
Q: What has changed with Achor Achor's game lately because it seems like he's gotten a lot more consistent during SEC play?
CJ: "If you look just at face-value from a number's perspective with his production that way has been really good in SEC play. I don't know off the top what it is, but I know it's high rebounding. He's scoring it, and he has a good field goal percentage."
"But at the same time, the other parts of the game that don't show up which we talk a lot about in here. Certainly, the turnovers show up on the stat sheet, but just not being assignment correct at times with the scout. Blowing some missed checks that ended up being huge [in rebounding], pivotal turning points in the last game that we played. No question about it that his comfort level is better, and his productivity has been better. Hopefully, that will continue."
Q: What is it about Josh Hubbard's jump shot that makes it so hard to guard?
CJ: "I mean, I think he's got the surprise factor. He's obviously not a lengthy guy, but when he shoots it, he shoots like he's a 6-6 dude. From the time when he decides he's going to shoot the ball until the release point, it's dynamic, it's fast and it's explosive. There's not much you can do about it unless you're really on it defensively. You've got to be really anticipating it and knowing it's going up in order for you to get a really good contest, and he's proven to be able to hit contested shots."
"Then, with his experience now and his improvement at being a three-level scorer more than a jump-shooter, the threat of him giving you some sort of move that he's developed to get downhill is in the back of your mind too. That maybe will make the defense not quite aggressive with him. He just keeps working on his craft and keeps getting better at it. But it's difficult, and it's unique."
Q: What have you tried to focus on in terms of what you can control entering Tuesday's game?
CJ: "Yeah, we're on one of those stretches that everyone across the country goes through with three games in seven days. It can be a lot, but it is what it is. Nobody is complaining about it. We're at the end of the stretch. We've got today which is a prep day. Then, tomorrow we play. Then, we'll have a day off on Wednesday heading into the weekend. You know it's just part of the deal. We understood it when we entered it, and it's been a mixed bag of results so far. It ends tomorrow with that third game in seven days, but our kids have been really good all year long in terms of their approach to practice and in terms of their energy in practice."
Q: Is there anything you can prepare for when playing a Nate Oats coached Alabama team?
CJ: "Well, you better get back on defense. They're about possessions, pace and playing fast. They're always one of the better transition teams in the country. Again, going into tomorrow night's game, they're second in KenPom for offensive efficiency. They shoot the ball at all three levels really well: the three, the two and the free throw."
"Then, they don't turn the ball over. They're very stingy with the ball that way. Then, they play a ton of guys. That's probably what's most different is they just play a lot of guys. Some guys will play certain games, and some games they won't … You're going to have to understand that if you get a chance to score a basket, there better be zero celebration because they're going to respond quickly and get it out of the net and spray it up the court and try to score before you even know what hit you."
"You can talk until you're blue in the face and show them the video. The guys that haven't played against that style, it's like going out in the cold, and you're shocked by it. It takes a little time to adjust. Certainly, it's something we're trying to get into our kid's heads."
Q: You have two big opportunities at home this week, what do you hope to see from the atmosphere at the Hump especially with the students coming back to campus?
CJ: "I mean, every game is the Super Bowl, right? I've been saying that since I've arrived. We faced a Kentucky team that was 0-2 [in the SEC] and had lost the last two games. Now, we're facing an Alabama team that's lost the last two games. Depending on how you look at it and what you believe, then is that ideal or not, it doesn't matter. That's just the factual situation that we're in. Certainly, glad to be playing at home. We played very well in our last game at home [against Oklahoma]. I'm glad our students are trickling back into Starkville and hopeful that the community and the fanbase will continue to support this team."
2025-26 Mississippi State Men's Basketball Quotes
Media Session – January 12, 2026
Mississippi State Head Coach Chris Jans
Q: What has changed with Achor Achor's game lately because it seems like he's gotten a lot more consistent during SEC play?
CJ: "If you look just at face-value from a number's perspective with his production that way has been really good in SEC play. I don't know off the top what it is, but I know it's high rebounding. He's scoring it, and he has a good field goal percentage."
"But at the same time, the other parts of the game that don't show up which we talk a lot about in here. Certainly, the turnovers show up on the stat sheet, but just not being assignment correct at times with the scout. Blowing some missed checks that ended up being huge [in rebounding], pivotal turning points in the last game that we played. No question about it that his comfort level is better, and his productivity has been better. Hopefully, that will continue."
Q: What is it about Josh Hubbard's jump shot that makes it so hard to guard?
CJ: "I mean, I think he's got the surprise factor. He's obviously not a lengthy guy, but when he shoots it, he shoots like he's a 6-6 dude. From the time when he decides he's going to shoot the ball until the release point, it's dynamic, it's fast and it's explosive. There's not much you can do about it unless you're really on it defensively. You've got to be really anticipating it and knowing it's going up in order for you to get a really good contest, and he's proven to be able to hit contested shots."
"Then, with his experience now and his improvement at being a three-level scorer more than a jump-shooter, the threat of him giving you some sort of move that he's developed to get downhill is in the back of your mind too. That maybe will make the defense not quite aggressive with him. He just keeps working on his craft and keeps getting better at it. But it's difficult, and it's unique."
Q: What have you tried to focus on in terms of what you can control entering Tuesday's game?
CJ: "Yeah, we're on one of those stretches that everyone across the country goes through with three games in seven days. It can be a lot, but it is what it is. Nobody is complaining about it. We're at the end of the stretch. We've got today which is a prep day. Then, tomorrow we play. Then, we'll have a day off on Wednesday heading into the weekend. You know it's just part of the deal. We understood it when we entered it, and it's been a mixed bag of results so far. It ends tomorrow with that third game in seven days, but our kids have been really good all year long in terms of their approach to practice and in terms of their energy in practice."
Q: Is there anything you can prepare for when playing a Nate Oats coached Alabama team?
CJ: "Well, you better get back on defense. They're about possessions, pace and playing fast. They're always one of the better transition teams in the country. Again, going into tomorrow night's game, they're second in KenPom for offensive efficiency. They shoot the ball at all three levels really well: the three, the two and the free throw."
"Then, they don't turn the ball over. They're very stingy with the ball that way. Then, they play a ton of guys. That's probably what's most different is they just play a lot of guys. Some guys will play certain games, and some games they won't … You're going to have to understand that if you get a chance to score a basket, there better be zero celebration because they're going to respond quickly and get it out of the net and spray it up the court and try to score before you even know what hit you."
"You can talk until you're blue in the face and show them the video. The guys that haven't played against that style, it's like going out in the cold, and you're shocked by it. It takes a little time to adjust. Certainly, it's something we're trying to get into our kid's heads."
Q: You have two big opportunities at home this week, what do you hope to see from the atmosphere at the Hump especially with the students coming back to campus?
CJ: "I mean, every game is the Super Bowl, right? I've been saying that since I've arrived. We faced a Kentucky team that was 0-2 [in the SEC] and had lost the last two games. Now, we're facing an Alabama team that's lost the last two games. Depending on how you look at it and what you believe, then is that ideal or not, it doesn't matter. That's just the factual situation that we're in. Certainly, glad to be playing at home. We played very well in our last game at home [against Oklahoma]. I'm glad our students are trickling back into Starkville and hopeful that the community and the fanbase will continue to support this team."
Players Mentioned
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Wednesday, January 07
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