WATCH: Coach Jans Postgame Presser - Texas A&M
January 22, 2026 | Men's Basketball
2025-26 Mississippi State Men's Basketball Postgame Quotes
Mississippi State at Texas A&M – January 21, 2026
Mississippi State Head Coach Chris Jans
Q: Your team was playing well the first 10 minutes of the game. Playing a team like Texas A&M, is one stretch all it takes to undo your team?
CJ: "Yeah, I mean their style of play is one where they're very streaky that way. They're never out of games because of high possessions, because of the pressing and because of the playing fast. Then, at the same time, sometimes you could get back into games that way. I'll have to look at the tape to remember that far back, but it just felt like we couldn't get to halftime quick enough and try to regroup. Definitely, the game started slipping away from us in the last five, six minutes of the first half."
Q: What was the reasoning behind your especially early substitutions in this game? Was it to give guys a chance, or was it trying to matchup with the amount of people Texas A&M plays?
CJ: "I felt like after the last game [against Ole Miss] we played eight guys and had some guys that I thought were doing a good job in practices of sticking with it and having a great mindset and approach. Going on the road to play this style of play with a team that plays so many guys, and they really just start rotating people in and out that I felt our best chance was to try and play a real liberal subbing pattern at least for the first half to see where we were at. To see who played well and to adjust if needed to the second half when we had a bunch of guys that didn't have 17, 18 minutes under their belt unfortunately. We were obviously within striking distance at halftime, even in the first 10-15 minutes. But, as the game got under five, six minutes, it just didn't look like we were going to have the fight to get back into this one."
Q: What did you find out about Brandon Walker and King Grace tonight?
CJ: "I mean Brandon has had some nice spots for us. For me, personally, I just feel like he needs to be in the rotation all the time. He's just been very productive when he's in the game. Yes, he's undersized, but he's a smart player. He knows what we're trying to do."
"Then, King was one of the guys I talked about earlier that I felt going in the last few games that he's been sticking with it at practice of having a good workout and attitude. Coincidentally, playing this game was a great time to try and get him more minutes. Like what we always talk about and when get your opportunity, be ready. Be prepared and make the most of it. Certainly, we're trying to win the game, but for individuals to earn more trust and earn more minutes, and I thought King did that. I thought he looked as comfortable as I've seen him on the court to be honest all year long, which is a really good sign for him moving forward."
Q: How did you feel about the execution of your game plan tonight? Pregame, you talked about wanting to attack their press.
CJ: "It was okay. I thought we did an okay job against their press. That's the thing about them is the prep is just different than any other team that we play or will play the rest of the year. It's just a lot. If you don't spend the time to get organized and to worry about the press offense on the made shot, the missed shot, the made free throw and the missed free throw. It's just kind of unique that way, but I thought like I said for the most part they were pretty assignment correct."
"Obviously, we had some turnovers. We had 13 total, which isn't what you want. You want a little bit lower [number] on that, but against a team that pressures as much as they do, it's a manageable number for sure."
"When we did break it, again for the most part, I thought they made decent decisions in terms of attacking and trying to get to the cup or create for someone else. When the numbers weren't there, or it wasn't the right spacing, I thought we pulled it back out and went into breakdown offense. For that part of what we were trying to do, I thought they were pretty good that way."
Q: What's your message to your guys to make sure that they don't get too low going through a tough stretch with a lot of basketball left to play?
CJ: "It's a great question, and it's a challenge. What I just talked about with them is that I'm going to do what I do. I'm going to try to do the best job that I can for them individually, and then certainly as a team to put them in the best position to win the next game just like we've done since we've arrived. My promise to them is I'm not going to get discouraged by it. I'm going to keep my nose to the grindstone and keep trying to tinker with this and that."
"I thought going into the game, they had put in really good work. I really felt like their focus was good, and their practice was good even after a really, really tough week at home. I didn't know how they'd be heading into a two-day practice session before playing on the road, but unfortunately it wasn't enough. I say this a lot, and I get it that the bottom line is winning and losing. I understand that more than anybody. That's just the business that we're in. From my perspective and my chair, that's what I told them. The expectation is that it would be the same for them on an individual basis and certainly as a program."
Mississippi State at Texas A&M – January 21, 2026
Mississippi State Head Coach Chris Jans
Q: Your team was playing well the first 10 minutes of the game. Playing a team like Texas A&M, is one stretch all it takes to undo your team?
CJ: "Yeah, I mean their style of play is one where they're very streaky that way. They're never out of games because of high possessions, because of the pressing and because of the playing fast. Then, at the same time, sometimes you could get back into games that way. I'll have to look at the tape to remember that far back, but it just felt like we couldn't get to halftime quick enough and try to regroup. Definitely, the game started slipping away from us in the last five, six minutes of the first half."
Q: What was the reasoning behind your especially early substitutions in this game? Was it to give guys a chance, or was it trying to matchup with the amount of people Texas A&M plays?
CJ: "I felt like after the last game [against Ole Miss] we played eight guys and had some guys that I thought were doing a good job in practices of sticking with it and having a great mindset and approach. Going on the road to play this style of play with a team that plays so many guys, and they really just start rotating people in and out that I felt our best chance was to try and play a real liberal subbing pattern at least for the first half to see where we were at. To see who played well and to adjust if needed to the second half when we had a bunch of guys that didn't have 17, 18 minutes under their belt unfortunately. We were obviously within striking distance at halftime, even in the first 10-15 minutes. But, as the game got under five, six minutes, it just didn't look like we were going to have the fight to get back into this one."
Q: What did you find out about Brandon Walker and King Grace tonight?
CJ: "I mean Brandon has had some nice spots for us. For me, personally, I just feel like he needs to be in the rotation all the time. He's just been very productive when he's in the game. Yes, he's undersized, but he's a smart player. He knows what we're trying to do."
"Then, King was one of the guys I talked about earlier that I felt going in the last few games that he's been sticking with it at practice of having a good workout and attitude. Coincidentally, playing this game was a great time to try and get him more minutes. Like what we always talk about and when get your opportunity, be ready. Be prepared and make the most of it. Certainly, we're trying to win the game, but for individuals to earn more trust and earn more minutes, and I thought King did that. I thought he looked as comfortable as I've seen him on the court to be honest all year long, which is a really good sign for him moving forward."
Q: How did you feel about the execution of your game plan tonight? Pregame, you talked about wanting to attack their press.
CJ: "It was okay. I thought we did an okay job against their press. That's the thing about them is the prep is just different than any other team that we play or will play the rest of the year. It's just a lot. If you don't spend the time to get organized and to worry about the press offense on the made shot, the missed shot, the made free throw and the missed free throw. It's just kind of unique that way, but I thought like I said for the most part they were pretty assignment correct."
"Obviously, we had some turnovers. We had 13 total, which isn't what you want. You want a little bit lower [number] on that, but against a team that pressures as much as they do, it's a manageable number for sure."
"When we did break it, again for the most part, I thought they made decent decisions in terms of attacking and trying to get to the cup or create for someone else. When the numbers weren't there, or it wasn't the right spacing, I thought we pulled it back out and went into breakdown offense. For that part of what we were trying to do, I thought they were pretty good that way."
Q: What's your message to your guys to make sure that they don't get too low going through a tough stretch with a lot of basketball left to play?
CJ: "It's a great question, and it's a challenge. What I just talked about with them is that I'm going to do what I do. I'm going to try to do the best job that I can for them individually, and then certainly as a team to put them in the best position to win the next game just like we've done since we've arrived. My promise to them is I'm not going to get discouraged by it. I'm going to keep my nose to the grindstone and keep trying to tinker with this and that."
"I thought going into the game, they had put in really good work. I really felt like their focus was good, and their practice was good even after a really, really tough week at home. I didn't know how they'd be heading into a two-day practice session before playing on the road, but unfortunately it wasn't enough. I say this a lot, and I get it that the bottom line is winning and losing. I understand that more than anybody. That's just the business that we're in. From my perspective and my chair, that's what I told them. The expectation is that it would be the same for them on an individual basis and certainly as a program."
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Basketball
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/ Men's BasketballMEN'S BASKETBALL | Chris Jans Postgame Press Conference at Texas A&M - 1/21/26
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Monday, January 19
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Saturday, January 17
MEN'S BASKETBALL | Chris Jans Postgame Press Conference vs. Ole Miss - 1/17/26
Saturday, January 17