WATCH: Players Postgame Presser - Oklahoma
January 07, 2026 | Men's Basketball
2025-26 Mississippi State Men's Basketball Postgame Quotes
Mississippi State vs. Oklahoma – January 7, 2026
Mississippi State Guard Josh Hubbard and Forward Achor Achor
Q: Did Coach Jans want you guys to use size to your advantage with outscoring them in the pain the way you all did?
JH: "These guys did a tremendous job. All our three, four and fives; Achor [Achor], Shawn [Jones Jr.], Jamar [Jamarion Davis-Fleming] and Quincy [Ballard]. They just did a tremendous job crashing off our three's, which we didn't shoot greatly, but they helped us out tonight."
Q: What adjustments did you make as they tried to take you out of your rhythm?
JH: "Yeah, they chopped off ball screens and downed our ball screens on the side. And so, we just adjusted to it. It didn't really change us. We prepared for it in case they did. And so, that just shows the type of coaches that we have. They put us in the right spots for game day. And so, we just attacked off of it. We used it to our advantage."
Q: What did you see defensively that helped that the team out offensively to get the team going?
AA: "Being physical. I think being physical and like that really set the standards, get defensive rebounds, push the pace. That was really the main thing we tried to focus on, carrying it from last game for this game."
Q: What has helped you as of late to have four straight really good games?
AA: "Just staying down, man. I was a little bit unhealthy. Hurt my ankle in the summer, and it kind of lingered. The Christmas break really helped me. So after the Christmas break, I started to feel more like myself."
Q: Did you guys talk about shooting less three-pointers in the second half, or did that happen naturally?
JH: "Yeah, we didn't really have a conversation about taking away the three-ball. But we did adjust to what they were throwing at us on the ball concerns. Because of what they did, it just opened up so much inside."
Q: What did your team see at the end of the game to finish in the way you did?
JH: "Yeah, I just felt the momentum. We were doing a tremendous [job]] on both ends of the court, and we just fed off the energy. I just felt the momentum. Shot felt great. It just took off."
Q: Whenever you guys get into one-on-one situations you all seem excited. Is that something that you read into and try to seize in the moment?
JH: "I think that just goes back to when I'm playing my brothers one-on-one. I think everybody has that one-on-one game in them, but you've got to get on the court here and there. Just taking advantage of it, just having that confidence to go one on one."
Q: Achor, your rebounding has been consistent throughout the year. How much have you focused on that?
AA: "I feel like with this team, I've been given a role. I felt like for us to get to where we need to get, I need to fully buy into my role. If it's like scoring zero points and getting 15 rebounds a game. I'm going to have to buy in and do that. As long as we keep winning. I don't have a problem with doing it."
Q: This was your third 30-point game of the season. What has been working right for you as you've been on this scoring run?
JH: "I think that just goes to the game plan offensively and defensively. Coach [Jans] talks about the extremes that we've got to play and how we've got to play for us to be in a successful position. Guys like him [Achor Achor] and the rest of my teammates, I can't take all the credit for the scoring. They helped me with ball screens. The decisions they make, the off-ball, and so I can't take all the credit."
Q: Coach Jans was seen pumping his fist and stomping the floor with about five minutes left in the game. What is he like when he get really excited like that?
JH: "Yeah, he's a character, but he fires us up. That's the type of person he is. He's really competitive. When he does that, it just fires us up even more. So, I'm super happy for him. He's put a lot of work in his career, in his coaching career. So, we just want we just want to give him the best."
Mississippi State vs. Oklahoma – January 7, 2026
Mississippi State Guard Josh Hubbard and Forward Achor Achor
Q: Did Coach Jans want you guys to use size to your advantage with outscoring them in the pain the way you all did?
JH: "These guys did a tremendous job. All our three, four and fives; Achor [Achor], Shawn [Jones Jr.], Jamar [Jamarion Davis-Fleming] and Quincy [Ballard]. They just did a tremendous job crashing off our three's, which we didn't shoot greatly, but they helped us out tonight."
Q: What adjustments did you make as they tried to take you out of your rhythm?
JH: "Yeah, they chopped off ball screens and downed our ball screens on the side. And so, we just adjusted to it. It didn't really change us. We prepared for it in case they did. And so, that just shows the type of coaches that we have. They put us in the right spots for game day. And so, we just attacked off of it. We used it to our advantage."
Q: What did you see defensively that helped that the team out offensively to get the team going?
AA: "Being physical. I think being physical and like that really set the standards, get defensive rebounds, push the pace. That was really the main thing we tried to focus on, carrying it from last game for this game."
Q: What has helped you as of late to have four straight really good games?
AA: "Just staying down, man. I was a little bit unhealthy. Hurt my ankle in the summer, and it kind of lingered. The Christmas break really helped me. So after the Christmas break, I started to feel more like myself."
Q: Did you guys talk about shooting less three-pointers in the second half, or did that happen naturally?
JH: "Yeah, we didn't really have a conversation about taking away the three-ball. But we did adjust to what they were throwing at us on the ball concerns. Because of what they did, it just opened up so much inside."
Q: What did your team see at the end of the game to finish in the way you did?
JH: "Yeah, I just felt the momentum. We were doing a tremendous [job]] on both ends of the court, and we just fed off the energy. I just felt the momentum. Shot felt great. It just took off."
Q: Whenever you guys get into one-on-one situations you all seem excited. Is that something that you read into and try to seize in the moment?
JH: "I think that just goes back to when I'm playing my brothers one-on-one. I think everybody has that one-on-one game in them, but you've got to get on the court here and there. Just taking advantage of it, just having that confidence to go one on one."
Q: Achor, your rebounding has been consistent throughout the year. How much have you focused on that?
AA: "I feel like with this team, I've been given a role. I felt like for us to get to where we need to get, I need to fully buy into my role. If it's like scoring zero points and getting 15 rebounds a game. I'm going to have to buy in and do that. As long as we keep winning. I don't have a problem with doing it."
Q: This was your third 30-point game of the season. What has been working right for you as you've been on this scoring run?
JH: "I think that just goes to the game plan offensively and defensively. Coach [Jans] talks about the extremes that we've got to play and how we've got to play for us to be in a successful position. Guys like him [Achor Achor] and the rest of my teammates, I can't take all the credit for the scoring. They helped me with ball screens. The decisions they make, the off-ball, and so I can't take all the credit."
Q: Coach Jans was seen pumping his fist and stomping the floor with about five minutes left in the game. What is he like when he get really excited like that?
JH: "Yeah, he's a character, but he fires us up. That's the type of person he is. He's really competitive. When he does that, it just fires us up even more. So, I'm super happy for him. He's put a lot of work in his career, in his coaching career. So, we just want we just want to give him the best."
Players Mentioned
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MEN'S BASKETBALL | Josh Hubbard & Achor Achor Postgame Press Conference vs. Oklahoma - 1/7/26
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