Mississippi State will practice for the 2024–25 Bulldog basketball season by participating in two closed scrimmages against Western Kentucky and Georgia Tech.
For Chris Jans, honesty is important. He doesn’t hold back when it comes to Bulldog basketball during this preseason. Additionally, it cautions against contacting Mississippi State at this time.
“Because I generally don’t like my team from number-five practice to about number-twenty.”
By now the Dogs probably know and accept the main man’s way of thinking. In practice #21 things will undoubtedly alter if Jans is telling outsiders that this roster couldn’t beat five people taken off school straight up.
Jans said, “History says we will get better,” on today’s Dear Ol State podcast. Because Mississippi State has the potential to be another team that makes it into the NCAA Tournament, the college basketball world is expecting it. Jans, who already holds a piece of State basketball history by leading his first two teams to the Dance, would be having his third consecutive such season.
Although he’s not eager to tell them, Jans should see more as the official pre-season practice enters its second week. Of course, the veterans are aware of this, and the new Dogs will pick it up quickly. Until Jans speaks on the record at SEC Media Day on October 15, the media will believe what he says.
Jans will have significantly exceeded the twenty workout threshold at that point. According to NCAA regulations, he will also be able to assess, although not directly discuss, the outcomes of a scrimmage game. The state has scheduled two behind-closed-door games.
The first one takes place on October 12 against Western Kentucky at a closed Humphrey Coliseum. After that, on October 27, the Dogs go to Birmingham to play Georgia Tech.
While teams are still permitted to play charity games with peers or traditional exhibition games against lower-division opponents, Jans stated that scrimmage contests are his preferred format. The ‘game’ management element of keeping an eye on the clock and scoreboard is removed, allowing clubs to practice particular moves against a new opponent.
For year three, Jans has some familiar players reassembling a team, starting with guard Josh Hubbard, who he feels should be receiving all-America attention before to the start of the season. That should come at the very end, but as a scorer and shooter, the sophomore is a star in State’s eyes.
His coach wants to see improvements in both the locker room and on that side of the stripe in terms of leadership and defense. Hubbard is urged to speak up more in front of a group of teammates who already value him. Coach said that Hubbard returned from a rare bad practice day with two of his best practices.
The forward positions are well-filled with Cam Matthews and KeShawn Murphy, while Jans has added some formidable players to the backcourt through the transfer portal. However, the head coach admitted that he spends more time practicing with the front court—more specifically, the post area—than any other position. Tolu Smith and Jimmy Bell graduated with merely play size and width, defensive experience, points, and rebounds.
As there is currently no indication of who will have the breakout year, he is concentrating on sophomore bigs Gai Choi, Michael Nwoko, and Jeremy Foumena to identify the right starter and mix in the paint.
In relation to the postseason, the non-conference schedule will prepare these Bulldogs for that level of fast-scout competition, as was previously mentioned. Additionally, strengthen the schedule’s ranking in NCAA rankings. According to Jans, postseason scheduling necessitates a plan, and State has one in place that makes use of various data and forecasts of every opponent following the conclusion of recruiting.
Year-three at State also sees the first significant staff changes of Jans’ tenure. He has shuffled the staff’s assignments to better-fit what each particular aide is both best at and enjoys doing most. Dillon Elder has been promoted to full assistant. With a boost in program resources Jans has also added Doug Wagemester as an associate AD for basketball, recruiting director Jovan Austin, and basketball strategy director Jordan Sperber
The public, and especially Mississippi State students, can get an advance if informal look at the Bulldogs in the October 18 Junction Jam. Jans could have held a more traditional presentation but doing it outdoors and in the heart of campus grounds is specifically so students can get up close (and the first 1,000 tee shirts, too) to their classmates in uniforms.
