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Chris Jans, Mississippi State strive for first-year success

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2 years ago

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Chris Jans, Mississippi State strive for first-year success


Chris Jans is simply seven months faraway from teaching within the NCAA Match, a memorable expertise he desires Mississippi State to really feel.

Fulfilling that aim is dependent upon how nicely the Bulldogs adapt and execute their new coach’s philosophy.

Jans takes over a MSU program searching for to maneuver up from the three NIT appearances it had lately turn out to be accustomed to the previous 5 years, together with final spring. He believes the Bulldogs (18-16, 8-10 Southeastern Convention) may be aggressive however can also be conscious that transition is a course of.

“At the moment with the (switch) portal, and definitely once you get a brand new job they usually make a change in management, that’s simply how it’s,” mentioned Jans, who was employed in March after main New Mexico State to the second spherical of March Insanity.

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“Every 12 months, each program goes to need to piecemeal it collectively, at the least in that first 12 months. I do like the truth that nearly all of our guys are older. … I feel it will likely be useful when the video games come across the nook.”

Jans changed Ben Howland and is considered one of 5 coaches of their first 12 months within the SEC. He arrived after going 122-32 in 5 seasons with the Aggies and guiding them to a first-round NCAA upset of No. 5 seed Connecticut earlier than holding high-scoring (and future SEC opponent) Arkansas under its season averages in a second-round loss.

Jans’ mission in Starkville is infusing that very same depth into the Bulldogs, who haven’t reached the NCAA postseason since 2019. They have been picked to complete tenth within the SEC in a preseason media ballot.

He’ll begin with seven holdovers together with forwards Tolu Smith (14.2 factors, 6.5 rebounds per sport) and D.J. Jeffries (8.9 factors), the highest returning scorers. Junior wing Cameron Matthews additionally began 10 video games for MSU.

Jans hinted that he’d prefer to go 10 or 11 deep on his bench with a want of taking part in quick. How that finally ends up and to what extent rides on his adaptability as nicely.

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“Ultimately that’s the best way we prefer to play,” he added, “but when we’ve to regulate to tailor-make it to our personal gamers this 12 months, we’ll do this.”

FULL HEALTH

Tolu Smith overcame varied accidents firstly of final season to start out 20 of 21 and publish career-best scoring and rebounding averages whereas taking pictures 58%. The 6-foot-11 senior would be the centerpiece of Jans’ first Bulldogs squad and he seems to be ahead to taking part in a full season for the primary time since beginning all 30 video games two years in the past.

“I really feel like I’m in the most effective form of my life,” Smith mentioned final month throughout a Bulldogs podcast. “I’m glad I went by what I went by so I may turn out to be what I turned. I really feel like I did a strong 12 months, however it’s not what I needed.”

NEW BULLDOGS

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MSU was busy within the switch portal and landed 5 veterans in guards Jamel Horton Jr. (Albany) and Eric Reed Jr. (Southeast Missouri State), each graduates, and senior Dashawn Davis (Oregon State). Ahead Will McNair Jr. adopted Jans over from New Mexico State and is joined within the frontcourt by Tyler Stevenson (Southern Miss).

The Bulldogs even have 4 freshmen together with 6-10 KeShawn Murphy, who redshirted final season.

DEVELOP SHOOTERS

The Bulldogs completed second behind Kentucky at 46% taking pictures however misplaced loads of offense with the departures of Iverson Molinar and Garrison Brooks. Additionally they shot simply 30% from behind the arc final season to rank subsequent to final within the SEC.

Junior guard Shakeel Moore made a team-high 44 3s on 31% taking pictures whereas Jeffries added 29 on 29% accuracy, which they’ll want to enhance in Jans’ up-tempo system.

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CHALLENGING SCHEDULE

MSU opens on Nov. 7 towards Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, an NCAA Match group, earlier than going through Marquette (Nov. 21) within the Fort Myers Tipoff that features Georgia Tech and Utah. The Bulldogs open SEC play at residence towards Alabama (Dec. 28) and can tackle TCU within the SEC/Large 12 Problem a month later.

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Observe Gary B. Graves on Twitter: www.twitter.com/GaryBGraves

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Extra AP school basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/School-basketball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25





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Mississippi

Utah blows double-digit lead in 78-73 loss to Mississippi State

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6 hours ago

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November 19, 2024

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Utah blows double-digit lead in 78-73 loss to Mississippi State


The Utah Runnin’ Utes suffered a hard-fought loss to Mississippi State, falling 78-73 in the Mid-South Showdown on Sunday night in Southaven, Mississippi. Despite leading by 11 points at halftime, the Utes couldn’t hold off a second-half surge from the Bulldogs, led by standout performances from Josh Hubbard and KeShawn Murphy.

Hubbard scored a game-high 23 points for Mississippi State, with Murphy adding 18 points and dominating the boards with 14 rebounds. Cameron Matthews was also pivotal, scoring 12 points and converting 8 of 10 free throws, including several clutch shots in the final moments. Ryan Kugel contributed 12 points and delivered a critical offensive rebound late in the game, which helped seal the victory for the Bulldogs.

Utah started strong, controlling the tempo in the first half and building an 11-point advantage by halftime. The Utes’ balanced attack featured Ezra Ausar with a team-high 15 points, Mason Madsen contributing 14, and Keanu Dawes adding 13 points and 12 rebounds. Miro Little also chipped in with 10 points, hitting two key three-pointers during Utah’s dominant stretch late in the first half.

However, Mississippi State roared back in the second half, led by Hubbard and Murphy. They erased the deficit and took a six-point lead with just over 13 minutes remaining. Utah responded with a rally of its own, creating a back-and-forth battle with seven lead changes in a span of three minutes.

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Down the stretch, Mississippi State’s execution proved decisive. Matthews knocked down critical free throws, and the Bulldogs’ ability to capitalize on Utah’s misses and turnovers secured the win. Despite the loss, Utah displayed resilience and strong performances from several key players.

The Runnin’ Utes will look to bounce back when they host Utah Tech on Friday, Nov. 22, at 5:30 p.m. ET, in a game that will be streamed on ESPN+. This matchup provides an opportunity for the Utes to regroup and build on their promising moments from Sunday night.



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Mississippi College set to undergo name change, discontinuation of football program

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13 hours ago

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November 18, 2024

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Mississippi College set to undergo name change, discontinuation of football program


CLINTON, Miss. (WLOX) – After reviewing and preparing for the college’s 2026 bicentennial, the Mississippi College Board of Trustees approved a name change for Mississippi College.

Starting in 2026, the college will be known as Mississippi Christian University. The decision underscores MC’s status as a comprehensive university and allows the college to retain its logo and identity.

Officials with the college say the name change is a strategic decision that reiterates leadership’s commitment to fulfilling the private university’s vision statement – to be known as a university recognized for academic excellence and commitment to the cause of Christ.

Along with the decision to approve the name change, the college also announced the discontinuation of the football program, which will allow the school to “further its commitment to excellence in Division II play across its remaining 17 sports and pursue needed facility upgrades”.

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“Discontinuing our football program is a difficult decision. We acknowledge the program’s legacy and the deep connection to the many student-athletes, alumni, and supporters of the football program. I want to emphasize that we will always consider them as part of our MC Family,” Athletic Director Kenny Bizot said.

“We will support our current student-athletes as they seek to continue their education at MC as well as those who wish to transfer,” Bizot added.

The changes were based on recommendations from a task force of university trustees, which were developed in consultation with university leadership and approved by the Board of Trustees.

See a spelling or grammar error in this story? Report it to our team HERE.

Copyright 2024 WLOX. All rights reserved.

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The Final Horn: State 78, Utah 73 – Mississippi State

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21 hours ago

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November 18, 2024

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The Final Horn: State 78, Utah 73 – Mississippi State


THE BOTTOM LINE: Mississippi State is off to a perfect 4-0 start this season courtesy of a determined second-half surge that carried MSU past Utah 78-73 at the Landers Center in Southaven on Sunday. The Bulldogs trailed 39-28 after the first 20 minutes of play but used a 22-5 run out of halftime to gain a six-point edge before fending off the Utes down the stretch. Utah tied the game at 71-all with only 1:40 remaining, however State locked down defensively and scored seven of the game’s final nine points to secure victory.

KEY NUMBERS: Individually, Josh Hubbard scored 20 of his team-high 23 points in the second half to lead State’s surge, while KeShawn Murphy did a little of everything for the Bulldogs with 18 points, 14 rebounds, a couple of blocks and an assist. Riley Kugel and Cameron Matthews also reached double figures in scoring for State as each tallied 12 points. Matthews also collected a pair of steals, surpassing the 200-mark for his career. Collectively though, the biggest difference in the game was State’s second-half offensive resurgence. After shooting just 22.9 percent from the field as a team in the opening period, including only making one of 13 shots from three-point range, MSU shot 50 percent as a group the rest of the way and made five of its final 12 tries from deep.

SOCIAL MEDIA SCENES:

NEXT UP FOR THE DAWGS: Mississippi State faces a true road test as MSU battles SMU at Moody Coliseum in Dallas, Texas, on Friday, Nov. 22. Tip is set for 7:30 p.m. and the game will be streamed via ACC Network Extra.

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