Mississippi State men’s basketball begins its SEC campaign today, taking on Texas in Austin with hopes of continuing a winning run that began late in nonconference play.
The Bulldogs, 8-5 and winners of four straight, a run that includes confidence boosters over Utah and Memphis over the final stretch of December. A series of early defeats took some wind out of their sails, but the group has found success on the scoring front while adjusting defensively.
Star guard Josh Hubbard has been as prolific as ever, averaging 21.3 points per game, but has gotten a lot of help from transfers Jayden Epps and Ja’Borri McGhee in the backcourt as well.
All three guards have emerged as reliable scoring options, whether it be on the perimeter or finding a lane to the hoop, and their success this season has largely depended on at least one of them – if not two or all three of them – having a big night.
“When we’ve had those three guards out there, we just felt like it gave us a little more scoring pop than some other lineups we employ,” Jans said. “Certainly we’re not as lengthy as when we have a normal three in there. If the other team, the lineups dictate it sometimes, are playing guys Ja’borri can match up with, then it makes sense to do so because of the offensive firepower, having another handler and decision maker on the court.”
Another emerging option for Jans has been freshman King Grace, who arrived as a four-star recruit in the Class of 2025. He struggled to keep getting minutes after early appearances, but has emerged of late with intention. His 14 points against Alabama State came from playing in the third guard/small forward role, and it paired with confident movement on and off the ball.
“King is coming off a really good game. One of his better, if not the best, games he’s played,” Jans said. “We played him the game before that, in the guts of the game as well. He’s getting better, he’s bought into practice, which he needs to do and continue to grow. He gives us another option to play three guards at the same time.”
It won’t be easy for Grace, or any of the other Bulldogs, in Austin at the weekend when they take on the Longhorns.
Texas (9-4) averages 87.9 points per game with four double-digit scorers. They match up well with the Bulldogs at guard, with four solid options in the rotation capable of scoring at a high rate, and pose a particular threat down low with Lithuanian center Matas Vokietaitis. The team’s top scorer stands 7-feet tall and has scored 10 or more points in all but two games this season.
Jans noted that his frontcourt guys Jamarion Davis-Fleming and Quincy Ballard will have to “have their big-boy pants on” when the team faces Vokietaitis on Saturday.
“We’ve been working and talking about rebounding a lot,” Jans said.
The team on the court at Texas is a product of new and highly-regarded leadership. Sean Miller, a serial Pac-12 champion at Arizona, took over the Longhorns in 2025 with the intention of making them into a new SEC power.
“New coach, new staff. A couple holdovers from last year, but Coach Miller is obviously a great coach,” Jans said. “Respect in the business, he’s won at a high level and been around it a long time at the Division I level. It’s his first year, they’re trying to get their feet underneath them and build standards for the program, but they’re very, very talented. Well-versed, well-taught, and really good in a lot of areas.”
The teams will tip off in Austin at 5 p.m. and the game will air on SEC Network.
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