BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Mississippi State head coach Chris Jans hit a hole-in-one at Old Waverly thism summer, only the second in his golfing life. He described it as “the highlight of the offseason” in his introduction at SEC Media Days on Wednesday, marking the start of a season in which his Bulldog team may make similar strides offensively on the basketball court.
Fearsomely nicknamed “The Dentist,” Jans’ and his Bulldog teams built a reputation as a hellish team to play against, boasting a hard-nosed defense and a blue-collar mentality. That reputation evolved with the addition of Josh Hubbard in 2023, a prolific shooting guard who is on pace to shatter MSU’s scoring record should he stay for his senior year. Hubbard is already the program’s most accomplished three-point shooter.
Now, after exploring the NBA Draft process, Hubbard is back with the Bulldogs and looking to expand his game as a leader. He stepped into the role as a sophomore, but the torch was passed from Cameron Matthews in the offseason to give him a level of seniority he wasn’t used to in Starkville
“Everybody views me as big bro,” Hubbard said. “So just having that voice, leading these guys to wins and to the (NCAA) tournament, that’s always been the goal.
“I’m excited for it, excited to see the improvements in my game this season, and everyone’s just excited all around.”
Hubbard will share leadership duties with returning senior Shawn Jones Jr., whose role has continued to evolve in his time with the Bulldogs. One of the standout sixth men in the SEC, Jones is used to doing what he has to in order to earn more minutes, helping the team however he can. He expressed his love for defense and a willingness to play however he needs to help his team, as well as the motivation of playing for Jans.
“I wouldn’t ever want to play for any other coach but him,” Jones said of Jans.
“You know, he just feels like family over here, and the Hail State community, they treat me like family. And I just wouldn’t want to be no one else but a bulldog. That’s all I know is Hail State, baby.”
That tie to Jans and what he asks of his players has made the Bulldogs an attractive option for Mississippi’s best, even without as much dentistry as was seen in the coach’s first two seasons. The evolution toward more of an offensive group is continuing, and could take a bold new step in the backcourt this year.
New dynamic duo?
The goal for Jans since Hubbard’s emergence has been to not only bolster the shooting ability from deep around him, but to help alleviate the double teams that have hindered his heroics.
Enter Jayden Epps, a complementary senior guard who shot 34.4% from beyond the arc and has a nose for defense with 1.4 steals per game last year at Georgetown. As a sophomore, Epps scored 18.5 points per game, finishing third in the Big East in scoring and eighth in assists with 4.5 per game.
Epps was a fit for what Jans wanted, and in three years at Georgetown has managed the highs and lows of a high-pressure basketball culture. Now, in Starkville, he’s made a new home and quickly bonded with a young team of mostly newcomers, whether transfers like himself or incoming freshmen.
“It was a good first impression,” Epps said. “When I came on my visit, I just felt the college town vibe.
I like the vibe of the coaches, the team, and I love my teammates. We spend a lot of time together, so it’s been good.”
Josh and Jayden both took the stage at SEC Media Days on Wednesday. Two new teammates, but two veteran guards who have proven themselves at the highest level of college basketball.
Jans is excited about what Epps can bring for the Bulldogs in terms of balance, but also the possibility of flexibility in terms of on-ball playmaking and shot creation.
“We’re not going to have a real ‘one’ all the time, and a real ’two’ all the time… they’re easily flip-flopped,” Jans said of the guard duo. “They have some similarities to their games, and even in their stature, and even personality for that matter.
So I think that’s why they bonded as well as they have, but that’s a work in progress, and we’re trying to figure it out. But the biggest thing is they’re both smart kids. They both understand ball, they both had great experience… so, they’ll pick things up quickly and they’ll be able to go back and forth to both positions, which will give us some flexibility.”
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