STARKVILLE – The first question asked to Mississippi State men’s basketball head coach Chris Jans at Tuesday’s press conference was what he’s learned from last year’s disappointment.
The Bulldogs finished the year 13-19 with five SEC wins. It was the first time in his head coaching career where he ended a year with a losing record. Tuesday likely marked the first time Jans had to hear that question entering a season.
“Yea what a question right,” Jans said after he let out a small sigh while the question was being asked. “Fair enough.”
State finished last year second-to-last in scoring offense and dead last in scoring defense in SEC play. The Bulldogs had the worst turnover margin in the SEC, a -3.21 mark, averaging 11.58 turnovers a game.
Going into this season, Jans hopes his team has “learned a lot.”
“It definitely was a humbling experience… (I) hadn’t been through it as a head coach,” Jans said. “It wasn’t what anyone wanted or expected. It starts with me.”
Jans is looking for a clean slate next season, and will do so with five returners from last season’s squad. Josh Hubbard highlights the returners coming back to Starkville. He was second in the SEC in scoring last season, averaging 22.1 points per game – just behind Sacramento Kings first-round pick Darius Acuff Jr.
He returned with Gai Chol, who missed all of last year with an injury, and three of last year’s freshmen: King Grace, Cameren Paul and Tee Bartlett.
Jans said he didn’t have much time to sulk over the season, switching into “portal-slash-retention mode” after it ended. He went and added seven transfers and also three assistants to his staff: Alex Barlow, Corey Baker and Shunn Buchanan.
Jans said he and his staff are making sure to not let last season seep into the preparation for this one.
“It starts with me. I’m the biggest culprit. I’m the one that probably brings it up more than anybody does, and so I’ve got to have some self discipline and move on,” Jans said. “I think for the most part, as we sit here July 14th, you don’t really have a choice…. It was a heck of an experience and not a good one. But at this point, all we can do is grow from it, learn from it, and do the things necessary to ensure that it never happens again.”
Jans said he is careful speaking on his squad, because what they look like in July won’t be the same during the season, but he feels a “renewed sense of energy” with this team compared to last year’s.
“We haven’t had a lot of adversity yet, but I just love the quality of person that we have in the maroon and white every day right now,” Jans said.
Jake is the Mississippi State athletics reporter for The Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
