STARKVILLE, Miss. — Mississippi State men’s basketball coach Chris Jans spoke Monday about the team’s current standing and prospects as they prepare for a matchup with Tennessee.
Jans acknowledged the Bulldogs are not in the position they anticipated at this point in the SEC season. He cited a less-than-stellar non-conference performance and fewer quality wins as factors that put the team behind schedule. “We didn’t have a stellar non-conference portion of our season,” Jans said. “It paled in comparison to the previous three years in wins and quality wins for our resume.”
The coach emphasized that despite setbacks, the team remains resilient. Jans praised his players’ work ethic and mindset, stating that their focus now is on improving game-day performance. The Bulldogs are preparing for their upcoming game against Tennessee, with Jans saying they will develop a game plan to maximize their chances of success.
Jans also discussed individual players, including freshmen Jamarion Davis-Fleming and Achor Achor. He noted Davis-Fleming is adjusting to faster game speeds and highlighted his potential, while praising Achor’s recent progress and defensive contributions. Jans explained that Achor’s offensive improvement is due to his confidence and understanding of his strengths.
Looking ahead, Jans characterized Tennessee as a physically tough opponent, typical of Coach Rick Barnes’s teams. He described Tennessee as a power team that values deliberate offense and transition opportunities, emphasizing the importance of physicality and strategic play in the upcoming game.
