Mississippi State’s Coach Jans Cites Rebounding, Defense in Loss to Tennessee

Mississippi State’s head coach Chris Jans said poor rebounding and defensive lapses were the main reasons for his team’s 73-64 loss to Tennessee on Wednesday night, according to postgame remarks.

Jans explained that his team struggled with Tennessee’s physicality and rebounding, which allowed the Volunteers to establish an early lead. He noted that Mississippi State’s defensive coverage and execution on ball screens were inconsistent at the start, leading to multiple dunks in the first few minutes.

“That gave the other team confidence,” Jans said. “It makes the bench and coaches feel good, but it also puts us in a hole. We weren’t in the right spots with the right coverage and angles.”

Jans praised junior Josh Hubbard for his strong start and said the team fought to stay close, even as Tennessee pulled away with a 7-0 run before halftime. He acknowledged the team’s streaky performance, noting that inconsistent play has been a recurring challenge.

Looking ahead, Jans said the team will discuss the momentum from an 18-0 run in the second half, but emphasized that focus is shifting to Saturday’s game at Ole Miss. He expressed confidence that the team will prepare to even the season series in the rivalry matchup.

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