Five Things To Know MSU-No. 5 Tennessee

Wednesday, January 10

Starkville

6:00 PM

Mississippi State

#5 Tennessee

Tickets

Five Things To Know MSU-No. 5 Tennessee

January 09, 2024 | Men's Basketball

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by Matt Dunaway, Director/Communications

STARKVILLE – Mississippi State men's basketball opens a two-game SEC homestand as No. 5 Tennessee visits Humphrey Coliseum on Wednesday evening.

The Bulldogs (11-3, 0-1 SEC) are in the midst of four consecutive NCAA NET Quad 1 games to start SEC action and have eight of their first nine SEC outings as NCAA NET Quad 1 opportunities. Overall, State and Vanderbilt are the only SEC schools slated to play 10-plus NCAA NET Quad 1 games during its league schedule.

Last time out, the Maroon and White had their five-game winning streak come to a close during a 68-62 defeat to South Carolina in Saturday's SEC opener for both teams. A key to victory for the Gamecocks was a 35-26 rebounding advantage which resulted in 16 of the game's 22 points on second-chance opportunities.

State's non-conference resume is headlined by a quartet of Power 5 neutral court victories over Arizona State (Pac-12), Northwestern (Big Ten), Rutgers (Big Ten) and Washington State (Pac-12). Only the Bulldogs and Memphis possess at least four non-conference wins over Power 5 opponents on road/neutral floors this season.

State is joined by Florida Atlantic as the only teams in the country to amass six neutral court victories in 2023-24. The Bulldogs also defeated North Texas (American) and Tulane (American) en route to their six neutral court triumphs by an average of 15.7 points per contest.

State features a suffocating defense under second-year coach Chris Jans after being one of two teams to rank inside the nation's top 25 in scoring defense (61.0 – 2nd SEC – 9th nationally), field goal percentage defense (39.4 – 3rd SEC – 10th nationally) and steals (8.6 – 2nd SEC – 23rd nationally) in 2022-23.

Once again, the Bulldogs are back at it as one of four squads nationally (Houston, Oklahoma, SMU) among the NCAA's top 25 in three categories: three-point field goal percentage defense (27.0 – 1st SEC – 11th nationally), scoring defense (63.1 – 2nd SEC – 19th nationally) and field goal percentage defense (38.8 – 3rd SEC – 20th nationally).

State also possesses national top 30 rankings from KenPom.com in three additional categories: effective field goal percentage defense (43.9 – 8th) and adjusted defensive efficiency (93.1 – 10th) and steal percentage (12.7 – 26th).

The Maroon and White has drained 106 three-pointers which is sixth-most in program history over the team's first 14 games. Josh Hubbard, Trey Fort, Dashawn Davis and D.J. Jeffries have each hit 10+ triples on the season and combined for 79 of the team's 106 treys (74.5 percent).

Tennessee (11-3, 1-0 SEC) has been the class of the SEC since 2017-18 with a league-leading 155 victories and are one of four programs nationally to earn an AP top five ranking in each of the last three seasons. Last time out, the Volunteers began SEC play with a 90-64 rout of No. 22 Ole Miss.

Tennessee's balanced attack features eight players scoring at least five points per contest. Dalton Knecht (15.1 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 1.6 APG) began the season with nine straight games in double figures after transferring from Northern Colorado. He poured in a career-high 37 points at North Carolina (11/29) during the ACC/SEC Challenge.

Jonas Aidoo (11.4 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 1.4 BPG) posted his fourth double-double of the season courtesy of a 24-point, 10-rebound effort against No. 22 Ole Miss (01/06). Veteran standouts Josiah-Jordan James (11.1 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 2.4 APG, 1.4 SPG), Santiago Vescovi (8.2 PPG, 2.7 APG) and Zakai Zeigler (8.9 PPG, 4.9 APG, 1.5 SPG) have cranked it up as of late. Zeigler has ripped off double figures in five of his last six outings fueled by 17 points and 10 assists versus NO. 22 Ole Miss (01/06).

Tennessee's top performers off the bench have been Jordan Gainey (8.6 PPG, 1.0 SPG) and Jahmai Mashack (5.9 PPG, 1.0 SPG) who have combined to reach double figures on eight occasions. Mashack came away with a solid all-around effort of 10 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals during the Ole Miss game.

SERIES HISTORY
Wednesday's meeting marks the sixth straight time and the 10th time over the last 11 matchups that State will face a Tennessee squad ranked inside the top 20. The Vols have won nine of those last 10 matchups since 2017-18 and hold a 90-44 series advantage. The last win in the series for the Bulldogs was an 86-73 decision during the 2019-20 season when both schools were unranked.

State is looking for its fourth consecutive season with a win over a SEC ranked opponent. The Bulldogs defeated No. 25 Texas A&M, 69-62 on 02/25/23, under Coach Jans. The last time State defeated a top 5 opponent was a 54-45 victory over No. 5 Oklahoma on 12/28/2002.

The Matchup: Mississippi State (11-3, 0-1 SEC) vs. No. 5 Tennessee (11-3, 1-0 SEC)
Where: Humphrey Coliseum – Starkville, Mississippi
When: Wednesday, January 10, 6:00 p.m. CT
Live Stats: StatBroadcast (https://hailst.at/46Kz0ee)

TV: SEC Network
Channels: Ch. 611 (DirecTV); Ch. 404/408 (Dish); Ch. 1026 (MaxxSouth); Ch. 220 C-Spire
App: ESPN App (Subscription Required – https://hailst.at/3Ttrwsg)
Talent: Mike Morgan, Mark Wise

Radio: Mississippi State Sports Network – Powered by Learfield
Talent: Neil Price, Richard Williams
Affiliates: WZLA-FM 96.1 Starkville/West Point
Free Online Audio: Hail State App (https://hailst.at/48hDA4r); The Varsity Network App

5 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT MISSISSIPPI STATE
1. Chris Jans, one of the nation's premier bench bosses, leads State's program. He is assisted by James Miller, David Anwar and George Brooks. The Iowa native was one of 10 SEC coaches to amass at least 21 victories and secure a NCAA Tournament berth during their first season in league history during the 2022-23 season.

, a three-time WAC Coach of the Year during his tenure at New Mexico State, owns an impressive .745 winning percentage (175-60) in his eighth season as a NCAA Division I head coach. He is fifth among NCAA active coaches with a .745 winning percentage behind only Mark Few (Gonzaga), Bill Self (Kansas), Brian Dutcher (San Diego State) and John Calipari (Kentucky).

As a junior college head coach, won the 1997-98 NJCAA Division II National Championship at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He also played a vital role as an assistant coach at Wichita State which was headed by a 2013 NCAA Final Four run, five NCAA Tournament trips and four Missouri Valley Conference regular season crowns.

2. The Maroon and White are among the nation's leaders returning 80.9 percent of its points, 72.4 percent of its rebounds, 83.8 percent of its assists, 83.6 percent of its steals and 75.2 percent of its blocks from last season.

Over the last five games, State's returning players have tallied 70.6 percent of the team's points (262-of-374). The Bulldogs have continued to showcase their depth and piled up 32.93 bench points per contest which is 3rd on the SEC leaderboard and check in 14th nationally.

3. Tolu Smith, Shakeel Moore, D.J. Jeffries, Dashawn Davis and Cameron Matthews combined for 85.3 percent of the team's starts (145-of-170) as State's top five scorers in 2022-23.

Smith has been showered with numerous preseason accolades headed by the Karl Malone and Naismith Trophy Watch Lists. He also was a consensus 2022-23 All-SEC First-Team pick and a consensus 2023-24 All-SEC Preseason First-Team selection joined by Texas A&M's Wade Taylor IV. Smith has racked up 1,239 points and 692 rebounds and has started 84 of 87 games at State. He is joined by Purdue's Zach Edey as the only returning college players in 2023-24 to average at least 15.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and shoot 55-plus percent from the floor last season. He has ripped off 20 consecutive games in double figures (01/14/23 to 01/06/24) sparked by 10 double-doubles.

Moore (7.9 PPG, 1.8 APG) has registered 32 of his 37 career games with 10-plus points while at Mississippi State. He came away with a season's best 16 points against Murray State (12/13) and has posted 10.5 points per game over his six starts. Defensively, Moore has accounted for multiple steals in 46 of 103 career games. His 152 career steals are eighth among SEC active players and his 117 steals at State are 20th on the program's all-time list.

Jeffries (6.9 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 2.1 APG) has found his way into State's starting five in 79 of 82 career games. He eclipsed 600 career rebounds against UT Martin (11/11) and followed that up by surpassing 1,100 career points versus Washington State (11/18). Jeffries secured a season-high 13 points versus North Texas (12/17). He also added a season's best 12 rebounds to go along with 11 points versus Murray State (12/13) to tuck away his first double-double of the season.

Davis (8.3 PPG, 3.4 APG, 1.9 SPG) is ranked 6th in steals and 15th in assists among SEC players this season. Five of his six games of 10+ points in 2023-24 have come on the road/neutral floors fueled by season's bests of 13 points and 7 assists against Rutgers (12/23). Davis also posted consecutive games in double figures en route to Hall of Fame All-Tournament Team. His MSU-best of 18 points came against Utah in the Fort Myers Championship Game last season.

Matthews (9.4 PPG, 6.6 RPG, 3.1 APG, 2.6 SPG) has showcased his as the only Power 6 player and one of four players nationally to dial up at least 9.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game this season. He has posted seven outings of 10+ points sparked by a season-high 18 points coupled with 11 rebounds versus Rutgers (12/23). The Bulldogs are 15-3 lifetime when Matthews collects 10 or more points. He also has secured multiple steals on nine occasions and handed out multiple assists in nine outings this season.

4. The Bulldogs have brought in an impressive group of newcomers which include Jimmy Bell Jr. (West Virginia), Trey Fort (Howard College), Scott (Salt Lake Community College) and Andrew Taylor (Marshall) from the transfer portal and the junior college ranks.

Bell Jr. (9.1 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 1.1 BPG), the SEC's Player of the Week for 12/26, has started 48 straight games over the last two seasons and was a key member of West Virginia's 2022-23 NCAA Tournament squad. He has already notched six of his 13 career outings of 10-plus points this season. Bell Jr. ripped off a season's best 17 points and hauled down a career-high 18 rebounds against Rutgers (12/23). His 8.6 rebounds per contest are fourth on the SEC's , and he's pulled down 10+ rebounds on six occasions.

Fort (6.1 PPG), one of the nation's top junior college recruits, was a All-America Second-Team honoree at Howard College in Texas last season. His 24.9 points per game was fourth among JUCO players. Fort has notched double figures two times highlighted by a 21-point explosion versus Arizona State (11/08) on opening night. The 21 points were the most scored by a MSU player during a season opener since Tyson Carter secured 23 points in 2019-20.

Scott (1.7 PPG, 1.9 RPG) posted 16.8 points and 10.0 rebounds per game at Salt Lake CC last season, and his team was the 2021-22 Runner-Up. He secured nine points and nine rebounds versus Southern Miss in the charity exhibition game. Scott's best regular season outing was six points and six rebounds against Tulane (12/09).

Taylor (3.8 PPG, 1.3 APG) was dubbed a SEC Impact transfer by CBS' Jon Rothstein. His 1,636 career points are 4th among SEC active players. Last season, Taylor joined by St. John's Shamorie Ponds (2017-18) as the only college players over the last decade to average at least 20.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.0 steals per game. He tallied a season's best nine points versus North Alabama (11/14).

5. Mississippi State's talented freshmen class features Gai Chol, Josh Hubbard and Adrian Myers. The Bulldogs also brought back Shawn Jones Jr. and KeShawn Murphy who will look to build on their freshmen campaigns.

Hubbard (14.45 PPG, 1.6 APG), the SEC Freshmen of the Week on 11/20 and an ESPN top 100 recruit for the Class of 2023, capped his high school career as the state of Mississippi's all-time leading scorer with 4,367 career points which broke a record that stood for 37 years previously held by Mississippi State's Robert Woodard.

Hubbard has piled up 202 points through his first 14 games which is 5th-most for a MSU freshman and the most since Rickey Brown (1976-77). His 14.4 points per game are tops among SEC freshmen and tied for 15th overall in the league. Hubbard delivered 10 consecutive games in double figures from 11/11 to 12/17 and tallied three outings of 20-plus points off the bench which is the second-most for a State player over the last 30-plus seasons trailing only Darryl Wilson in 1993-94.

Hubbard's season-high of 29 points versus Northwestern (11/19) is the most for a State player under Coach Jans. It also marked the most points scored by a State player off the bench since Tony Watts also scored 29 points at Ole Miss in 1989-90. He dialed up a pair of 22-point efforts against UT Martin (11/11) during his Humphrey Coliseum debut and versus Tulane (12/09) where all 22 points came in the first half.

Jones Jr. (5.0 PPG) wrapped up 2022-23 on a strong note with seven of his top 10 scoring efforts coming against SEC opponents. He carried that momentum into the start of the 2023-24 campaign with a trio of 8-point efforts versus Arizona State (11/08), UT Martin (11/11) and Washington State (11/18). Jones Jr.'s career-high is 11 points against South Carolina (02/28/23).

Murphy (5.4 PPG) made his season debut returning from injury against Nicholls (11/24). His top performance in 2023-24 was a career-best 18 points on 8-of-14 shooting versus North Texas (12/17). Murphy also posted a career-high 10 rebounds versus Tulane (12/09). His SEC best is 11 points versus No. 8 Alabama (12/28/22).

Chol (2.9 PPG), a native of South Sudan, took advantage of extended minutes with 11 points and six rebounds against UT Martin (11/11). He also tallied five points versus Nicholls (11/24) coupled with four points and four rebounds during the Tulane game (12/09).

Mississippi State is selling single game tickets and $96 mini plans for the 2023-24 campaign. Visit www.HailState.com/Tickets for more information.

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