WATCH: Coach Anwar, Coach Days and Coach Padgett Media Session

STARKVILLE - Mississippi State assistant coaches David Anwar, Patrice Days and Scott Padgett met with the media on Wednesday.

2025-26 Mississippi State Men's Basketball Media Session
October 29, 2025

Assistant Coaches David Anwar, Patrice Days and Scott Padgett
Q: Working with the big men, when did you see that Jamarion Davis-Fleming was going to be able to play a little bit at the five spot?
SP: "Really, you go back to his recruitment. He's got that length and athleticism. I think with him it's more of a comfort level of finding what he's comfortable doing. He's starting to kind of figure out what we do as a team and starting to fit in and fill his kind of niche within the program. If you look at his size and his length, I mean he's got a 7-5 wingspan. He can get off the ground and run the floor. I think all the way back into recruiting, he was looked at as a guy who could play both spots."

Q: What was the goal going into recruiting this transfer portal class? What type of player and what kind of mindset were you looking for?
DA: "Really just to improve shooting. Obviously, we need to get better at that. Then, we wanted guys that fit Coach Jans and our culture. The transfer portal is hard. You look at pieces of paper and see numbers, but do they fit what we want to do and what Coach Jans is about? It's a lot more difficult that what people think."

PD: "Yeah, I would say guys that fit Coach Jans. Kids that are willing to buy in and that understand what the program is about. Especially in today's world with NIL, we want guys that want to come here, get better and be a part of winning. I think that's really key."

Q: What have you seen from Quincy Ballard that shows that he can do things at the center position that other guys haven't been able to?
SP: "I think he's first and foremost a rim protector. Though we've had some really good bigs, I don't know if you'd call any of them shot blockers or rim protector guys. He can block shots and alter shots and really make it tough for other teams."

"On the other end, we were top 10 teams in the country, percentage wise, as far as ball screens that we're in. We haven't really had a lob threat off the ball screen. We've run plays to get people up, but not to get off ball screens, get downhill and be able to throw it up if they commit to the ball. He [Ballard] can go get a lob. So, I think he's going to help our ball screen offense because now that threat is back there behind the defense is there. That's going to allow Josh Hubbard and some of our other guards to be able to get down in the paint and make a last second decision lob or get to the basket and finish. That should help our ball-screen game a lot."

Q: The leaders of this program have been forwards for the last few years whether it's Tolu Smith III, DJ Jeffries or Cameron Matthews. What has it been like to see the older guards step up and take over that role?
DA: "The older guys are really good. You've got Shawn Jones Jr. and Josh Hubbard. They've talked to our guys and helped teach them about what coach values, especially with defensive rotations and scouting reports. Then, one thing that coach values the most is, who can guard the ball? They're all about working to become the best on-ball defenders that they can be, so that they don't have to create help on the defensive end."

Q: Coach Jans mentioned how the defense took a step back last year. Looking back at the exhibition game, how did you feel this team is starting to buy in on the defensive end?
DA: "I think so. I think we've upgraded with competitiveness. I think guys are really competing on the defensive end. I think we'll upgrade because they compete, and they want to guard. They know that's their calling card. They know that's what they have to do to get into the game."

SP: "I agree with a lot of what he [Coach Anwar] said. If you're going to play for Coach Jans, you've got to have a defensive first mindset. That's where we're going to win games with our defense and with our rebounding. Your offensive skills and all of that are what helps put games away. We're a defensive and rebounding team. That's where we make our bones at."

Q: With the scrimmage at Houston, what were some of the things that you liked that saw? What are some of the things you feel you can improve on?
PD: "I really liked their togetherness. I think that the score was 9-1 at the start. Especially early in the season, you see guys who haven't been in that situation and how they react. Sometimes, they get nervous or get ancee. From my seat on the bench, you could hear the guys being positive with each other and talk about what they were seeing on the court. I think that was really encouraging, especially going into a hostile environment which was basically like a home game for them. Guys didn't scared or intimated. I think it was just like a boxing match. We competed at a high level without having Jayden Epps for a lot of the game, or Ja'Borri McGhee for part of the game. That was encouraging for us. Offensively, we'll be fine. There are things that we clean up and correct. Defensive wise, cleaning up assignments. Again, I thought it was encouraging."

Q: How has Sergej Macura fit in with the team so far?
DA: "Actually, one day Coach Jans asked me about some foreign players. So, I gave him some film on a few foreign players. Sergej was the one that he really liked. So, credit to Coach Jans. I had a relationship with the people over in Serbia that had Serg on their team, and we worked to get him to Mississippi State."

"Coach Jans, our staff and myself liked his athleticism and how fluid of an athlete he is. How he can get up and down the court. You don't need to run plays for him, he gets in on cuts and rebounds. So, he fits into what we needed in that role. He also played very well against the U19 United States team. I don't remember what FIBA Tournament that was, but he was very impressive in that game. He showed that he can play with athletes at this level."

Q: Talk about the freshmen class. I know it's hard to project, but do you feel that the freshmen class will be different as a unit compared to previous classes?
DA: "I think so, but I also think that all it all takes time. When you come from AAU and high school basketball, it's a brand new basketball game. It's a different game. The players have got to learn different things and figure things out so they can help us. If they're quick learners which most of them are, hopefully they'll be able to get into the games and help us. That's the main thing that people don't understand when you come from AAU and high school, that it's a different game."

WATCH: Coach Anwar, Coach Days and Coach Padgett Media Session

Players Mentioned

Quincy Ballard

Jamarion Davis-Fleming

Jayden Epps

Josh Hubbard

Shawn Jones Jr.

Sergej Macura

Cameron Matthews

Ja’Borri McGhee

Mississippi State University Athletics