Mississippi State basketball coach Jans previews Xavier test

Mississippi State basketball coach Chris Jans said Xavier’s size, experience and international players would present a major challenge in Friday’s Greenbrier Tipoff matchup, which he called the first big test for both programs.

Jans said the Bulldogs had played three games and were still developing. He said the offense had produced strong stretches but sometimes lacked movement away from the ball and became stagnant, in part because opponents had switched frequently. Mississippi State was working to address those issues.

Jans said the defense had improved, though the team still needed work on its schemes and rotations. He also emphasized the value of contributions that may not appear in statistics, saying a player identified as ND would be important against Xavier.

At The Greenbrier, Jans expected the setup to resemble other hotel and ballroom venues, where teams can move between accommodations and the game without leaving the property. Mississippi State was scheduled to have a gym shootaround the night before and another on game day to get familiar with the court.

Jans said the schedule before Southeastern Conference play includes neutral-site and away games, with a game in Jackson breaking up that stretch. He said those games offer opportunities to earn strong wins before conference play.

Jans said Mississippi State remained active in recruiting and was not sure it was finished for the cycle. He described roster evaluation as ongoing, shaped in part by finances and transfer-portal decisions, and said the program’s planning focused on the current team and the next one because players entering the portal can disrupt projections.

Source: Mississippi State Athletics.