Mississippi State basketball is reloading with a clear mission: bounce back from last year’s NCAA Tournament snub. Coach Chris Jans is building a team with identity—whether it’s defense, pace, or grit—and counting on returning sophomores like King Grace and Cameren Paul (recovering from injury) to lead the charge. The big addition? RJ Johnson, a sharp-shooting transfer averaging 14+ points last season, ready to dominate inside and out. Senior Josh Hubbard is on pace to break program scoring records, already averaging 22+ points. In the paint, veteran ND Okafor anchors the frontcourt, flanked by rising talents Tee Bartlett, Tristan Reed, and towering Gai Chol—if he stays healthy. This roster has the pieces to make a statement.

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Mississippi State basketball just finalized its coaching staff for the 2024-25 season, with Chris Jans bringing in Dylan Sortillo as director of operations — the final piece of his revamped team. This marks the biggest coaching overhaul of Jans’ head coaching career, featuring both expected and surprising departures. Still aboard: veteran George Brooks, longtime assistant David Anwar, third-year aide Dillon Elder, and recruiting director Joe Rogers. New faces include Shunn Buchanan, promoted from grad assistant to floor role, and Corey Barker, reuniting with Jans after a pro-agent stint. Jans says these changes were necessary to turn things around, and early signs are promising. Plus, six graduate assistant fellows round out the roster as practices kick off.

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Mississippi State just snagged their first 2027 commit, elite guard Jacques Mitchell, and just announced a spicy new nonconference showdown: UCF in Orlando on Nov. 17 — part of a home-and-home series with Starkville set for ’27. This’ll be only the second time these two have met, with UCF winning back in ’16. Last year, UCF lit up the NCAA Tournament as a 9-seed before falling in the first round — while MSU missed the tourney entirely. The Bulldogs face a brutal early slate: Tennessee Tech, Northwestern State, Jackson State, Alabama A&M, plus road games at Marquette and Xavier. They’re also reloading with transfers like Kendyl Sanders and RJ Johnson, plus three new assistant coaches under head coach Chris Jans. All signs point to a full-court press for redemption — and this tough schedule will be the ultimate stress test before SEC play kicks off.

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