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.

Listen in comfort:
Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn.

Advertise on DNN:
advertise@thednn.ai

This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.
Report issues to feedback@thednn.ai.

View sources & latest updates:
https://sources.thednn.ai/2928f8ac05f86c1d

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.

Listen in comfort:
Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn.

Advertise on DNN:
advertise@thednn.ai

This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.
Report issues to feedback@thednn.ai.

View sources & latest updates:
https://sources.thednn.ai/c5f8790630f8f874

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.

Listen in comfort:
Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn.

Advertise on DNN:
advertise@thednn.ai

This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.
Report issues to feedback@thednn.ai.

View sources & latest updates:
https://sources.thednn.ai/511738c032ac4f29

Mississippi State basketball is gearing up for a historic home-and-home showdown with UCF, marking their first meeting since 2016 — when UCF crushed them 86-61. Under fifth-year head coach Chris Jans, the Bulldogs are primed for a bounce-back season after missing the NCAA Tournament last year, fueled by the return of star Josh Hubbard and a loaded transfer portal class. Their season opener against Tennessee Tech on November 2 sets the stage before the big UCF clash in Orlando (Nov. 17, 2026) and the return trip to Starkville in 2027. Can MSU finally get revenge?

Listen in comfort:
Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn.

Advertise on DNN:
advertise@thednn.ai

This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.
Report issues to feedback@thednn.ai.

View sources & latest updates:
https://sources.thednn.ai/88a87a3d9ed0ff2f

Chris Jans, Mississippi State’s basketball coach, is basking in New Mexico sun — the only time he gets a tan all year — and enjoying some well-deserved compliments, hinting at a fresh start after a disappointing fourth season without an NCAA Tournament appearance. With the WFCA sports kickoff event serving as his stage to reflect on the past and look ahead, Jans’ relaxed vibe suggests renewed optimism as the Bulldogs aim to bounce back strong in the new year.

Listen in comfort:
Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn.

Advertise on DNN:
advertise@thednn.ai

This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.
Report issues to feedback@thednn.ai.

View sources & latest updates:
https://sources.thednn.ai/24ae59dd90c85072

Josh Hubbard’s legacy is officially taking flight—Mississippi State’s own scoring sensation is getting his number 12 retired by his high school, Madison-Ridgeland Academy, next month. Once a four-star recruit and state scoring record holder with over 4,000 points in high school, Hubbard’s impact continues at MSU, where he’s fourth all-time in scoring and holds the program’s three-point record. With 1,900+ college points and elite stats across the board, he’s not just making noise—he’s rewriting history. The school calls him a generational talent, and fans are watching closely as he keeps climbing the leaderboard.

Listen in comfort:
Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn.

Advertise on DNN:
advertise@thednn.ai

This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.
Report issues to feedback@thednn.ai.

View sources & latest updates:
https://sources.thednn.ai/f8ce2ce431e74587

Josh Hubbard is making history at Madison Ridgeland Academy as the first player to have his jersey number 12 retired — a testament to his insane high school scoring dominance, including breaking Mississippi’s all-time scoring record. After tearing up the MAIS with over 27 points per game and 4,300 career points, he chose Mississippi State over Ole Miss, where he’s become the SEC’s most lethal scorer under Coach Chris Jans. Last season alone, he dropped 40+ in multiple games and averaged 22 PPG. Now returning for one more year, he’s poised to break MSU’s all-time scoring record — and he’s doing it while staying loyal to Starkville. With NCAA Tournament dreams on the line and Hubbard leading the charge, this isn’t just about stats — it’s about legacy.

Listen in comfort:
Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn.

Advertise on DNN:
advertise@thednn.ai

This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.
Report issues to feedback@thednn.ai.

View sources & latest updates:
https://sources.thednn.ai/b95cd76848610836

Mississippi State lost a true legend this week with the passing of Kermit Davis Senior at ninety-one — a man whose devotion to the Bulldogs spanned his entire adult life, from playing in the old gym to coaching in the new one. A first recruit signed by Coach Babe McCarthy in 1955, he helped lead MSU to its first-ever SEC title in 1959. After a successful high school coaching stint, he returned to MSU as an assistant and later head coach, earning SEC Coach of the Year in 1971 and finishing fifth all-time in SEC wins. Beyond the court, he was a vital force in fundraising and facility development, helping shape MSU athletics during its golden age. Even after his son took the reins at rival Ole Miss, his loyalty to Mississippi State never wavered — leaving behind a legacy etched deep into the heart of Bulldog sports.

Listen in comfort:
Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn.

Advertise on DNN:
advertise@thednn.ai

This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.
Report issues to feedback@thednn.ai.

View sources & latest updates:
https://sources.thednn.ai/63c939ab445ddd7a