Welcome to my team preview series for 2024-25. Each day between now and the start of the college basketball season, I will preview one team or conference, both on Instagram (@collegehoopsoutlet) and through an article here. The preview will go in-depth on the roster build of the team, my expectations for their upcoming season, and the state of the program under their current head coach.
Mississippi State (Projected: 10th in SEC)
Chris Jans has had a successful first two seasons at Mississippi State. The Bulldogs reached the NCAA Tournament both times, but have failed to pick up a win. Year three could bring the most all-around talented team Jans has had and a good chance at reaching the tournament once again.
Josh Hubbard (17 ppg) took the SEC by storm last season as a freshman, leading the Bulldogs in scoring. Hubbard is an electric three-level scorer and standing at just 5-10, he is one of the most exciting players in the country to watch. With Hubbard returning to the backcourt, we know the scoring will be there, but if he can develop his playmaking ability the Bulldogs ceiling will rise further. Shawn Jones Jr (5 ppg) is the only other returning guard, a will-be junior who plays well on both ends of the floor.
Cameron Matthews (9 ppg, 7 rpg) is the key returner in the frontcourt. Matthews stands at 6-7 and is an amazing defender and is extremely athletic. He’s a hard worker on the boards on both ends of the floor and the only place he lacks anything in is shooting from beyond the three-point line. With Matthews back, the Bulldogs defense should stay inside the KenPom top 25, as it has been both seasons under Jans. KeShawn Murphy (5 ppg) saw limited minutes last season as a sophomore, but could step into the starting center role in 2024-25. Returners Gai Chol (2 ppg) and Adrian Myers (1 ppg) round out the list of returners and both should see similar playing time as last season.
The Bulldogs lost seven players this offseason, none bigger than senior forward Tolu Smith (15 ppg, 8 rpg). Veteran forwards DJ Jeffries (7 ppg, 6 rpg) and Jimmy Bell Jr (5 ppg, 5 rpg) also exit the frontcourt rotation. In the backcourt, the Bulldogs lose Shakeel Moore (8 ppg), Dashawn Davis (7 ppg), Trey Fort (5 ppg), and Andrew Taylor (4 ppg). With plenty of exits, the roster will look different, but the style should look the same under Chris Jans.
Jans found six transfers in the portal to replace his losses, with most transfers coming from the high-major ranks. Kanye Clary (17 ppg at Penn State) should have the biggest instant impact, an elite scorer during his time at Penn State before he was kicked off the team in mid-February. If Jans can keep Clary in line off the court, the Bulldogs on-court product improves tremendously. Riley Kugel (9 ppg, 4 rpg at Florida) didn’t quite have the breakout sophomore campaign some would thought he would have, but could find new life under Jans. Veteran guard Claudell Harris Jr (14 ppg, 4 rpg at Boston College) will give the backcourt another option, a proven three-level scorer and solid all-around guard.
The Bulldogs’ frontcourt brought in another trio of transfers, most notably Georgia transfer RJ Melendez (10 ppg, 4 rpg at Georgia). Melendez is more of an athletic wing that can play the three or four, a guy that is really good at his role but will likely be overshadowed by Cameron Matthews. Michael Nwoko (3 ppg at Miami) and Jeremy Foumena (5 ppg, 4 rpg at Rhode Island) were brought in to compete at the center position for the Bulldogs. Nwoko saw limited minutes this past season at Miami as a freshman, but could still be a piece for the long haul for Jans. Foumena put up very good numbers in just 13 mpg last season at Rhode Island and could go down as one of the most underrated transfer pickups this offseason.
Two high school recruits complete the Bulldogs roster for 2024-25, both likely seeing limited time with the amount of experience ahead of them. Dellquan Warren (4*, NAT 122) enters the backcourt as another option, but may have to wait until next season to see heavy minutes. Eric Paymon (3*, NAT 163) is the other freshman, likely seeing the same fate in the frontcourt with other options ahead of him.
Chris Jans has something building in Starkville, as the Bulldogs search for their third straight 20-win season and NCAA Tournament. With a large amount of returners and experienced transfers, the Bulldogs should be set to compete in the loaded SEC.
Josh Hubbard is back for the Bulldogs and could take even another step forward as a sophomore and develop into a star in the SEC. Cameron Matthews will be a beast on the boards and defensively for this squad as another extremely important player. The X-factor of this team for me though is Florida transfer Riley Kugel. Kugel has high potential, as seen by his near-transfer to Kansas and solid play at Florida, and could develop into something special if used correctly by Chris Jans.
Mississippi State doesn’t have the same hype surrounding them as many other teams in the SEC, but should still be highly competitive in the conference. With Hubbard and Matthews back, the Bulldogs have solid returning talent and I have confidence in them to reach a third straight NCAA Tournament. The SEC is a gauntlet this year though, so I’ve got the Bulldogs placed 10th in the SEC.