Chris Jans reveals the key to Mississippi State snapping two-game losing skid

After a 6-0 start, Mississippi State dropped two in a row with one loss coming at home to Southern. With a bounce back, 30-point win over Tulane, though, Chris Jans shared one aspect of his Bulldogs that helped them weather that storm.

Following the 106-76 win over the Green Wave, Jans discussed his team’s ability to respond during his postgame press conference. He said that Mississippi State has been doing everything right since their loss in Atlanta but that their next one against the Jaguars didn’t fully reflect how well off that they’ve been.

“I’ve said all along, since Georgia Tech, that our response in terms of mindset and approach in practice was good. It was good,” said Jans.

“I know a lot of fans don’t want to hear this from me. It’s about winning the games – I get it, I understand that. That’s what we’re about too,” Jans said. “Against Southern? We played better than our result. It’s a bottom-line situation.”

A two-game skid can cause some cracks in the foundation early on in the year. Still, instead of splitting, Jans said the Bulldogs showed their experience by holding together and handling those losses in a mature fashion.

“We were obviously crushed and we’ve just been extremely disappointed. But, after that? Then you never know,” said Jans. “That’s when I said, the last time we met after that game, that I think when that happens? You’ve lost two in a row, one you’re not supposed to lose at home? And questions start coming in from outside, other people getting in the player’s ears, questioning who’s playing, who’s getting the minutes, the shots? Then, maybe, even internally on what we’re doing and trying to do? I think we had enough veterans who believed.”

“We had a good enough culture, if you will, where they stayed the course,” Jans said. “Our practices since then have been really good.”

After losing in the ACC/SEC Challenge and then dropping another to a SWAC opponent in Starkville, Mississippi State needed to find an answer like the one they provided on Saturday.

The Bulldogs took a 10-point lead to start and never looked back as they went on to explode for 62 in the first half. The 106 total points were their most in Jans’ tenure and their most in any game since 2017 as they shot 58.6% from the field and 46.4% from three while dishing 31 assists on 41 baskets.

Mississippi State could have just shrugged their shoulders and put up an okay performance in the Holiday Hoopsgiving in Atlanta. However, they did anything but with an emphatic statement that proved a lot to their head coach in Jans.

“What I found is kids are much more resilient than coaches. They can pick theirselves up off the mat pretty quickly,” said Jans.

“We’re pleased with how we started the game and to get the win,” Jans said.