Chris Jans reveals what changed for Mississippi State in second half vs. LSU

The Mississippi State Bulldogs controlled the game in their 20-point win over the LSU Tigers. However, head coach Chris Jans was particularly happy with the team’s second-half performance.

After the game, Jans revealed what he thought changed in the team’s second-half performance.

“We were really good on the glass in the first half on both sides, both offensively and defensively,” Chris Jans said. “That was a thing we talk about most games, not just this particular game. Then, in the second half, we were fine on the offensive glass. We were fine, we were good. I didn’t think we were great on the defensive glass, especially the start of half. I think they got four or five rebounds in the first five or six minutes. That’s something that we talked about a ton.”

By the end of the game, Mississippi State had 37 rebounds to LSU’s 34. That included 16 offensive rebounds for the Bulldogs. However, to Jans’ concerns about defensive rebounding, the Bulldogs did give up 12 offensive rebounds.

So, what changed? According to Chris Jans that change came when Mississippi State settled down on the defensive side of the ball.

“Then, I thought the difference was our guys really settled in defensively. I thought our ball pressure, I thought our ability to guard the ball, and everybody got into it. It just kind of kept them at bay. They’re really good at getting to the rim. They lead the league in percent of their shots at the rim. That’s something we really focused on coming into this week of doing our work out front. Doing our work on the ground, trying to avoid those situations as best as we could. Then, if we did, we’d really have a good technique without the ability to take charges anymore and then clean it up on the glass,” Jans said.

“I felt like out front our guards with Rams [Dashawn Davis], Shak [Shakeel Moore], D.J. [Jeffries], Shawn [Jones Jr.] and those guys were really doing their job getting the ball. It let us get out and run a little bit and open up the lead.”

Chris Jans evaluates his trust level in KeShawn Murphy

In recent games, KeShawn Murphy has gotten a larger workload. That is, in part, because of how much Chris Jans trusts him right now.

“Pretty high. He’s a willing defender. He’s been really working on it. He has been receptive to what we are trying to do with him on the defensive side of the floor. Doesn’t take much to figure out that he’s very talented offensive, obviously has great length. He just gives us a different look when he is on the floor with his ability. At 6-10, to play either the four, even the five, he can stretch the D and it gives us another scorer out there. He is underrated with his drive ability, his passing ability. He really sees the floor,” Jans said.

“He keeps getting better on the defensive end and because of that, he is on the floor more. It has been really, really good, and he has been a shot in the arm for us the past five or six games.”