Chris Jans says he will remember buy-in from 2022-23 Mississippi State players

Mississippi State players saw their season come to an end on Wednesday night in a play-in game in the NCAA Tournament, with Pittsburgh besting Mississippi State 60-59 to reach the first round instead.

Coach Chris Jans was already proud of his team, as he had reiterated to his players before the game against Pitt even started.

“I told them when we made the tournament in our locker room, congratulations, how proud I was of them,” Jans said. “The last thing I told them before we took the floor is congratulations, you’re in March Madness. You’re where every college basketball player yearns to be, and you’ve got a wonderful stage to show everybody what you stand for, both for the front of your jersey and for your back.”

The journey in March Madness ended prematurely, as Pitt came out on top in a game that had plenty of back and forth. And if you picked up the stat sheet, you might have been shocked to see the Panthers come out on top.

The Bulldogs did a whole lot right, including posting a massive rebounding advantage.

“Certainly we’re extremely disappointed with the outcome, but those kids, when you outrebound someone 49-28, usually you’d expect to win,” Jans said. “But you’ve got to give Pitt a lot of credit. They played obviously well enough to win. We just struggled in the first half to guard them. We just couldn’t contain it. They were 8 for 13 from three, and it was still a one-point game, and we had eight turnovers and they had two.

“Then in the second half, I think we got up maybe two or three was the most we ever got up. And same for them, I think, for quite a while until with three minutes left, it was six. And then our guys went on a run and put themselves in position to win the game, and it was back and forth.”

Still, Mississippi State players can say some things other tournament hopefuls could not.

With everything on the line in the SEC Tournament, almost certainly needing at least one win to reach the Big Dance, the Bulldogs found a way to come up with just that, knocking off Florida 69-68.

The team won some close games throughout the year, and it was competitive in many of its losses throughout the year.

Jans, for one, will remember his first set of Mississippi State players fondly.

“I’ll always remember this group, for their belief, for their buy-in, for their coachability,” he said. “I’ve told them that many times throughout the year. I reiterated it in the locker room just now because it’ll be my first group at Mississippi State.

“We’re proud of our accomplishments this year. Certainly we want more. … But it’s not meant to be.”