Balanced scoring adding to higher expectations for Mississippi State

Once again, Mississippi State is off to another strong non-conference start under second-year head coach Chris Jans. On Friday the Bulldogs moved to 6-0 on the season following a 74-61 victory over Nicholls at Humphrey Coliseum.

A year ago the Bulldogs bolted to an 11-0 start and moved into the Top 20 with that explosive start in Jans’ debut season. But this year, the expectations are higher and the Bulldogs are having success in a different manner.

“As you guys saw last year, we had lapses on offense,” senior Cameron Matthews noted. “But we still hang our hats on defense. Just keeping that mindset, having that offense click is just going to make us a better team.”

Matthews had 12 points in Friday’s win while Josh Hubbard had 15. Jimmy Bell was solid again with 11 points and 10 boards, his second double-double as a Bulldog.

The scoring is more balanced and the depth is better. Yes, there have been individual scoring outbursts this year so far, including Trey Fort’s 21 points in the season opener and Hubbard’s 29 points last weekend against Northwestern. But for the most part, it’s been a balanced effort.

“You never know how it will unfold but I enjoy having balanced scoring,” Mississippi State head coach Chris Jans said. “Obviously, I am not trying to hold anyone down but at the same time, it makes it so difficult to prepare against from a defensive scouting perspective. There’s multiple guys that can have big nights and you are not relying on one thing over and over to carry you, offensively. Last year we had some of that with Tolu (Smith) having to carry the load.

“We’ve had some guys have some big games but they’ve been different. I think you will still see that going forward. But so far, so good.”

Along with Bell, the Bulldogs have also received surprising results from freshman center Gai Chol. He has been solid in a backup role this season and had five points and three rebounds against Nicholls. Originally, Chol was expected to redshirt this season but those plans changed when all-SEC center Tolu Smith was injured in the preseason.

“Obviously when they told me that, I had to change my mindset and help and do whatever I have to do to help the team,” Chol said. “That is what I am doing. I am playing hard and cheering on others when I am on the bench.”

Chol is also benefitting from a veteran Bulldog roster that he is able to depend on for advice in his first year of college basketball.

“They have helped me a lot, obviously, with the way I am playing,” added Chol. “They are always good to me and telling me what to do, to speak louder and to play harder, which is what I am expected to do.”

Don’t look now but the No. 25 Bulldogs are also getting healthier on the roster. Forward Jaquan Scott returned to action Friday for his first appearance in three games. While Smith is still sidelined, forward KeShawn Murphy made his season debut Friday and had six points and two boards in 10 minutes against Nicholls.

“I am really happy for my guy,” said Matthews of Murphy. “He’s been through a lot, a lot of ups and downs. It makes me smile internally seeing him out there having fun again.”

Yes, the offensive improvements have been a welcomed sight for the Bulldogs, who struggled mightily on that end of the court last year. But with Jans, playing solid defense remains the top key.

“Just going with what we do best,” said Matthews, who also had seven rebounds, three assists and three steals. “Being tough and it starts with defense. When we get our defense into the game it also gets our athleticism into the game.

“Just having the same core back and building on the success we had last year. That is where, I am guessing, those (expectations) come from.”

Just having higher expectations this year was also welcomed by Jans and company. This group of Bulldogs expect success this year and are not surprised by the early success. It is a long season, however, and State will have plenty of opportunities to prove its worth as the SEC schedule creeps closer.

“A lot of the talk came before the injuries,” said Jans. “There was a lot of talk about the polls and this and that. We’ve had more people coming to the gym to see our team with different networks and analysts than we had before. Then it kind of went away for awhile and we tried to use that to our advantage.

“But in terms of rankings and that stuff, we haven’t talked about it one time since that came out. Don’t get me wrong, I am glad we are being acknowledged and it is great for the program in a lot of different areas. But at the end of the day we’ve got a lot of basketball yet to be played.”