1 on 1 with Mississippi State assistant coach Patrice Days

Since arriving at Mississippi State nearly three years ago, Patrice Days is currently in his first season as an assistant coach for head coach Chris Jans and the Bulldogs’ program. Days spent his first two seasons under Jans as the director of recruiting before being promoted to assistant coach this past offseason.

Days has been an integral part of Mississippi State’s success on the recruiting scene along with the transfer portal. On Monday, Maroon and White Daily talked with Days about his current role and other aspects of the program:

Q: So how’s your first season as a Mississippi State assistant? How different is it from your first two seasons here?
Days: So far, so good. Difference-wise, it’s just being on the floor, being more active and being more vocal and hands-on. It has allowed the guys to see me in a different role and it’s been good and it’s been fun.

Q: Obviously, the team is coming off a big road win at Ole Miss. Was there something leading up to that game where you thought it was going to click well?
Days: Being relentlessly optimistic (laughing). I just knew we were going to win that game. I think we had really good days of prepping and already had confident in playing them before. I think we were a lot hungrier than they were, just by the look of our team. Sometimes you just know. I just had that gut feeling about it.

Q: You signed a Top 20 recruiting class back in November and it also ranks in the upper half of the SEC. With the success this program had the previous two years, how much did that help in recruiting?
Days: It’s been good. It is a lot easier to recruit now. Obviously, we recruit all over and we do a good job of taking care of home, for the most part, and getting guys close to home. But national-wise, we got more kids looking at us and looking at us in a different light. They look at us now just like anyone else and it’s a chance to play in the SEC, the best league in the country, and with the best coaches in the country. We have one of the best coaches in the country, too. So it has helped us out a bunch.

Q: When I talk to recruits, a lot of guys mention Josh Hubbard. How much has his success here aided those recruiting efforts with guards?
Days: A lot because a lot of guys want to be Josh Hubbard. It’s helps the way he talks about (Chris) Jans and the way he talks about the staff, the community and the culture that has been built, it has helped us out a lot. We’ve been fortunate and blessed to be involved with some pretty good guards.

Q: There’s a lot left to play for this season and a lot of season left. But looking ahead, what are the main needs in the transfer portal after the season?
Days: Older, more depth, more physical guys. From a roster standpoint you can look at it and say we need this, we need that. But we need guys that are willing to play Bulldog Basketball. I think the culture is to defend and we need guys that are tough and committed to playing on the defensive side of the ball. That is what we need to focus on.

Q: In a league so strong as the SEC, there’s always going to be peaks and valleys for every team. How hard is it to keep guys mentally prepared to bounce back from the losses and to stay even-keel after the wins?
Days: I would say out of all the places I’ve been and being here now, I think it starts from the top. Having a guy like Chris Jans, who is relentless and tough-minded, and I say it a lot, just move on to the next play. I think when you have a leader like that and everybody is on the same page and you have a staff that is connected like that, it is a lot easier to get off that mat. It’s a marathon takes it easy to get past it.

Q: Since he is redshirting, we haven’t been able to see freshman Eric Paymon this year. How he is coming along?
Days: He’s good. He is doing individuals and workouts and things like that. He is coming along for a guy that missed some parts of the summer. For him being a little bit behind as far as the system goes, he still brings it every day. When we do certain workouts, he gives us 110% every time. Like I told him, it is a marathon and it takes time. But he is coming along pretty good.