The first three seasons for Chris Jans at Mississippi State have told an eerily similar story. The Bulldogs have won 21 games, finished 8-10 for 9th place in the SEC, and appeared in the NCAA Tournament in each of those three years. Consistency is great for a program that hasn’t exactly been swimming in trips to the Big Dance in recent years, but can Jans and his team keep competing in this very strong conference?
That road ahead doesn’t get easier after much of the roster left via graduation or transfer, but it’s far from doom and gloom in Starkville. Top scorer Josh Hubbard put up nearly 19 points per game as a sophomore and he’s back for another season with the Bulldogs. Every other starter and most of the notable role players are gone, with Mississippi State needing to replace the production of Claudell Harris, Riley Kugel, KeShawn Murphy, and several others.
Several freshmen join what became a five-person transfer class for the Bulldogs in what will be a new-look rotation. The Bulldogs landed Achor Achor, a former Samford star forward who comes from his time at Kansas State, while also notching 6-11 center Quincy Ballard out of Wichita State. Ja’Borri McGhee heads over from UAB and will get time at the point while Amier Ali could get significant run after his recent work at Arizona State.
None of these additions will be as important for the Bulldogs as that of 6-2 guard Jayden Epps. A former Top 100 prospect some three years ago, the Virginia native put up solid numbers as a freshman at Illinois before spending the last two seasons with Georgetown. He was somewhat limited last season, averaging 12.8 points per game as a junior, though that potential was there when he put up 18.5 points a night in his first year with the Hoyas.
Hubbard is the star of the show at Mississippi State but it’s all setting up for Epps to be just as important to this team. He’s a high-volume scorer whose numbers took a little last season, though his 3-point shooting was a bit more efficient. While he might not have the same volume of opportunity with the Bulldogs, Epps is someone they’ll need to give them 15 points a night and consistent play if this team is going to head back to the Big Dance again.
While questions exist further down the roster, Mississippi State’s immediate future rests on the shoulders of Hubbard and Epps in the backcourt. These two upperclassmen both have a chance to put this team on their backs. The fans in Starkville already know what Hubbard can do on the basketball court, we’re all just hoping that Epps is healthy and at his best because he has a chance for a really special senior season.