Mississippi State basketball: Chris Jans reflects on coaching in SEC

The SEC used to be pretty mediocre with college basketball, but it seems like that’s changing. Chris Jans is definitely aware of that.

As he is getting prepped for his second year of coaching the Mississippi State men’s basketball team, Miss. State basketball coach Chris Jans is pretty aware of how the SEC has changed. Much of the conference used to look at basketball as something of an afterthought.

It looks like that’s changing steadily. And while that’s great for Mississippi State basketball fans, Jans certainly knows that makes his job a bit more difficult. There’s now way MSU’s head coach doesn’t know that his team will face stiff competition night in and night out.

But it seems like the Bulldogs’ head coach wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Yeah, it’s awesome. I didn’t know what to expect,” Jans admitted, according to ASAP Sports’ transcript of SEC Media Days. “I’d never been in a Power Five in 31 years of coaching college basketball. I didn’t know. I didn’t know what it was going to feel like. I had an idea, but until you go through something and gain that experience, you just don’t know.:

Mississippi State basketball’s Chris Jans chats about how the SEC continues to get tougher

The Bulldogs are looking to continue building their program under Jans and while it seems like the Bulldogs are moving in the right direction, they aren’t the only SEC basketball team aiming for greatness.

Jans quickly learned just how passionate SEC fans are about basketball and how meaningful each game can be.

“It just means so much to so many. Every given night you’re playing against quality players,” Jans stated. “The staff that you’re trying to compete against is of the highest quality that there is in college basketball.”

There’s an obvious challenge that comes with that sort of territory. But Jans led the Bulldogs to the NCAA Tournament during his first season, so there’s a sort of pride there for the Mississippi State men’s basketball program.

Still, Jans and everyone associated with MSU almost certainly knows there’s room for growth from the Bulldogs.

“We’re certainly not where we want to be. But with the recent additions, if we can hold this thing together until we get back healthy and win enough games until that point, I think I’m going to like our basketball team,” Jans said.”

Here’s to hoping that’s the case.