Arizona State Basketball is back. They face Mississippi State at the Barstool Sports Invitational in Chicago for the first game of the 2023-24 year. Here is everything you need to know about Miss State
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It’s finally OPENING NIGHT 😎 pic.twitter.com/EopQSJrlTa
— Sun Devil MBB (@SunDevilHoops) November 9, 2023
Miss State was a bubble team last year, just like Arizona State. They were both 11 seeds and played in Dayton. Mississippi State lost their Girst Four game, while ASU beat Nevada in theirs. Shakeel Moore missed a wide-open three versus Pitt to send them into the tournament, but it missed. They went 21-13 and 8-10 in conference play last year.
this was a BEAUTIFUL BLOB by Mississippi State wow. Shakeel Moore was wide open in the corner because his defender pinched down to help on the lob. Pitt hangs on. THIS IS MARCH. pic.twitter.com/HisOEwZQxV
— J r u e (@thatl0calguy) March 15, 2023
Chris Jans, Mississippi State’s Head Coach, has done an amazing job with the program. Last year’s tournament run was his first season as head coach. Jans led the Maroon and White to 11 consecutive wins to start the season, including a win over Big East Champion Marquette. This put MSU as high as #15 in the top 25. What he did in the first season was a program record, and he joined elite company like John Calipari as one of only three coaches to win their first 11 games.
This year, Mississippi State didn’t lose anyone to the transfer portal. They lost Freshman Kimani Hamilton, but he barely played last year. However, they added Marshall PG Andrew Taylor and West Virginia Center Jimmy Bell. Taylor averaged nearly 20 PPG last year for the Thundering Herd. The big thing is the Bulldogs are returning almost everyone. They nearly lead the country in points returned with 80%. Five players still with the Bulldogs combined for 85% of the teams started last year.
Marshall transfer Andrew Taylor tells me that he has committed to Mississippi State.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) May 14, 2023
However, Shakeel Moore will not be playing tonight due to a team rule violation, which is a big loss for Miss. State.
Looking at Kenpom rankings. Mississippi State is ranked 31st in Kenpom, while ASU is ranked 78th. So, Kenpom says Miss. State should win. They are a top 10 defensive team while being top 35 in offense. Arizona State doesn’t make the top 55 in either category.
It will be a very good game. The issue for the Sun Devils is continuity. ASU has almost 11 newcomers and barely returns anyone, while Mississippi State returns almost everyone. Do the Sun Devils need time to figure out their holes? If they do, this will probably result in a loss. Miss State has won 9 of their last 10 season openers. This game will be a very early tell of what type of team this is and what they can do.
Arizona State Basketball 2024 Recruiting Class Ranking Approaches Top 10
