Bulldog veterans Josh Hubbard, Shawn Jones embracing leadership duties

In previous years under head coach Chris Jans, Mississippi State has featured solid leadership on and off the court. Entering Wednesday’s season opener against North Alabama (8 p.m. tipoff, SEC Network), that responsibility has fallen on the shoulders of junior guard Josh Hubbard and senior Shawn Jones.

Hubbard has been accustomed to a leadership role while Jones is adding more leadership to his daily duties. Jones is also the first four-year player in the Jans’ era.

Recently, both met with the media to discuss their leadership and shared their thoughts on this year’s roster:

Q: What are your thoughts on the fit of this new transfer class?
Hubbard: I feel like they’ve gelled tremendously. Jans’ teams, obviously, every year has talent. But this year’s, specifically, I feel like the bond on and off the court is a little bit different as far as the togetherness and that can go a long way. I’m just excited for the people that he’s got because we sacrifice a lot for each other. So that just goes a long way.

Q: What did you see from the new guys last Sunday against a really good Houston team?
Jones: Just a team that’s got fight in them. They don’t give up and that’s something all our teams have had. It is good to see we got that back, a team that fights and keeps going. We got a long way to go but we will figure it out.

Q: In that exhibition game, what was going wrong, offensively, in the first half and what changed in second half?
Hubbard: Houston really did a great job in the first half being disruptive. Really just making it hard for us to catch every pass, every shot. As the game went on we got more comfortable and the second half we got on that run. We just figured it out, offensively, with what we did to adjust to get a few buckets.

Q: Going back to the summer when you were at the CP3 camp, what was the process was that and what did you learn?
Hubbard: It was fun. There were a lot of the top collegiate point guards there, top forwards, as well. But it was fun and I learned a whole lot on and off the court just hearing a lot of the NBA guys speak on their life. Chris Paul was there, Jayson Tatum, and so they all had different backgrounds and grew up differently. So just hearing their stories, playing against them, was just a life-changing experience for me.

Q: Shawn, what did you focus on with your offensive game coming into this year?
Jones: Just better handles, a better shot and just making the right decisions, try to limit turnovers and make the right decisions. Just be the best offensive player to get my teammates involved as I can.

Q: What was your focus, Josh, on offense this offseason?
Hubbard: I would say, like Shawn, knowing when as in game decisions. It’s always, as a player for anybody in college basketball or in the pros, is to improve your numbers. I think that is the main thing. Just being more confident in shots around the perimeter, inside. Anything that fits your game, just improving from the previous year so you can be a complete player.

Q: Josh, how has King Grace been like to have around in the locker room?
Hubbard: He’s definitely fun, entertaining, energetic, for sure. He brings that positive vibe to the team and that is definitely something we need. He’s crazy. He makes the team lively so it’s always good to have a person like that on your team.

Q: Shawn, you are the only player that has been here for all of Chris Jans’ seasons. What’s your relationship like with him?
Jones: He trusts me and believes in me. He’s just a fun coach to play with. He knows how to get the best out of you and he prepares you for more than just basketball. He prepares you for life after basketball. Just taking things he knows about the game and just trying to learn them the best that I can. That is what I’ve been taking from him lately.

Q: Josh, you have set a lot of records here and have more you can break in the future. What does that mean to you as far as turning those things into wins on the court?
Hubbard: It is definitely a blessing. Those records are not really something I am focused on. I think it just comes along with the journey. I think a lot of players would say that. They are just focused on putting their team in each game in the best position and as for me as a leader, to put the team in position to win every night. I think that’s something that has been my main focus. I am grateful for all the records, grateful to have that pace. It is something I’ve strived for, something I’ve worked for. But just focused on the team right now and creating something that can be special.

Q: With the way Sergej Macura moves on the court, he seems like a different type of guy?
Jones: Yeah, Sergej is a different type of guy. He is one of the most athletic guys we have on our team. High-flyer and he does a lot of things you don’t see on the daily. It’s fun playing with him. You throw it up to him at times and you know he is going to make a play. He knows how to make plays for himself.