Shakeel Moore's return to the starting five is yielding results
Since being reinserted into the starting five for the first time this season in Saturday’s game against Tulane, Mississippi State basketball guard Shakeel Moore has had his two best offensive games of the season.
His efforts were incapsulated in Wednesday night’s narrow 85-81 victory over the Murray State racers where he had a team-high 16 points, one board and a pair of assists in only 22 minutes. 14 of those points came in the first half.
Moore’s resurgence and hot starts have been a necessary shot in the arm for a Mississippi State team that has stretches throughout games where scoring is at a premium, and head coach Chris Jans knows it.
“It’s a big shot in the arm for us when he can make some baskets,” said Jans after the team’s win over Murray State. “He’s usually one of our better defenders.”
The starting opportunity for Moore comes after he missed the first two games of the season, but since his return, each game has seen Moore take strides towards meshing with some of his new Bulldog teammates. Moore’s offensive game has taken strides as well, and Jans credits that to his work in the offseason.
“What he’s done better this year than last year is he’s found ways to cut behind the defense and get himself momentum towards the goal,” said Jans. “He’s an excellent finisher for his size. He’s a great athlete, and he really has a craft around the basket.”
When asked about his re-entering the starting five, Moore kept true to his work in the offseason and the skillset he’s best known for.
“I feel like I’m an all-around guy,” said Moore. “I play defense, I still have my strengths as far as defense, but I’ve learned to come with confidence as well. Just coming out there with confidence and being able to hit shots.”
For Mississippi State to prevent any more deja vu, Moore’s spark on offense will be a necessary crutch at times. Josh Hubbard is electric, and as Chris Jans has alluded to this week, the return of Tolu Smith is imminent, but there will come a time where someone else will have to score the rock, and Shakeel Moore hopes to be as safe a bet as any when that moment comes.
