In what felt like an NCAA Tournament environment, Mississippi State welcomed Kentucky to the Hump for an explosive night of Southeastern Conference. Everything was perfect for Mississippi State to have a memorable night in year two of the Chris Jans era; however, unable to finish the job, the Bulldogs again were left wondering what happened. Mississippi State played nearly the perfect game with an almost ideal game plan to stop John Calipari and the Kentucky Wildcats on Tuesday night. However, Mississippi State didn’t have enough in the tank as Reed Sheppard buried a mid-range jumper at the buzzer for the Kentucky Wildcats.

After the game, Mississippi State took to social media to ask what was next for the Bulldogs. Will Mississippi State Basketball overcome the Hump and finish the 2023-2024 season with the level of success that Mississippi State fans expect from the basketball program, or will the Bulldogs finish like they did last season in disappointment with an early exit in the NCAA Tournament?

Although it might not seem like it after a heartbreaking loss on Tuesday night, Mississippi State showed they can win several games in the most challenging conference in America—all it takes to win two games in a row to reach the Southeastern Conference Tournament Final Four. Reaching the Final Four in the NCAA Tournament takes four wins; before losing to Kentucky on Tuesday night, the Bulldogs won five games in a row over solid Southeastern Conference opponents. Mississippi State also beat Auburn and Tennessee this season, two top-ten teams with legitimate chances of winning the National Championship.

From a talent perspective, Mississippi State has those guys on the roster that can take the Bulldogs to the next level as March rolls around. Between Tolu Smith, Josh Hubbard, Shakeel Moore, Cameron Matthews, and Trey Fort when he’s healthy, the Bulldogs have enough offensive firepower to score. Against Kentucky on Tuesday night, Josh Hubbard finished with 34 points, while Tolu Smith finished with 21 points.

On the defensive side of the court, Head Coach Chris Jans has turned Mississippi State into a defensive juggernaut, giving opponents nightmares. When facing Mississippi State, opponents know the Bulldogs will force uncomfortable situations while creating scoring chances on the other end of the court for the Bulldogs.

Who knows what will happen once March rolls around? However, Mississippi State has the pieces to make a remarkable run in the Southeastern Conference Tournament in Nashville before turning the magic to March Madness.

Mississippi State will return to action on Saturday afternoon as the Bulldogs travel to the Plains to take on the Auburn Tigers.