Mississippi State men's basketball was looking to make its fourth straight NCAA tournament appearance this past season under head coach Chris Jans. The Bulldogs fell short of that mark, but the push is on to get back to the Big Dance next season, as they are working on recruiting the transfer portal to get the roster in as good a spot as possible. Still, Jans is not just probing the portal for players; instead, he is looking to improve his program all around, as sources indicate that the Bulldogs are expected to bring in Shunn Buchanan as an assistant coach.
Buchanan is familiar with the Magnolia State, as he is a native of Durant, Mississippi, and played his high school basketball career at Madison Central. He was even on the Dandy Dozen list as a senior, and he took the next step in his career by going the junior college route and inking with Northeast Mississippi. While he was there, he earned an All-MACJC First-Team selection and landed a spot at New Mexico State to play for Jans. He played for Jans for three straight seasons, and during that time, he appeared in 100 games and made 24 career starts.
He also saw a lot of success at New Mexico State, as they won three straight WAC regular-season championships and reached the NCAA Tournament in his final two seasons. After his playing days were over, he landed a coaching job at Navarro College, and while he was there, he worked heavily with the guards, helping lead the squad to a 17-13 record. After one season there, he went back to work with Jans but this time in his home state. He would be a graduate assistant at State for two seasons.
During those two seasons, the Bulldogs made it to the NCAA Tournament both years, and he played a role in the development of all-SEC big man Tolu Smith. After a pair of seasons in Starkville, he opted to head back to his alma mater and join the coaching staff. Buchanan made an impact in his two seasons on staff and was selected to attend the 4th Annual Silver Waves Media Rising Stars Power Lunch. It is a high honor to receive this invitation, as only 75 assistant coaches are invited to the event, and it serves as a way for young, promising coaches to make connections. The invite was obviously a smart one, as he has worked his way back to coaching in the SEC.
He is a Mississippi native and has worked alongside and played under Jans, so this hire just makes sense. He looks to get the Bulldogs back in March Madness after a brief hiatus.
Genespage.com has also confirmed that assistant coach Scott Padgett is no longer with the program. The former Kentucky player joined the Mississippi State staff back in 2022 and will now seek other opportunities.
