Mississippi State got a needed boost this week with Josh Hubbard trending toward a return for Friday’s exhibition against Memphis.
Head coach Chris Jans said Tuesday that the preseason All-SEC guard is moving in the right direction after missing Sunday’s game against NC State with a head injury. Hubbard was back in practice Monday, and Jans said the hope is that he’ll be ready to go against Memphis.
"He's got a head injury but he's progressing back," Jans said. "He practiced non-contact yesterday, so at some point this week he'll be back full go. And the expectation is that he will play on Friday."
That would be a welcome development for a Bulldogs team that has leaned heavily on Hubbard’s scoring and playmaking. He has already missed both of Mississippi State’s exhibition games, including the 77-73 loss to NC State, where his absence was felt in the team’s offensive rhythm and perimeter production.
Mississippi State stayed close in that game but couldn’t finish the job, undone by several late mistakes and a cold night from deep. The Bulldogs shot just 5-of-23 from three-point range, a number that showed how much they missed Hubbard’s ability to stretch a defense and create offense when things bog down.
Transfer guard TJ Simpkins offered a bright spot anyway, scoring 20 points despite going 0-of-6 from beyond the arc. His showing gave the Bulldogs another look at a backcourt option who can carry some scoring load as the rotation settles in.
Hubbard’s return would change the equation quickly. The Bulldogs need a proven shot-maker who can lift the offense, and his presence alongside Simpkins could give Mississippi State more flexibility in the backcourt.
Hubbard was in Birmingham last week for SEC Basketball Media Days, but he was unavailable for the NC State exhibition. Now, the expectation is that he’ll be back on the floor Friday, though Jans stopped short of calling it certain.
For Mississippi State, that’s still an encouraging sign as the regular season draws closer.
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