Kentucky left the Dentist’s office with a glowing report and a smile

Nicknamed “The Dentist,” Mississippi State head coach Chris Jans coaches the Bulldogs to play great defense. Playing against Mississippi State is “like a root canal without novocaine,” Jon Rothstein coined, backed by State’s record of routinely holding teams under 70 points.

Since Jans got the job, the Bulldogs held opponents to less than 70 points in 59 of 85 games, with a 48-11 record in those 59 games. Mississippi State allows 66.6 points per game in 2024-25.

On Saturday, Kentucky left the dentist’s office with a glowing report and a pearly white smile, carrying a free toothbrush, travel-sized toothpaste, and floss, and a five-point win over the Dentist’s 14th-ranked Canines. The chart shows Kentucky gave State a filling of 3-pointers, drilling 16 of 32 from deep. Crown Jaxson Robinson with the MVP plaque for his career night; he couldn’t be guarded. Ansley Almonor also helped build up Kentucky’s final lead with his precision, a season-high three 3s, plus a steady hand from Lamont Butler, who had eight assists and zero turnovers as the Cats showed their teeth late, polishing off the shooting clinic with a first-quadrant win.

Ok, enough with all the corny dental puns and references. Forgive me. It’s late.

“Almost unheard of”

Jon Sundvold said on the game broadcast that 95 points against Chris Jans is “almost unheard of.” Statistically, it was the most points scored against Mississippi State since the 2016-17 season (prior to Jans’ arrival), the most points Kentucky ever scored in The Hump, and only the second time this season that State had given up 80 or more in a game.

Kentucky’s 16 made 3s were the second most in a game this season and the most ever in a game against Mississippi State. The Wildcats also crossed Mark Pope’s target of 30 attempts from outside, connecting on 50 percent of 3-point tries for only the second time this year.

Jans spoke highly of Kentucky’s shooting, namely Robinson and Almonor, after the game. He called them the difference-makers, saying, “Jaxson Robinson just really got it going. It was almost like he knew every shot was going in. He was in one of those zones.” Jans noted Almonor’s “big shots” and “timely 3s,” as well as Brandon Garrison’s second-half 3, only the fourth of Garrison’s college career.

The Bulldogs watched seven different Wildcats hit a 3, led by Robinson with seven of them. Robinson said afterward, “We came in here like some dogs and did what we needed to do.”

Looking ahead, Kentucky and Mississippi State don’t have a follow-up appointment on this year’s schedule (sorry, I couldn’t help myself), so Saturday’s check-up in Starkville is the only time Kentucky will see the Dentist in the regular season.

Up next is another top-10 opponent and a top-25 defense in Texas A&M, allowing only 65.38 points per game. There will be a Buzz in Lexington for that one.