Here are three things Jackson State men's basketball program needs to do to get better

Jackson State men’s basketball coach Mo Williams had a promising first season. It took the team a while to learn his system and to fight through the adversity of playing a schedule loaded with Power Five opponents and playing its first 14 games on the road.

The team rebounded after losing its first six games, knocked off SMU 69-68 and finished the season on a roll winning its last five games before its season ending loss to Grambling.

Jackson State finished with a 14-19 record, including 12-6 and in third place in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

Williams has a lot to build upon with virtually everyone coming back. The Tigers lose seniors Trace Young and Jamarcus Jones.

JSU should be odds-on favorite to win the SWAC title. In order to do that, Williams has some work to do. Here are three things the Tigers must do to win the SWAC regular-season and tournament titles.

MO WILLIAMS AND SON HAVING FUN TOGETHERJackson State's father and son coaching duo having the time of their lives in tournament win

JSU FALLS TO GRAMBLING IN SWAC SEMIFINALJackson State men's basketball falls in SWAC tournament semifinals to Grambling State

More:Jackson State men's basketball hopes late-season wins result in March Madness bid in SWAC tournament

Find some zone busters

In the SWAC tournament semifinal game against Grambling, Jackson State had a 14-point lead early in the first half. Grambling went to a zone defense against JSU, and it changed the pace of the game. Jackson State went cold from the field and lost 78-69.

JSU is going to have to recruit players who can improve the Tigers' 3-point shooting.

“We definitely have to find some 3-point shooters,” Williams said after the Grambling game. “Grambling went to the zone and we had trouble scoring after that.”

Add players who can create their own shot

Jackson State needs players who can penetrate the lane and give an assist or score at the rim. JSU needs to find players who can create their own shot in crunch time with the clock winding down, or pull up from the 3-point line. Right now there is no such threat, and opponents are defending the Tigers with that scouting report in hand.

Down the stretch of the season, the Tigers appeared to have a go-to player who could get them a bucket with the game on the line.

JSU returns guards Chase Adams, Ken Evans Jr. and Coltie Young, but all three players need to be more consistent. They're all young in playing time and could develop into key players -- perhaps All-SWAC caliber -- if they put in the work and get better.

Depth and scoring with bigs

If the 6-foot-9 Romelle Mansel continues to work on his offensive game, look out. He has the potential to be a nightmare for the rest of the SWAC. Mansel is an intimidating shot blocker, but he has to learn to continue to play hard and keep his emotions under control to stay out of foul trouble.

Zeke Cook came on in the tournament and played his best basketball on the biggest stage, which says a lot about him and his game.

Williams is going to have to find at least a plausible inside scoring threat or teams are going to continue to pack the paint. The one thing this team has done under Williams is play hard on defense and not quit.

Williams laid the foundation and has changed the culture, and the five-game winning is evidence.

“I am proud of my team,” Williams said after JSU was eliminated from the SWAC tournament. “They played hard and that is all I can ask. I love this team.”

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: 3 things Jackson State basketball must do to improve in 2023-24 season