Hopefully, your brackets are filled out by now because March Madness is here and one team from Mississippi will soon be suiting up to represent the state on college basketball’s biggest stage.
Coming in as a No. 8 seed in the NCAA Tournament, Mississippi State will be facing off against No. 9 seed Michigan State in a battle of the “MSUs” to see who will likely take on top-seeded North Carolina barring an unexpected upset.
Mississippi State vs. Michigan State
The Bulldogs (21-13) are back in the Big Dance after being knocked out in the First Four round of the tournament in heartbreaking fashion a year ago. Led by second-year head coach Chris Jans, Mississippi State is seeking its first win in the NCAA Tournament since 2008. The team from Starkville will rely on its physical defense and rebounding prowess paired with the scoring abilities of freshman standout Josh Hubbard to break the glass ceiling.
𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭.
Let’s Dance.#HailState🐶 pic.twitter.com/308VzXVaZJ
— Mississippi State Men’s Basketball (@HailStateMBK) March 21, 2024
The task won’t be easy though as the Bulldogs will be met with one of the most legendary coaches in the game. Michigan State frontman Tom Izzo is entering his 26th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and has a national title as well as more than 700 career wins under his belt. No stranger to March Madness, the battle-tested Spartans (19-14) will trust the experience of their veterans to overcome a tough Mississippi State unit that plays aggressively for all 40 minutes.
How to watch
When: Thursday, March 21 at 11:15 a.m. CT
Where: Spectrum Center, Charlotte, N.C.
TV: CBS
Radio: SuperTalk Golden Triangle and the SuperTalk Mississippi App.
Players to watch:
- Josh Hubbard (Mississippi State guard) — 17.1 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per game
- Tolu Smith (Mississippi State center) — 15.2 points and 8.4 rebounds per game
- Cam Matthews (Mississippi State forward) — 9.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 2 steals per game
- Tyson Walker (Michigan State guard) — 18.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.8 steals per game
- A.J. Hoggard (Michigan State guard) — 11 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game
- Malik Hall (Michigan State forward) — 12.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game
