What channel is Michigan State basketball vs. Minnesota on today? Time, TV schedule for Spartans-Gophers

Though the 2024 NCAA Tournament doesn’t officially kick off for another five days with the start of the First Four in Dayton, Ohio, the madness of March is officially here with conference tournaments underway or, in some cases, already complete.

For Michigan State, that journey begins Thursday with a matchup against Minnesota in the second round of the 2024 Big Ten Tournament at the Target Center in Minneapolis.

More: Watch Michigan State vs. Minnesota live on Fubo (free trial)

The winner of that contest will advance to face No. 1 seed Purdue — the No. 3 team in the latest USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll — in the tournament quarterfinals Friday.

While the Spartans are still relatively comfortably in the NCAA Tournament field, their recent struggles have placed them in a more precarious position than they were two weeks ago. Michigan State wrapped up its 2023-24 regular season by losing four of its final five games, dropping it to 18-13 overall and 10-10 in the Big Ten. While its metrics are still strong — 24^th in the NET rankings and 19^th on KenPom, as of Wednesday afternoon — its tournament resume has gotten flimsier as its loss total has risen. ESPN’s Joe Lunardi has the Spartans as one of his final eight teams in the NCAA Tournament field.

REQUIRED READING: Michigan and MSU basketball used to rule Big Ten tourney. Now they have something to prove

Thursday will be their third meeting this season against Minnesota, with which they split the regular-season series. Michigan State won 76-66 at home on Jan. 18 before losing 59-56 on Feb. 6 in Minneapolis. The Golden Gophers, who are also 18-13, finished a game behind the Spartans in the Big Ten standings and went 3-6 in their final nine games.

Here's everything you need to know about the game, including time, date, TV and streaming info, and more:

What channel is Michigan State vs. Minnesota on today?

• TV channel: Big Ten Network

• Stream: Fox Sports app, Fubo (free trial)

The Spartans and Golden Gophers will face off in a nationally televised game on the Big Ten Network. Brandon Gaudin (play-by-play) and Stephen Bardo (analyst) will be on the call while Rick Pizzo will serve as the sideline reporter.

Streaming options for the game include the Fox Sports app, as well as Fubo, which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.

Michigan State vs. Minnesota start time

• Date: Thursday, March 14

• Time: Noon ET

Michigan State and Minnesota will tip off at noon ET from the Target Center in Minneapolis.

As the first game of the day, it shouldn’t be impacted by the delays that typically push back the start of other conference tournament games from their originally scheduled start times when preceding games run long.

REQUIRED READING: Michigan State basketball embraces pressure of Big Ten tournament with NCAAs on the line

Michigan State basketball schedule 2023-24

For Michigan State’s full 2023-24 schedule, click here

Minnesota basketball schedule 2023-24

For Minnesota’s full 2023-24 schedule, click here

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan State-Minnesota basketball channel, time, TV schedule, streaming info