Michigan State vs. Mississippi State in March Madness: How to watch, what to know
LANSING — Michigan State’s men’s basketball team is making its 26th straight appearance in the NCAA tournament, a current streak the Spartans hold alone. Tom Izzo's team plays the other MSU, Mississippi State University, in the first round.
Here’s what you need to know:
Who is Mississippi State? Mississippi State is making its second straight appearance in the tournament under second-year coach Chris Jans. The Bulldogs, who wear maroon and white, are one of eight Southeastern Conference teams to make it the Big Dance, including SEC regular-season champion Tennessee and SEC tournament winner Auburn, as well as Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, South Carolina and Texas A&M.
Who is Chris Jans? The coach who has led the Bulldogs to consecutive 21-win seasons most recently coached at New Mexico State, after an earlier stop at MAC school Bowling Green. He got his start in the lower NCAA ranks, with stints at NCAA Division III Elmhurst College and NAIA Grande View College in the 1990s. He also has been an assistant coach at Idaho and Illinois State. He was a three-year starter at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa from 1987-91.
What is the other MSU known for? Like Michigan State, Mississippi State is an agricultural school. It is among the top 100 research universities as recognized by the National Science Foundation and boasts that "one in three of today’s on-air broadcast meteorologists in the U.S. is a graduate of MSU’s nationally recognized meteorology program."
Who is Mississippi's State's most famous player? The Bulldogs don't have the NBA pedigree of the Spartans, but have had more than 20 players in the school's history drafted. The most well-known is likely guard Jeff Malone, who was drafted as the 10th pick in the first round in the 1983 draft and played for several NBA teams. The most recent players drafted, in 2020, are guard Robert Woodward II, taken in the second round that year by the Memphis Grizzlies, and forward Reginald Perry, also a second-round pick taken by the Los Angels Lakers.
Who has the better record? Mississippi State has more wins, at 21-13 overall and 8-10 in the Southeastern Conference. The Spartans have compiled a 19-14 overall record, and finished 10-10 in the Big Ten.
When is the game? Tipoff is set for 12:15 p.m. on Thursday
Where is the game being held? The Spartans have the first game in their West Region site at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. The indoor arena owned by the City of Charlotte is the home of the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets.
How can I watch? The game will be televised by CBS. For Lansing-area fans, they can see the game on WLNS-TV 6. Viewers in the Flint area can see the game on WNEM-TV 5 and in the Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo areas, on WWMT 3.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Michigan State vs. Mississippi State in March Madness: How to watch
