No. 9 Michigan State and No. 8 Mississippi State will kick off arguably the best day of the college basketball season when they meet in a first-round matchup on Thursday afternoon.
The Bulldogs played their way off the bubble and into the field with a convincing showing in the SEC Tournament. Behind a bruising, physical style, Mississippi State wrecked Tennessee, the SEC's No. 1 seed, to essentially punch its ticket to the NCAA Tournament.
Now, Chris Jans' team eyes more havoc. The Bulldogs are led by freshman sensation Josh Hubbard (17.1 points per game) and veteran big man Tolu Smith (15.2 points, 8.4 rebounds per game), all while touting a top-20 defense, according to KenPom's adjusted defensive efficiency.
Tom Izzo, though, is sure to have his Spartans ready for battle. Few coaches are more synonymous with March success than Izzo, who has Michigan State dancing for the 26th consecutive tournament.
It wasn't an easy year for the Spartans, who began the 2023-24 campaign as the No. 4 team in the AP poll. They slogged through the season, entering the NCAA Tournament with a 19-14 record.
But Izzo has pulled a rabbit out of his hat before, and much of the nucleus from last year's Sweet 16 team remains. That includes fifth-year guard Tyson Walker, who averages 18.2 points per game.
Here is a complete guide to watching Michigan State vs. Mississippi State, including the start time, TV schedule and live stream information for the 2024 NCAA Tournament game.
What channel is Michigan State vs. Mississippi State on today?
- TV channel: CBS
- Live stream: Paramount+, Fubo
No. 9 Michigan State vs. No. 8 Mississippi State will air live on CBS and be featured as the first game in the Round of 64 on Thursday afternoon. Brian Anderson (play-by-play), Jim Jackson (color analyst) and Allie LaForce (sideline reporter) will have the call.
Fans looking to stream Michigan State vs. Mississippi State have options. Paramount+ will stream the NCAA Tournament game and is currently offering a free trial.
Fubo also covers games on CBS. It has a free trial, so you can try before you buy.
Michigan State vs. Mississippi State start time
- Date: Thursday, March 21
- Time: 12:15 p.m. ET
The NCAA Tournament game between Michigan State and Mississippi State is set to tip off at 12:15 p.m. ET from the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C.
Izzo has the Spartans dancing for the 26th consecutive NCAA Tournament, acknowledged by the NCAA as the longest active streak of all Division I schools. (Kansas' 2018 appearance was later vacated, nullifying what would be a 34-year streak.) Michigan State advanced to the Sweet 16 as a No. 7 seed last year, ultimately falling in overtime to Kansas State.
Jans has taken Mississippi State to the NCAA Tournament twice in as many tries as head coach of the Bulldogs. They surely hope for more success than last year, when they were bounced in the First Four by Pittsburgh.
Michigan State vs. Mississippi State tickets
- Tickets: StubHub
Tickets to the 2024 NCAA men's basketball tournament are still available on StubHub. For a complete seating chart for all of the games, check out the link below.
BUY NOW: Get NCAA Tournament tickets now on StubHub
March Madness schedule 2024
Here is the full schedule for the 2024 NCAA men's basketball tournament:
| Round | Date |
| Round 1 | March 21-22 |
| Round 2 | March 23-24 |
| Sweet 16 | March 28-29 |
| Elite Eight | March 30-31 |
| Final Four | April 6 |
| National championship | April 8 |
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