March Madness 2024: Michigan State-Mississippi State predictions
James Hawkins, Madeline Kenney, John Niyo, Tony Paul, and Bob Wojnowski of The Detroit News predict the outcome of Thursday’s NCAA Tournament game between Michigan State and Mississippi State in Charlotte, North Carolina (12:15 p.m., CBS/760).
▶ James Hawkins: The battle of MSUs has the makings of a defensive slugfest. Michigan State and Mississippi State both rank in the top 20 nationally in KenPom.com’s adjusted defensive efficiency, and both sides have shown they can win scoring in the 60s. That might be where this one ends up. Tolu Smith can cause problems for the Spartans’ frontcourt if he’s able to get going after an up-and-down stretch. But this is the time of the year when guard play reigns supreme, so if Tyson Walker and A.J. Hoggard are on top of their game, Michigan State should be able to march on. Pick: Michigan State, 64-62
▶ Madeline Kenney: As soon as Michigan State learned it would be facing Mississippi State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Tom Izzo's phone started to blow up with messages telling him to have his team bring their hard hats. Thursday will be a rock fight, but the Spartans have endured plenty of those this season. The Bulldogs have tall wings and are a physical team. It's going to come down to whether Michigan State will finally play to its full potential and get its run game going early. The Bulldogs rank in the top 10 in defending the 3, so capitalizing on fast-break opportunities will be vital. It's going to be close, but I think Michigan State spent the entire season gearing up for March. Pick: Michigan State, 67-63
▶ John Niyo: If they can run, the Spartans might be able to hide some of their flaws. And against a Mississippi State team that gets a bit careless with the basketball, there’s an opportunity here to build off that Big Ten tournament showing for Tom Izzo’s team. They had a 37-6 advantage in fast-break points in their last two outings against Minnesota and Purdue. Limiting the Bulldogs’ second-chance points will be the key, but if Michigan State can hold its own on the boards — no easy chore — they have enough experience to win a close one. Michigan State, 65-60
▶ Tony Paul: I'm going to go ahead and call this the Rocket Watts Bowl. Watts, the Detroit guard, started his career with two years at Michigan State, before transferring to Mississippi State for one. He's now at Oakland, which also is in the NCAA Tournament. It's a pretty favorable draw for Michigan State, which apparently wasn't even on the bubble, after all, despite a frustrating, lackluster regular season for Spartans fans. Tom Izzo lives for this time of year, of course, and he's made Final Four runs with teams of lesser talent, but the question I keep asking myself: "When will MSU flip the switch?" Maybe, now. Pick: Michigan State, 70-69
▶ Bob Wojnowski: The Spartans need their guards to rise up, and this isn’t the ideal matchup to do it. Mississippi State is tough defensively and has shut down some of the SEC’s top players. Tyson Walker, A.J. Hoggard and Jaden Akins must shoot better, no matter who Michigan State is facing. Tom Izzo still believes there’s more to extract from his experienced team — and if not now, well, never. The Bulldogs have a fine guard of their own, freshman Josh Hubbard, but they’re not great offensively and they’re horrible at the free-throw line. This will be physical and ugly, but the Spartans have more scoring options to pull them from the mud. Malik Hall will have a big game and Michigan State will grind it out. Pick: Michigan State, 63-59