The madness of March is officially here for the Mississippi State University Bulldogs.
Mississippi State has punched its ticket to the NCAA Tournament for the third straight season under head coach Chris Jans. The Bulldogs earned a No. 8 seed in the East Region and will face No. 9 seed Baylor in the Round of 64 Friday in Raleigh, North Carolina.
However, the road ahead will not be an easy one. Mississippi State enters the tournament with a 21-12 record, including an 8-10 mark in the SEC. While the Bulldogs were comfortably in the field of 68 thanks to a strong non-conference slate, their path to a tournament win will require them to find another level of consistency on both ends of the floor.
The key to a deep run starts with Mississippi State’s defense — something that has been a staple under Jans. The Bulldogs have made their mark on the defensive end, and if they want to survive and advance, their ability to disrupt opposing offenses will be crucial.
Sophomore guard Josh Hubbard has been the team’s offensive catalyst all season. The All-SEC Second Team selection leads Mississippi State in scoring, averaging 18.7 points per game, and will be the focal point against Baylor. However, he cannot do it alone. Junior forward KeShawn Murphy and graduate forward Cameron Matthews will need to step up in key moments to provide the Bulldogs with much-needed balance on offense.
Baylor, meanwhile, presents a tough challenge. The Bears, who finished 19-14 on the season, battled through the Big 12 and secured wins over Arkansas and St. John’s while taking losses to Tennessee, Connecticut and Gonzaga. Norchad Omier and freshman VJ Edgecombe lead the way for the Bears, making them a dangerous opponent.
Mississippi State’s recent tournament history has not been kind, with the program still searching for its first NCAA Tournament win since 2008. If the Bulldogs manage to take down Baylor, a potential matchup with No. 1 seed Duke awaits in the Round of 32. The Blue Devils, 31-3 on the year, will be a formidable opponent, but with March Madness, anything can happen.
The Bulldogs’ matchup against Baylor is set for March 21 at 11:15 a.m. CT. The game will be broadcast on CBS and streamed on Paramount+.
