Mississippi
Michigan State basketball vs Miss. State in March Madness: Prediction for 2024 NCAA opener
Michigan State men’s basketball vs. Mississippi State
Breaking down Friday’s West Region first-round game between No. 9 Michigan State and No. 8 Mississippi State:
Records: No. 9 Michigan State (19-14, 10-10 Big Ten); No. 8 Mississippi State (21-13, 8-10 Southeastern Conference).
Fast facts: 12:15 p.m. Thursday; Spectrum Center, Charlotte, North Carolina.
TV: CBS.
TUNE IN: Watch NCAA tournament games on TNT, TBS and truTV
At stake: Winner faces winner of 1-seed North Carolina vs. 16-seed Howard or 16-seed Wagner on Saturday for spot in Sweet 16 in Los Angeles.
THE LINE: Michigan State basketball opens as slight gambling favorite over Mississippi State
PRINT YOUR BRACKET: March Madness schedule, how to watch the NCAA tournament
About MSU
Location: East Lansing.
Coach: Tom Izzo (29 seasons at MSU, 706-294 career).
School tournament record: 72-35 in 36 appearances.
Past 10 games: 5-5.
Scoring leaders: Tyson Walker, 18.2 points per game; Malik Hall, 12.6; A.J. Hoggard, 11.
Rebounding leaders: Hall, 5.6 rebounds per game; Mady Sissoko, 5.1; Carson Cooper, 4.6.
Assist leaders: Hoggard, 5.2 assists per game; Walker, 2.9; Tre Holloman, 2.5.
3-point leaders: Holloman, 41.8%; Walker, 37.3%; Akins, 36%.
The buzz: After losing to Kansas State in overtime of last year’s Sweet 16, MSU entered this season as a top-five pick and embraced national championship ambitions. Instead, it immediately suffered through an inconsistent, wild winter. The Spartans dropped their season-opener at home to James Madison, then lost their Big Ten opener at home to Wisconsin. Sophomore center Jaxon Kohler missed the first 14 games after October foot surgery, and freshman point guard Jeremy Fears Jr. was lost for the season after he was shot and suffered non-life threatening injuries Dec. 23. MSU was 9-7 overall and 1-4 in conference play after losing Jan. 11 at Illinois, then won eight of its next 10 games, including beating the top-10 Illini at Breslin Center on Feb. 14. But the Spartans then lost back-to-back home games to Iowa and Ohio State and closed the regular season losing four of five, then split two games at the Big Ten tournament. Walker’s scoring numbers have plummeted — since averaging 20 points per game over his first 17 games this season, the senior is averaging just 16.1 points and shooting 39.4% in the past 15 games. And junior Jaden Akins, since making 7 of 10 3-pointers against Michigan on Jan. 30, is shooting just 30.5% from deep in his past 12 games.
GOING TO CHARLOTTE? MSU basketball tickets in 2024 NCAA tournament: Prices, how to buy
About Mississippi State
Location: Starkville, Mississippi
Coach: Chris Jans (42-26 in two seasons at Mississippi State, 185-70 in eight seasons overall).
School tournament record: 11-12 in 12 appearances.
Past 10 games: 5-5.
Scoring leaders: Josh Hubbard, 17.1 points per game; Tolu Smith III, 15.2; Cameron Matthews, 9.5.
Rebounding leaders: Smith, 8.4 rebounds per game; Matthews, 6.9; D.J. Jeffries, 5.7.
Assist leaders: Matthews, 2.9 assists per game; Dashawn Davis, 2.6; Shakeel Moore, 1.8.
3-point leaders: Hubbard, 38.7%; Trey Fort, 34.9%; Moore, 34.8%.
The buzz: Much like the Spartans, the other MSU has battled inconsistent play throughout the season. The Bulldogs defeated No. 6 Tennessee, 73-56, in Friday’s SEC tournament quarterfinals before losing to eventual champion Auburn in Saturday’s semifinals, 73-66. Mississippi State also defeated the Vols, a No. 2 seed in the NCAAs, in January while also earning regular-season wins against the Big Ten’s Northwestern and Rutgers and NCAA qualifier Washington State. The Bulldogs had two non-SEC losses, against Georgia Tech and Southern, along with a 2-11 mark against the other seven NCAA qualifiers in their conference. With the Spartans already struggling to shoot beyond the arc, they run into one of the nation’s best at defending it from deep. The Bulldogs are seventh in Division I in allowing opponents to make just 29.4% of their 3-point attempts and are 52nd at 41.6% field-goal percentage defense. They also are one of the better offensive rebounding squads at 12.44 per game, which ranks 39th nationally, and 28th in rebounding margin at plus-5.9. Mississippi State scores 74.8 points a contest while giving up 69.1 to opponents. Hubbard, a 5-foot-10 freshman guard, is averaging 25.4 points a game over his past eight.
Prediction
In the battle of MSU’s, it is the Spartans’ veterans who harness lessons learned all winter and make the clutch plays down the stretch to advance to a showdown with 1-seed North Carolina. The pick: Michigan State 69, Mississippi State 65.
Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him @chrissolari.
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Ferris, West to discuss Mississippi folk artists at UM Museum
Published 6:30 am Thursday, June 4, 2026
The University of Mississippi Museum will host “A Conversation with Bill Ferris & Milly West” from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on June 17.
A reception will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by the talk at 6 p.m.
The program will feature Bill Ferris, founding director of the Center for Southern Studies, author, scholar and folklorist, in conversation with photographer and former Southside Gallery owner Milly West, discussing “Mississippi Self-taught and Folk Artists in the Museum Collections.”
The discussion will explore the creativity, ingenuity and cultural storytelling of self-taught and folk artists represented in the museum’s collection. Ferris and West both had personal relationships with many of the artists and will share stories and insights into their artistic inspirations and processes.
Through paintings, sculpture, textiles, carvings and mixed-media works, the pair will examine how artists working outside traditional academic training have shaped the art and visual culture of the American South.
Among the artists discussed will be Luster Willis, whose work is currently featured in an exhibition at the museum. Most of the pieces on display were gifted to the museum by Ferris. Other artists highlighted during the conversation will include Sulton Rogers and Theora Hamblett.
Following the arguments, students questioned the judges about their careers and the responsibilities of serving on the appellate court.
Alfred Galtney, Alcorn State University compliance officer and a member of the academy’s planning committee, said the experience helped students understand the role law plays in everyday life.
“I hope they’ll get an understanding of how law impacts society and the important role lawyers play in our everyday lives,” Galtney said.
Several students said the event strengthened their interest in legal careers.
Layla Woods, an incoming junior at Franklin County High School, said the program encouraged her to continue pursuing her goals of attending law school. Izzy Turner, who will enter the 10th grade at Franklin County High, said watching the proceedings helped her better understand the seriousness and importance of the legal system. Turner plans to major in psychology before attending law school.
Kavion Curtis Jr., enrolled at Natchez Early College at Co-Lin, said his interest in law stems from a love of debate and courtroom advocacy.
“I’ve always loved courtroom shows and how professional lawyers are,” Curtis said. “I have a passion for debating, and I hope to become an attorney and eventually a judge.”
The Court on the Road program is designed to bring the appellate court process directly to communities across Mississippi while educating students about careers in law and public service.
The Miss-Lou Pre-Law Academy is organized by a committee made up of school counselors, judges and community leaders.
They are Maggie Allgood, Adams County Christian School Counselor; Tennecia Barber, Vidalia High School Counselor; Jennifer Beach, Cathedral High School Counselor; Walt Brown, Adams County Court Judge; Ikeecia Colenburg, Attorney; Penny Daggett, Delta Charter School Counselor; Christina Daugherty, Sixth District ADA; E. Vincent Davis, 17th District Chancery Court Judge; Carmen Drake, Sixth District Circuit Judge; Courtney Fleming, Jefferson County High School Counselor; Alfred Galtney, Alcorn State University Compliance Officer; Aimee Guido, Natchez Inc; Anthony Heidelberg, Attorney; Angela James, Natchez High School Career Coach and Nicole McLaughlin of the Mississippi Bar Association.
Private high schools in Mississippi are receiving an enrollment multiplier for their respective sports teams.
The MHSAA announced on June 2 that it will apply a 1.5 multiplier to private schools enrollment for grades 9-11. The multiplier will go into effect during the 2027-28 sports season, when the MHSAA implements its new reclassification.
The MHSAA board voted on the motion, which passed.
“There’s always been a question of why our state does not have a multiplier from private schools that are in our association,” MHSAA Executive Director Rickey Neaves said in a statement. “So beginning with the next reclassification year, there will be a 1.5 multiplier added to all private schools that are currently in our organization. And to any of those that may be wanting to join our association.”
The change will affect private schools in all classes and will not affect schools for the upcoming 2026-27 season. Private schools around the state currently fluctuate through classes 1A-3A.
“We’re the only state in our section that does not have a multiplier of some kind,” Neaves said. “This was done because private schools, it is perceived, can control what classification they’re in by limiting the number of people that attend there. Also for the competitive and fair play advantage.”
Presbyterian Christian is the most recent private school to switch from MAIS to MHSAA, after making its MHSAA debut in 2025. The Bobcats recently won the MHSAA Class 3A baseball title.
In other sports during the 2025-26 year, Our Lady Academy won a Class 3A volleyball title and has the most MHSAA volleyball championships with 18. St. Stanislaus claimed a 3A boys basketball championship and St. Patrick won the Class I boys and girls soccer titles. Presbyterian Christian also won the 3A boys and girls tennis titles, while Sacred Heart won in Class I.
There are currently 10 private schools in the association.
Michael Chavez covers high school sports, among others, for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at mchavez@gannett.com or reach out to him on X @MikeSChavez or Facebook at Michael Chavez.
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