Here are Thursday’s key March Madness 2024 games to watch:
No. 9 Michigan State vs. No. 8 Mississippi State
12:15 p.m., CBS
The 12-hour marathon tips off with this rare first-round power-conference matchup featuring a storied college basketball program and … a much less storied college basketball program. Tom Izzo’s Spartans, while disappointing this season, are a March staple and have won at least one game in five of the past six NCAA Tournaments. Mississippi State, on the other hand, lost in the First Four last year and hasn’t been to the Round of 32 since 2008.
No. 14 Akron vs. No. 3 Creighton
1:30 p.m., TNT
The Big East was disrespected on Selection Sunday, only getting three bids, but the high-powered trio of Baylor Scheierman, Trey Alexander and Ryan Kalkbrenner can send a message against the MAC champions.
No. 11 Oregon vs. No. 6 South Carolina
4 p.m., TNT
Both schools weren’t expected to be dancing, but they each took different routes to get here. Oregon — led by former South Carolina standout Jermaine Couisnard, who faces his old team — needed to win the Pac-12 Tournament to secure a bid, while the Gamecocks were picked to finish dead last in the SEC preseason poll before a 13-5 showing in the conference regular season.
No. 14 Oakland vs. No. 3 Kentucky
7:10 p.m., CBS
We all know the Knicks love Kentucky players, and there are a couple worth keeping an eye on in March. Guards Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham are both lights-out shooters who have turned the Wildcats into one of the highest-scoring teams in the country, but their defense is leaky enough to turn any game — even this one — into a nail-biter.
No. 11 N.C. State vs. No. 6 Texas Tech
9:40 p.m., CBS
The Wolfpack’s stunning ACC Tournament title helped introduce DJ Burns Jr. to the nation, and while the 6-foot-9, 275-pounder looks more like an offensive tackle than a basketball player, he’s must-see TV.
No. 13 Samford vs. No. 4 Kansas
9:55 p.m., TBS
You’ll likely be exhausted at the end of a long day, but this looks like Thursday’s best upset bet. Kansas is reeling, with star big man Hunter Dickinson recovering from a dislocated shoulder and guard Kevin McCullar Jr. ruled out for the season. That’s a bad recipe against Samford, one of the nation’s best 3-point shooting teams.
