Gameday Thread: 9th-Seeded Bears Open NCAA Tournament versus No. 8-Seed Mississippi State

The ninth-seeded Baylor Bears (19-14; 10-10 Big 12) will open the NCAA Tournament against the No. 8-seed Mississippi State Bulldogs (21-12; 8-10 SEC) at 11:15 a.m. CT on Friday, March 21, in Raleigh, North Carolina. The game will be televised on CBS.

KenPom Prediction: Baylor 74, Mississippi State 73

Torvik Prediction: Baylor 73, Mississippi State 72

Evan Miyakawa: Baylor 74, Mississippi State 72

Haslametrics: Baylor 74, Mississippi State 72

Coaches

Mississippi State: Chris Jans (55); 206-83 (63-39 at Mississippi State); 5 NCAAs

Baylor: Scott Drew (54); 485-269 overall (465-258 at Baylor); 12 NCAAs; 5 Sweet 16s; 3 Elite 8s; FF; 1 National Championship

Head to Head: 0-0

Mississippi State Starters

• Guard: Josh Hubbard (So.) 5-11 190 lbs; 19 ppg; 2 reb; 3 asst; 39% FG; 34% 3pt; 88% FT
• Guard: Riley Kugel (Jr.) 6-5 210 lbs; 9 ppg; 3 reb; 2 asst; 43% FG; 32% 3pt; 75% FT
• Forward: RJ Melendez (Sr.) 6-7 210 lbs; 9 ppg; 4 reb; 44% FG; 28% 3pt; 75% FT
• Forward: Cameron Matthews (Sr.) 6-7 235 lbs; 7 ppg; 7 reb; 4 asst; 3 st; 51% FG; 24% 3pt; 50% FT
• Forward: Michael Knowoko (So.) 6-10 245 lbs; 6 ppg; 5 reb; 53% FG; 14% 3pt; 61% FT

Mississippi State Bench

• Guard: Shawn Jones (Jr.) 6-5 205 lbs; 5 ppg; 3 reb; 45% FG; 30% 3pt; 76% FT
• Guard: Claudell Harris (Sr.) 6-4 200 lbs; 10 ppg; 3 reb; 39% FG; 34% 3pt; 76% FT
• Forward: KeShawn Murphy (Jr.) 6-10 230 lbs; 12 ppg; 8 reb; 57% FG; 61% FT

Baylor Starters

• Guard: Rob Wright (Fr.) 6-1 180 lbs; 11 ppg; 4 asst; 42% FG; 36% 3pt; 78% FT
• Guard: VJ Edgecombe (Fr.) 6-5 190 lbs; 15 ppg; 6 reb; 3 asst; 2 st; 44% FG; 35% 3pt 78% FT
• Guard: Langston Love (Jr.) 6-5 215 lbs; 8 ppg; 3 reb; 37% FG; 32% 3pt; 89% FT 
• Forward: Jalen Celestine (Sr.) 6-7 215 lbs; 7 ppg; 4 reb; 39% FG; 36% 3pt; 81% FT
• Forward: Norchad Omier (Sr.) 6-7 245 lbs; 16 ppg; 11 reb; 57% FG; 30% 3pt; 75% FT

Baylor Bench

• Guard: Jeremy Roach (Sr.) 6-2 180 lbs; 10 ppg; 3 asst; 38% FG; 35% 3pt; 69% FT
• Guard: Jayden Nunn (Sr.) 6-4 190 lbs; 9 ppg; 3 reb; 41% FG; 41% 3pt; 64% FT