Mississippi State comes into the 2024 Southeastern Conference needing at least one win over LSU on Thursday afternoon to secure an at-large bid to the 2024 NCAA Tournament. Mississippi State is looking to break the dreaded four-game losing streak that has plagued the Bulldogs since dropping the Kentucky game two weeks ago.

First for Mississippi State will be a rematch with the LSU Tigers, a team the Bulldogs embarrassed on the road in February. From a matchup point of view, Mississippi State has the advantage. During the first meeting between Mississippi State and LSU, the Tigers stood no chance against the grown men from Starkville, Mississippi. Jumping out to an early lead, Mississippi State dominated LSU during the first meeting, giving the Bulldogs the best win of the season by dominating the boys from Baton Rouge.

Coming into the rematch, Mississippi State seems to have figured out the kinks, with one of the most upbeat practice sessions of the season. In conversation with Shakeel Moore and Cameron Matthews following Wednesday’s practice, you could sense the guys were ready for the new season, which will start on Thursday afternoon against LSU. Both guys mentioned the Mississippi State Bulldogs buying into what Chris Jans has been preaching to them all week about finishing games and taking Mississippi State over the hump to earn some of those hard-fought victories needed in March.

Learning from last season seemed to be the message, as Cameron Matthews stated, ” You just gotta do what you gotta do.” The international trip over the summer also appeared to prepare the Bulldogs for what they’re about to see during the 2024 Southeastern Conference Tournament. When asked about the trip, Matthews said it allowed the guys to experiment with what worked in short turnarounds and what didn’t.

Good news for the Mississippi State Bulldogs ahead of the 2024 Southeastern Conference Tournament: they beat both LSU and Tennessee during the regular season by playing the physical brand of basketball that the Bulldogs have trademarked over the last two seasons. In tournament play, though, anything can happen, and taking one game at a time is the name of the game. Beat LSU on Thursday, then use the rest of the day to figure out what worked against Tennessee the first time around.

Thursday will be no walk in the park for Mississippi State, but the Bulldogs are in the best position to succeed in Nashville and even contend for the 2024 SEC Tournament Championship.

Mississippi State will open the 2024 Southeastern Conference on Thursday afternoon at noon against the LSU Tigers on the SEC Network.