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Mady Sissoko, AJ Hoggard square off in non-conference play on Wednesday

Must-see TV?

By Connor Muldowney

Jan 30, 2024; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard A.J. Hoggard (11) gets a slashing layup to go in while teammate center Mady Sissoko (22) and Michigan Wolverines forward Tarris Reed Jr. (32) battle for position during the second half at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Dale Young-Imagn Images
Jan 30, 2024; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard A.J. Hoggard (11) gets a slashing layup to go in while teammate center Mady Sissoko (22) and Michigan Wolverines forward Tarris Reed Jr. (32) battle for position during the second half at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Dale Young-Imagn Images / Dale Young-Imagn Images
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If you're looking for something to get you through a dull Wednesday night, just 24 hours after Michigan State basketball fell at the hands of No. 1 Kansas, you might want to subscribe to ESPN+.

Yes, we're all still frustrated with Michigan State's eight-point loss to Kansas, especially since it felt like the Spartans were just as good as the Jayhawks all night and if they had made 1-2 more threes, the final score could have been vastly different in Tom Izzo's favor. But I digress.

Need something to take your mind off of that? I've got you covered.

On Wednesday night, two former Spartans will take the floor against each other's new team as Mady Sissoko and AJ Hoggard square off in non-conference play down in Nashville.

That's right, Sissoko's Cal Golden Bears will travel to Nashville to face Hoggard's Vanderbilt Commodores in non-conference action and the two will be playing major minutes for their new teams. Sissoko is averaging 23 minutes per game through his first two and Hoggard played 23 minutes in his first contest with Vanderbilt after being suspended for the opener after playing in the Portsmouth Invitational this summer.

Sissoko is averaging 6.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game and he has yet to miss a field goal this season (3-for-3 from the floor). Granted, Sissoko has only attempted a field goal in one of his two games. Still, he's getting to the free throw line and he's also playing solid defense.

Hoggard, on the other hand, scored 11 points with four assists, two rebounds, two steals, and a block in his first game with Vanderbilt but he did have four fouls, two turnovers, and was 2-for-11 from the floor and 0-for-6 from deep. It seems like his offensive struggles continued in his first game with his new team, but he's just getting acquainted with new teammates and a new set a plays.

If you want to catch this game, you'll need to subscribe to ESPN+ and tipoff is at 8 p.m. ET. Vanderbilt opens as 7.5-point favorites as well. Both teams are 2-0.

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