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The Michigan State basketball team kicked off its NCAA Tournament on Thursday against Mississippi State. Guard AJ Hoggard was so locked into the game that he didn’t pick up on a comical wardrobe malfunction upon entering the floor.
His shorts were on backwards!
Viewers realized the gaffe after noticing that Spartans logo appearing on a different leg than his Michigan State teammates. Hoggard’s was on the right side just above his kneecap while everyone else’s sat on the left.
The internet had some fun with the mishap.
i think aj hoggard’s shorts are on backwards pic.twitter.com/b7cDyFUPuW
— Jay Cuda (@JayCuda) March 21, 2024
“Are his on backwards or are everyone else’s on backwards?”
The wardrobe malfunction didn’t slow AJ Hoggard down.
The shifty guard posted five points and a team-high five assists in the first half of action, helping Michigan State take a 31-24 lead into the halftime break.
AJ Hoggard gets right to the cup 😮💨#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/yGSZtmcwPI
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 21, 2024
He did, however, become aware of his mistake at some point in the action as images later showed him sporting the shorts in the correct fashion.
Michigan State’s AJ Hoggard began the game with his shorts on backwards 😂 pic.twitter.com/jTwgSwZJiV
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) March 21, 2024
“Halftime adjustments have been made.”
How did Michigan State get here?
The Spartans’ NCAA Tournament resume is one that was highly debated prior to their inclusion into the Big Dance. At 19-14, they found themselves firmly on the bubble following a Big Ten Tournament loss to Purdue.
When all was said and done, the selection committee awarded Sparty a nine-seed and a matchup against Mississippi State from the SEC.
The appearance was Tom Izzo’s 26th as Michigan State head coach.