Michigan State guard AJ Hoggard starts March Madness with hilarious wardrobe mishap as fans spot his shorts are on the wrong way round in Spartans' opening game against Mississippi State

AJ Hoggard's NCAA tournament got off to a hilarious start as the Michigan State guard played the first few minutes of their opening game with his shorts on backward.

Observant fans spotted the mishap early into the Spartans' opening game against Mississippi State on Thursday.

Michigan State's shorts had the Spartan helmet logo facing forward on the left leg and a Spartan pattern running down the right side of the jersey. Seconds into the broadcast, fans pointed out how, unlike the rest of the team, Hoggard had the helmet facing back on his right leg.

'I think AJ Hoggard's shorts are on backwards,' an eagle-eyed viewer pointed out.

Another user jokingly compared Hoggard to NBA players' different wardrobe signatures that fans linked with good performances. 'Game 6 Klay [Thompson], Untucked Kyrie [Irving], Hoodie Melo (Carmelo Anthony), AJ Hoggard with his shorts on backward,' the user wrote.

Michigan State guard AJ Hoggard had his shorts on backward against Mississippi State 

After spectators spotted the wardrobe mishap, Hoggard corrected his shorts during a break 

After spectators noticed the mishap, Hoggard was informed and corrected the direction of his shorts during a break in the action.

The wardrobe error did not affect Michigan State as they beat Mississippi, 69-51, to advance. Senior center Tyson Walker led the men in green with 19 points. Meanwhile, junior guard Jaden Akins scored 15 points and tallied seven rebounds.

Hoggard put in a productive shift with eight points, eight assists, and two rebounds. However, he also led the Spartans in turnovers with five of the team's 16.

Michigan State finished the regular season as the 6th-placed team in the Big Ten and a ninth-seed team in the tournament.

The Spartans will face the winner between No 1 North Carolina and No 16 Wagner in the round of 34.