Starkville, Miss. ? Missouri coach Tim Jamieson has firsthand experience of what playing an NCAA regional at Mississippi State is like.

He was an assistant for New Orleans in 1984 when the Privateers beat the Bulldogs in Starkville to advance to the College World Series.

Jamieson leads the third-seeded Tigers into Dudy Noble Field for an NCAA regional that starts today. Missouri (35-20) plays No. 2 seed North Carolina (39-21) in the first game. Fourth-seeded Middle Tennessee (33-25) plays top-seeded Mississippi State (40-18-1) in the nightcap.

Jamieson has tried to prepare his players for one of college baseball’s most unique and frenzied settings.

“Although we played in great places before, I have told my players that nothing will compare to what they will see this weekend in Starkville,” the ninth-year coach said. “They will see great facilities, fans and tradition like no other place has when it comes to regional play.”

This will be Mississippi State’s 11th time playing host to a regional. The Bulldogs have won five of the previous 10, including the last one in 2000.

The Tigers finished fourth in the Big 12 Conference and put together two long winning streaks. They won 13 straight early in the season and had a nine-game streak in league play.

Missouri ended border-rival Kansas University’s season, overcoming the Jayhawks in the Big 12 tournament last week, 4-3 in 11 innings.

Jayce Tingler leads the Tigers, who hit .309 as a team, at the plate. The senior center fielder batted .390 with 80 hits and 64 runs scored.

Tigers’ ace Justin James will start the opener against North Carolina. He is 7-6 with a 4.11 ERA, but Missouri has struggled on the mound with a 5.09 team ERA.

The Tar Heels also have a history of success at Dudy Noble Field. North Carolina won a regional in Starkville in 1989. Pitcher Scott Bankhead, a first-round draft choice, was the stalwart for that team.

Middle Tennessee finished just sixth in the Sun Belt Conference before winning the conference tournament to earn a regional bid for the 11th time.

The Blue Raiders will start the tournament against one of the top pitchers in the country. Mississippi State left-hander Paul Maholm is 8-2 with a 2.67 ERA.

All the teams in Starkville will be seeing each other for the first time this weekend. The unfamiliarity can make for some interesting matchups.

“It’s kind of exciting not to know anything about them, but it’s kind of scary because we don’t know if they have any stud pitchers,” Mississippi State’s Matthew Maniscalco said. “I’m sure we’ll find out soon.”