State Farm Champions Classic Preview
The State Farm Champions Classic will be two thrilling and competitive games between four basketball powerhouses.
The first matchup is between Michigan State and Kentucky. These two squads have faced off three times in the champions classic prior to the matchup Tuesday.
The Wildcats have bragging rights over the Spartans currently with a 2-1 record in the series. The Green and White won the first game in 2013 but dropped the next two in 2016 and 2019.
Michigan State is led by A.J. Hoggard and Joey Hauser who are scoring an average 10.5 and 10 points respectively. Junior big, Mady Sissoko, is coming off an impressive performance against Gonzaga and could pose a large threat to the Wildcat defense.
Tom Izzo’s squad is averaging 68 points a game and are doing so with poor 3-point shooting. They are currently sitting at a 28% clip from beyond the arc, which will not cut it against some of the top teams in the country.
The Blue and White are an offensive force this season under Coach Calipari. Averaging 86 points per game while shooting 50% from the field showcases some of the spectacular offensive numbers.
This offensive production is being sparked by Antonio Reeves and CJ Fredrick. Reeves is averaging 20 points per game while Fredrick is averaging 17 a game. Both are scoring at a much larger clip than the top Michigan State players.
Jacob Toppin has been a glass cleaning sponge for the Blue and White this season. He has 19 boards on the season and could dictate the outcome of the game by winning possessions for Kentucky.
Toppin is not the only glass cleaner that will be on the big stage Tuesday night in Indianapolis. Game two of the Champions Classic features a big time blue-blood matchup between the reigning champion Kansas Jayhawks and the Duke Blue Devils.
Kansas is coming into this game without head coach Bill Self after violating NCAA recruiting rules.
Jalen Wilson and Gradey Dick have been machines on offense for the Jayhawks. Wilson is averaging 20 points a game while freshman Dick is averaging 17.5 points a game, boosting his draft stock game after game.
Wilson is not only putting the rock through the hoop but he is also grabbing the rock off the glass and playing a strong two-way game for Kansas. He is averaging 10 rebounds a game and does a good job of dictating the pace of play for the team.
After 42 years, the Blue Devils have a new bench boss in Durham. Jon Scheyer, Coach K’s successor, has led Duke to a 2-0 start, playing some fairly easy competition thus far. Tuesday’s matchup will be the biggest of his short career in Durham.
His team is led by Mark Mitchell and Jeremy Roach. Mitchell, a freshman from Kansas City, Kansas, is looking to spoil the Jayhawks early season success. He’s scoring 15.5 points a game while Roach, the junior guard, is scoring 13 a game.
Duke has a glass cleaner of its own. Seven footer Kyle Filipowski is averaging 11 boards a game and is a monstrous force. He is another notable freshman in this No. 1 freshman class for the Blue Devils.
Kentucky and Michigan State are opening the fun evening at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. This should be the first of two tight matchups on the hardwood. I think the Wildcats will edge out the Spartans in this one.
The second featuring the Blue Devils and Jayhawks will be a new look for most college basketball fans. I think the absence of Self on the Jayhawk bench will lead to a big Blue Devil win in Indianapolis in the second game of this Champions Classic double header.
Both games are Tuesday night on ESPN starting with Michigan State and Kentucky at 7 p.m., and Duke versus Kansas at 9:30 p.m.
Hayden Lewis is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email lewis1818hayden@gmail.com
