usatoday
College basketball's unofficial opening act, the Champions Classic, returns for its 16th edition on Tuesday night at the United Center in Chicago. The annual event brings together four of the sport's most storied programs: Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, and Michigan State.
The doubleheader begins at 7 p.m. ET with No. 2 Duke facing No. 5 Michigan State, followed by Kentucky taking on No. 14 Kansas at 9:30 p.m. ET. The nightcap's start time could be adjusted depending on the length of the first game and the airing of the second College Football Playoff rankings reveal show between matchups.
ESPN will televise both games, with Dan Shulman and Jay Bilas handling play-by-play and analysis courtside, and Kris Budden reporting from the baselines. Streaming options include the ESPN app (with a TV login) and Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.
Key Analysis
The Champions Classic has long served as a measuring stick for college basketball's elite. This year's matchups feature several highly ranked players, including Duke's John Blackwell (No. 13) and Patrick Ngongba (No. 7), Michigan State's Jeremy Fears Jr. (No. 3), Kentucky's Milan Momcilovic (No. 16), and Kansas's Tyran Stokes (No. 8). Historically, Duke leads Michigan State 4-1 in Champions Classic play, while Kentucky holds a 3-2 edge over Kansas. The event has been held at various venues since its inception in 2011, including Madison Square Garden, the United Center, and Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
Here's a look at the top players expected to participate, based on USA TODAY Sports' top 100 players list:
- Duke: Caleb Foster, Guard (No. 68); Dame Sarr, Guard/Forward (No. 36); John Blackwell, Guard (No. 13); Patrick Ngongba, Center (No. 7); Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje, Forward/Center (No. 52)
- Michigan State: Jeremy Fears Jr., Guard (No. 3); Coen Carr, Forward (No. 39)
- Kentucky: Milan Momcilovic, Forward (No. 16); Malachi Moreno, Center (No. 53)
- Kansas: Tyran Stokes, Guard (No. 8); Keanu Dawes, Forward (No. 79); Trey Kaufman-Renn, Forward (No. 65)
The Champions Classic annually features the four blue-blood programs, and past results have seen dominant performances and close battles. For instance, Duke defeated Kentucky 118-84 in 2018, while Michigan State upset Kentucky 86-77 in double overtime in 2022. The 2025 edition saw Michigan State top Kentucky 83-66 and Duke beat Kansas 78-66.
Originally reported by usatoday.