It took a while for this to dawn on me, then I said F' That and then realized how cool it really was. Hence the title fits perfectly.
I knew the Duke Blue Devils would get the prime time slot in the Champions Classic. Even though the better game in the double header is the opening act #1 Kentucky Wildcats match-up with the #2 Michigan State Spartans. (preview of that one here) At the 2010 Elite 8, after the Spartans clinched a trip to the Final Four, I had my picture taken with MSU Motion (the one I run all the time). One of the cheerleaders asked me what time the State game was going to be. I said “we’ll be the opening act, Duke will be the headliner game.” Sure enough i was right. MSU-Butler was the early one with Duke Blue Devils vs West Virginia the headline act.
Here in 2013, Duke vs Kansas has more cachet. Even though the first game is the earliest #1 vs #2 have ever met in a college basketball season and the first time #1 versus #2 have met since 2008.
The CC is only a couple days away, so you’d think we will hear more about it between now and Tuesday. ESPN College Gameday is going to be in Chicago. A lot of sports fans still don’t know what the Champions Classic is. Or they of the event but don’t know it’s called the Champions Classic. Or they think this is the first time it’s being held. It’s actually the third time. And it was just announced a couple days ago that the event is being renewed for another three years, with city locations already designated.
TV: ESPN 8:30 Central
SPREAD: TBA
Where: United Center, home of the Chicago Bulls
Duke Blue Devils preview:
Double homecoming here, as Coach K. is originally a Chicagoan. As is blue-chip recruit Jabari Parker; the headliner of another talented class of Duke Blue Devils freshmen. This event is simply made for television; just like the Big Ten ACC Challenge was when it first started in 1999. That’s what all these preconference games are with special names, and I’m very glad we have them, because the nonconference badly needs a shot in the arm for ratings and interesting games. Who wants to watch the major powers beat up on Low-Majors and Mid-Majors all the time?
Duke seems to excel the most in these types of games, so they’ll be ready for this atmosphere.
Future Champions Classic Matchups
Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2014 (Indianapolis)
· Kansas vs. Kentucky
· Michigan State vs. Duke Blue Devils
Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015 (Chicago)
· Kansas vs. Michigan State
· Kentucky vs. Duke Blue Devils
Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016 (New York City)
· Kentucky vs. Michigan State
· Duke Blue Devils vs. Kansas
“The Champions Classic has turned out to be an amazing idea,” said Mike Krzyzewski, Duke head coach. “The quality of basketball with four outstanding programs under one roof in early November is a great way to kick off the college basketball season. We have been honored to be a part of it and are thrilled that this is going to continue for the next three years.”
From David Kmiecik’s Duke Blue Devils season preview:
Coach K has a talented and deep collection of guards and versatile forwards but the end result of this season will be determined by how the Duke Blue Devils are able to rebound and defend bigger teams inside. On the flip side of that, Duke themselves will be a tough team to guard because of all their weapons on offense.
Player to Watch: Jabari Parker
There isn’t a whole lot of weakness in Parker’s game and on top of that, he is a humble young man who is hungry to become even better. He is a legitimate ACC Player of the Year candidate and will be one of the top picks in the 2014 NBA Draft IF he turns pro (I wouldn’t at all be surprised if he stays for his sophomore year… he just seems like that kind of kid.)
Projected Depth Chart
F/C: Amile Jefferson (So)/Josh Hairston (Sr)/Marshall Plumlee (So)
F: Jabari Parker (Fr)/Alex Murphy (So)
SF: Rodney Hood (So)/Semi Ojeleye (Fr)
SG: Rasheed Sulaimon (So)/Andre Dawkins (Sr)/Matt Jones (Fr)
PG: Quinn Cook (Jr)/Tyler Thornton (Sr)
Gone: C-Mason Plumlee, G-Seth Curry, PF-Ryan Kelly
Kansas Jayhawks Preview:
How can the Kansas Jayhawks lose all five starters from last season and still be ranked this high? Thanks to the addition of insanely hyped freshman Andrew Wiggins and a loaded recruiting class, Bill Self’s team is in line for their 10th straight Big 12 Championship and are yet again a legit Final Four contender.
Projected Depth Chart
C: Tarik Black (Sr)/Joel Emblid (Fr)/Landen Lucas (Fr)
PF: Perry Ellis (So)/Jamari Taylor (So)/Justin Wesley (Sr)
SF: Andrew Wiggins (Fr)/Brannen Greene (Fr)
SG: Wayne Selden (Fr)/Andrew White (So)
PG: Naadir Thorpe (Jr)/Connor Frankamp (Fr)/Frank Mason (Fr)
Gone: SG-Ben McElmore, C-Jeff Withey, G-Elijah Johnson, SF-Travis Releford, PF-Kevin Young, SG-Rio Adams (transfer-Ohio)
FROM DAVID KMIECIK’S KU SEASON PREVIEW:
2013-2014 Outlook:
Entering this season, Wiggins is easily the biggest attraction in college basketball… and for good reason. He is an outstanding all-around player who can affect the game in numerous ways. There are still some areas of his game that need to be tightened up, most notably his outside shooting, but he will be one of the best and most exciting players in the nation and the likely #1 pick in the 2014 NBA Draft.
Wiggins headlines a deep recruiting class with a pair of other top 20 recruits. McDonald’s All-American Wayne Selden is a physical wing and will start at the two guard. Had it not been for Wiggins’ late commitment to KU, Selden would have been the main focus of the Jayhawks this season. He will be a terrific second banana to Wiggins and should have a Ben McLemore-type impact this year.
I was just on conference call with ESPN talking head Jay Bilas and here’s what he had to say about the Big 12 race and how Kansas fits into it.
think Kansas has to be considered the best team, again. You win nine in a row, that’s some pretty strong evidence you’re going to have a chance to win it again. And I do think that Bill Self’s freshman class comes in. He’s got an NBA size front line and really talented, and his freshman class is within shouting distance of Kentucky’s, for talent, not quite as deep in talent, but overall, really terrific.
Andrew Wiggins, I think everybody has heard is the top prospect. I’m not sure he’s ready to be the top player, but give him a little bit of time and he’s just going to continue to get better and better, and I was really impressed with Wayne Selden when I was there. He’s probably the hardest worker. And Joel Embiid, he’s the No. 1 overall pick. We just don’t see guys that size with that agility and the feet and hands and touch. So he’s going to continue to get better and better. I like their team a lot and I like ?? and Oklahoma State is very good. They don’t have the front line that Kansas has, I think that’s the difference. With Marcus Smart and Markel Brown, I think Markel Brown is one of the most underrated players in the country. And Smart is probably the most complete player, in the country. But having to go up against the front line of Kansas is going to be the real challenge, having to keep them off the glass, keep them out of the paint, and defend them in the post is going to be really, really difficult.
Prediction: Duke Blue Devils 77, Kansas Jayhawks 71
Both teams beat up on scrubs in their season openers. Duke took care of Davidson 111-77 and KU handled UL-Monroe 80-63. I like the Duke Blue Devils in this one. They know how to get it done in big preconference games. Current Northwestern Coach and former Duke assistant Chris Collins:
“Two years ago Coach K beat Michigan State to break Bobby Knight’s record for all time wins in the Champions Classic. Last year in Atlanta at the Georgia Dome, completely filled,” Chris Collins said at Big Ten Media Day.
“I think it’s been great to have that Final Four type atmosphere in the first week of the season.”
Even though Collins himself can’t attend, due to a bizarre NCAA rule.
Paul M. Banks is the owner of The Sports Bank.net, an affiliate of Fox Sports. He’s also an analyst for multiple news talk radio stations across the world; with regular weekly segments on NBC and Fox Sports Radio. Follow him on Twitter (@paulmbanks) and RSS
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