No. 12 Kentucky Faces No. 17 Michigan State in Champions Classic Showdown

NEW YORK, NY — The 2025 State Farm Champions Classic returns to Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night, featuring a highly anticipated matchup between the No. 12 Kentucky Wildcats and the No. 17 Michigan State Spartans at 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. Both teams are looking to solidify their standings early in the college basketball season.

Kentucky, looking to rebound after a loss to Louisville last week, hopes to harness its fast-paced offensive style against a Michigan State team notorious for its toughness and rebounding prowess.

“We need to play better defensively than we did last week,” said Kentucky coach Mark Pope. “The Spartans are skilled at exploiting defensive weaknesses, and we have to be prepared for that.”

On the other side, Michigan State Coach Tom Izzo emphasizes the importance of experience in this matchup. His team may not match Kentucky’s raw talent, but the Spartans have a reputation for outworking their opponents.

“We will have to maximize our defensive schemes to counter Kentucky’s pace,” Izzo noted. “Our focus will be on shutting down key players like Otega Oweh, who has been crucial for them.”

For the Wildcats, Oweh’s performance could be pivotal. He is coming off a strong showing and will be looked to for leadership. However, he is also dealing with injury concerns that could affect his play.

Kentucky’s offense thrives on creating open shots, particularly from three-point range. With a shooting success rate of 57% from beyond the arc so far, they need players like Oweh and Dioubate to maintain their productivity.

Meanwhile, Michigan State’s inconsistent shooting from three-point land presents a concern. The Spartans have struggled, hitting just 21.7% of their attempts from deep this season.

“If we can find success from the perimeter, it could open up our inside game,” Izzo said. “But that hasn’t been our strength so far.”

The teams have faced each other 26 times, with Kentucky leading the series 14-12. In this event, they are tied 2-2, indicating both teams rise to the challenge when the stakes are high.

As the game approaches, fans eagerly anticipate whether Kentucky can regain its footing against a resilient Michigan State team, making for what promises to be an electrifying start to the Champions Classic.

Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. ET, followed by Kansas vs. Duke at 9 p.m. ET, marking a night of top-notch college basketball.