"The No. 12 Kentucky Wildcats are set to tip off the 2025 State Farm Champions Classic against the No. 17 Michigan State Spartans (6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN), with the No. 5 Duke Blue Devils slated to close the night against the No. 24 Kansas Jayhawks (9 p.m. ET, ESPN)."
"How Kentucky could win: Michigan State doesn't have a player like Mikel Brown Jr. -- the projected NBA lottery pick out of Louisville who scored 29 points in the Cardinals' win against Kentucky last Tuesday -- but the Wildcats have to be better defensively than they were against their archrivals. They can't allow the Spartans to have the same success the Cardinals had with isolation and pick-and-roll plays a week ago. On offense, Kentucky is at its best when it plays fast but under control. That pace (the Wildcats are 83rd in adjusted tempo, per KenPom) allows Collin Chandler (57% from 3) to get open looks, and Denzel Aberdeen and Otega Oweh to create shots -- a potential winning formula against Michigan State."
"How Michigan State could win: Michigan State doesn't win the talent battle, but Tom Izzo will be the most experienced coach on the floor, a potential key to the game. It will be difficult for the Spartans to win by matching Kentucky's pace, but they can replicate Louisville's success in exposing the Wildcats' defensive vulnerabilities in half-court actions. The Spartans will also have to limit Oweh's impact, and force other players to take shots they're not accustomed to shoot"
No. 12 Kentucky faces No. 17 Michigan State in the 2025 State Farm Champions Classic, with another marquee matchup of Duke and Kansas later that night. Kentucky needs to be sharper defensively than it was against Louisville, avoiding isolation and pick-and-roll breakdowns. Kentucky's offense thrives when operating at a controlled, quick tempo, creating open three-point chances for Collin Chandler and shot-creation for Denzel Aberdeen and Otega Oweh. Michigan State lacks a single elite scorer but can use Tom Izzo's experience to exploit half-court weaknesses and must limit Oweh while forcing unfamiliar shooters.
Read at ESPN.com
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