Kentucky, Michigan State, Duke and Kansas on similar ground in Champions Traditional
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Kentucky, Michigan State, Duke and Kansas on similar ground in Champions Traditional

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It isn’t the official begin to the lads’s faculty basketball season this 12 months, however the Champions Traditional will nonetheless characteristic the primary marquee recreation of the marketing campaign — and a high-level undercard.

As all the time, the occasion — happening at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis this season — will characteristic 4 of probably the most profitable packages in faculty basketball historical past: Kentucky vs. Michigan State at 7 p.m. ET Tuesday, adopted by Duke vs. Kansas at 9:30 p.m. ET. Each video games will air on ESPN.

As a result of it is being staged within the second week of the season, every crew already has 80 minutes of basketball below its belt; due to this fact, we’ve some recreation evaluation and information factors to offer perception into all 4 squads.

Listed below are 4 issues we’re looking ahead to on Tuesday night time:

The reigning consensus nationwide participant of the 12 months underwent a knee process in October and did not play in Kentucky’s first two video games of the season. The timeline for his return has been obscure, with the varsity persevering with to name him day-to-day. With out Tshiebwe, coach John Calipari used Lance Ware within the beginning lineup, and the New Jersey native has supplied physicality and protection within the submit. But it surely’s additionally supplied Kentucky an opportunity to provide freshman Ugonna Onyenso an prolonged look, and he has responded with 15 factors, 14 rebounds and 7 blocks in 39 whole minutes of motion.

Michigan State: Was the Spartans’ efficiency vs. Gonzaga an indication of issues to return?

For 25 minutes on Friday, Michigan State seemed like a classic Tom Izzo crew. The Spartans have been extra bodily and extra aggressive than Gonzaga, bullied the Bulldogs within the paint and have been opportunistic in transition off turnovers. Foul hassle ultimately turned a problem, and Gonzaga settled down with a smaller lineup and got here again to win. However the Spartans seemed higher than anticipated so early within the season. Can they proceed to indicate that promise towards Kentucky? Mady Sissoko outplayed Drew Timme within the first half, ending with 14 factors and 9 boards, and Sissoko will must be as much as the duty once more if Tshiebwe fits up. Tyson Walker and A.J. Hoggard performed free and assured, and Malik Corridor seemed like a possible go-to man.

Duke: What does a totally wholesome Blue Devils frontcourt appear to be?

Within the first two video games, Duke performed large, with 6-foot-8 Mark Mitchell on the small ahead spot, 7-footer Kyle Filipowski on the 4 and 6-foot-10 Northwestern switch Ryan Younger on the middle place. And now Jon Scheyer has the providers of former No. 1 recruit Dereck Full of life II, who missed the opening recreation because of harm however performed quarter-hour towards South Carolina Upstate on Friday. Finally, projected draft lottery decide Dariq Whitehead will return and push for a beginning spot on the wing, though that is unlikely to occur Tuesday. However with Kansas enjoying small lineups early within the season, will the Blue Devils proceed to make the most of a lot dimension up entrance? And given the dearth of perimeter depth, have they got a selection?

Up to now, the reply is a convincing sure. However the competitors will take a step up Tuesday night. Wilson, who opened his Kansas profession again in 2020 with 23 factors towards Kentucky and 23 factors versus Creighton, has largely struggled for consistency within the two seasons since. However with the departures of Ochai Agbaji and Christian Braun, Invoice Self (and appearing head coach Norm Roberts) wanted a go-to scorer on the offensive finish, and Wilson has responded. He had 19 factors and 11 boards within the opener and adopted with 21 and 9 on Thursday whereas taking pictures 6-for-13 from 3. Wilson might want to stick with it towards Duke.



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