Champions Classic

The Champions Classic is an event that tips off the NCAA Division I men's basketball season. It features four of the top programs in the United States. The venue changes from year to year, with Madison Square Garden being the first venue. The first Classic was held on November 15, 2011 with Duke, Kansas, Kentucky and Michigan State[1] being the first participants. This would be the beginning of a three year rotation, originally scheduled to end in 2013, where each of the teams would play each other once. The event is televised on ESPN.[2]

All four teams have committed to continuing the series with a new three-year rotation beginning in 2014.[3]

Three of the four teams from the 2014 Champions Classic advanced to the 2015 Final Four (Duke, Kentucky, Michigan State).

Game results

Date Location Winning team Losing team Attendance
November 15, 2011 Madison Square Garden
(New York, NY)		 Duke 74 Michigan State 69 19,979
Kentucky 75 Kansas 65
November 13, 2012 Georgia Dome
(Atlanta, GA)		 Michigan State 67 Kansas 64 22,847
Duke 75 Kentucky 68
November 12, 2013 United Center
(Chicago, IL)		 Michigan State 78 Kentucky 74 22,711
Kansas 94 Duke 83
November 18, 2014 Bankers Life Fieldhouse
(Indianapolis, IN)		 Duke 81 Michigan State 71 19,306
Kentucky 72 Kansas 40

Future match-ups

Date Location Match-ups
November 17, 2015 United Center
(Chicago, IL)		 Duke vs. Kentucky
Kansas vs. Michigan State
November 15, 2016 Madison Square Garden
(New York, NY)		 Kentucky vs. Michigan State
Duke vs. Kansas

Statistics

Team Wins Losses Percentage
Duke 3 1 .750
Michigan State 2 2 .500
Kentucky 2 2 .500
Kansas 1 3 .250

References

  1. ↑ Katz, Andy (December 8, 2010). "Marquee programs to meet early". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  2. ↑ "New Event Pits Four of Basketball's Winningest Programs". Duke Sports Information. December 8, 2010. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  3. ↑ Katz, Andy (October 28, 2013). "Kentucky working on 4-team event". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 3, 2014.