KU ‘anxious’ for Classic

By Gary Bedore     Nov 18, 2014

? After dropping games to Kentucky and Michigan State in the first two editions of the Champions Classic, Kansas University’s basketball team was delighted to deck Duke last November in Chicago.

“It was exciting, man,” said KU forward Perry Ellis, who had a then-career high 24 points in the No. 5-ranked Jayhawks’ 94-83 victory over the No. 4 Blue Devils in the United Center. Ellis had four points in a 67-64 loss to Michigan State in 2012 in Atlanta. He was a high school senior when KU fell to Kentucky, 75-65, in the inaugural Classic in 2011 in New York.

“It was a great experience getting to go out there and play against Duke in the beginning of the season. We were working hard prior to the game and anxious to get out there,” Ellis said.

Today marks the start of the second go-round of Classic games. KU will play Kentucky approximately 8:50 p.m. in Bankers Life Fieldhouse, following a 6 p.m. game between Duke and Michigan State. Next year, KU will play Michigan State, and Duke will face Kentucky in Chicago. KU will play Duke, and Kentucky will meet MSU in 2016-17 in New York.

“I liked it one year, and it sucked two years,” KU coach Bill Self joked of the Classic. “The competition is so tough. We played Kentucky when they were No. 1 (in 2011-12). We played Duke when they were 4 last year. The year we got beat by Michigan State, they were Top 10, if I’m not mistaken (No. 21; KU No. 7). It’s a great barometer. The thing that will be real interesting for us is, there’s a whole different level we got to play to be ready to compete against a really good team.”

PREV POST

KU women preparing for ‘track meet’

NEXT POST

45494KU ‘anxious’ for Classic