One of the biggest events in the Kansas men’s basketball non-conference schedule will continue for at least the next three seasons.
The State Farm Champions Classic, which pits KU, Kentucky, Duke and Michigan State in a neutral site, doubleheader matchup in November, will continue through 2019, ESPN announced Wednesday.
The Jayhawks will play Duke in this year’s Champions Classic at 8:30 p.m. on Nov. 15 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
“It’s obviously the top event of the regular season,” KU associate athletic director Larry Keating, the Jayhawks’ schedule maker, told ESPN. “You usually have four of the top 10 and it should be that way again. No one has ever thought of not doing it. Everyone knows the value of it. The four fan bases can get to all cities where the event takes place. It has been everything we thought it would be and more.”
Kansas will face Kentucky in 2017 in Chicago, Michigan State in 2018 in Indianapolis and Duke in 2019 in New York.
KU is 1-4 in the event with its lone victory against Duke in 2013. Michigan State beat Kansas, 79-73, last year in Chicago.
Future Champions Classic Matchups
Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017 (United Center, Chicago)
Kansas vs. Kentucky
Duke vs. Michigan State
Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018 (Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis)
Michigan State vs. Kansas
Duke vs. Kentucky
Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2019 (Madison Square Garden, New York City)
Kansas vs. Duke
Michigan State vs. Kentucky