Jayhawks, Spartans draw early tip at Champions Classic

By Matt Tait     Sep 6, 2018

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For just the second time in the eight-year history of the Champions Classic, the Kansas men’s basketball team will be playing in the early game.

The Champions Classic on Thursday released official game times for this year’s event, which will pit KU against Michigan State and Duke against Kentucky in Indianapolis, and the Jayhawks and Spartans will tip off at 6 p.m.

Duke and Kentucky will follow around 8:30 p.m. from Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

The reason for KU’s tendency to land in the late game is obvious and it’s all about ratings. Matchups featuring KU-Kentucky and KU-Duke, because of the national followings of all three teams often draw the best ratings of the season, let alone from the event.

This year’s game, for the first time, will mark the season opener for all four teams, as the event was moved up just a hair to become an official season kickoff of sorts.

KU is 3-4 in the Champions Classic all-time and is riding a two-game winning streak in the early season, blueblood clash.

*Here’s a quick look back at KU’s history of tip times at the Champions Classic.*

2011 – late vs. Kentucky

2012 – early vs. MSU

2013 – late vs. Duke

2014 – late vs. Kentucky

2015 – late vs. MSU

2016 – late vs. Duke

2017 – late vs. Kentucky

2018 – early vs. MSU – 6 p.m., Nov. 6, 2018 in Indianapolis

[• Complete 2018-19 Kansas men’s basketball schedule][1]

[1]: http://www2.kusports.com/schedules/mens-basketball/2018-19/kansas/

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Written By Matt Tait

A native of Colorado, Matt moved to Lawrence in 1988 and has been in town ever since. He graduated from Lawrence High in 1996 and the University of Kansas in 2000 with a degree in Journalism. After covering KU sports for the University Daily Kansan and Rivals.com, Matt joined the World Company (and later Ogden Publications) in 2001 and has held several positions with the paper and KUsports.com in the past 20+ years. He became the Journal-World Sports Editor in 2018. Throughout his career, Matt has won several local and national awards from both the Associated Press Sports Editors and the Kansas Press Association. In 2021, he was named the Kansas Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. Matt lives in Lawrence with his wife, Allison, and two daughters, Kate and Molly. When he's not covering KU sports, he likes to spend his time playing basketball and golf, listening to and writing music and traveling the world with friends and family.