Report: CBS Sports Classic location announced for UCLA vs. North Carolina, Kentucky vs. Ohio State

One of the premier mid-season college basketball showcases has a date.

The CBS Sports Classic is scheduled for Dec. 17 at Madison Square Garden, according to Stadium’s Jeff Goodman. The four-team field includes Kentucky, UCLA, North Carolina and Ohio State.

Last year, the four teams were set to compete in the CBS Sports Classic at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. However, Ohio State and UCLA both had COVID-19 issues, meaning North Carolina took on Kentucky in the lone game. The Wildcats handily defeated the Tar Heels 98-69.

This time around, the four teams will try again in one of the iconic arenas in basketball. North Carolina is coming off a national championship appearance, while UCLA made a run to the Sweet Sixteen — where it fell to the Tar Heels. Ohio State advanced to the Round of 32 and Kentucky suffered a major first-round upset at the hands of No. 15 seed Saint Peter’s.

North Carolina brings back impressive group for 2022-23 college basketball season

North Carolina’s run to the Final Four last year was an impressive story in college basketball. But the Tar Heels might have done something even better this offseason by bringing back nearly every player from that roster.

Although Brady Manek is a major loss, all other stars — Armando Bacot, Caleb Love, RJ Davis and Leaky Black — announced they’re coming back to play for Hubert Davis this coming season. That’s huge, especially considering the experience they got in the NCAA Tournament.

Those aren’t the only big names fans can expect in Tar Heels uniforms, though. North Carolina also brought in three top-100 recruits, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. Four-star point guard Seth Trimble leads the way as the No. 38 prospect in the country and the No. 1 recruit in the state of Wisconsin, according to the On3 Consensus.