Kentucky is ready for the bright lights of Champions Classic vs. Duke

The Champions Classic was technically held in 2020-21, but it wasn’t the Champions Classic. Rescheduled and moved due to COVID-19, the event was ultimately split into two locations, one for each game. Kentucky vs. Kansas took place in Indianapolis at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, while Duke vs. Michigan State was held at Cameron Indoor Stadium — a makeshift home game for the Blue Devils. Neither venue allowed fans.

The matchup in Durham was one thing. Duke got a home game and no travel, while Michigan State walked away with an early road win. They also played first, so regardless of the result, the Blue Devils and Spartans both got their nights over with at a reasonable hour.

Kentucky’s trip to Indianapolis, however, was nothing short of a disaster. Playing in an NBA arena with no fans, every shoe squeak and ball dribble echoed throughout the venue. Whispers and chatter on the floor were heard from the upper deck where media members and arena staff watched. The awful atmosphere bled into poor play for both teams on the floor, as Kentucky finished the day shooting 36.1% from the field and 14.3% from three while Kansas shot 29.9% overall and 23.8% from three.

Between the abysmal shooting numbers and 27 combined turnovers, it was a contest of which team could play least poorly before getting the hell out of there and going home. Kansas happened to win that battle, coming out on top by a final score of 65-62.

It was no one’s fault and I applaud their efforts for putting together an event of that magnitude under such difficult and frustrating circumstances, but make no mistake about it, it was rough.

After a misfire in 2020, all four teams are being rewarded with the return of the real Champions Classic in 2021. Kentucky vs. Duke and Kansas vs. Michigan State in New York City playing at the Mecca of basketball, Madison Square Garden.

You never want to look over any opponent — Kentucky plays Miles College in its final exhibition game Friday — but there’s a clear focus on the team’s trip to NYC to play on college basketball’s greatest stage.

“Man, I’m super excited. It’s the tip-off for the year, it’s going to be so fun,” Davion Mintz said this week. “Right now, our mind is set on getting through this exhibition, getting through this week’s practice and the weekend, then channeling our focus on Duke after. Not looking too far ahead, but I’m excited, especially to play in the Garden. That’ll be big.

“We deserve it as players to be there and actually have a fanbase. The fans deserve it, to be all together watching it. I’m excited for it.”

All games are important, but this one just feels different. Given the struggles of both teams last season, the history behind the programs and their historic matchups, and the start of Mike Krzyzewski’s final season at Duke, this game carries a bit more weight.

“I know it’s going to be exciting,” Dontaie Allen told KSR. “I know the Champions Classic, it’s always been kind of prestigious. It’s always been big games, wild games. It’s what we’ve been preparing for all summer. Obviously, there are some games you mark on your schedule.

“All games are important throughout the season, but I feel like this game holds a little more weight.”

There’s a historical value with this matchup, starting with the venue itself: Madison Square Garden. It doesn’t get any bigger than that stage at any level of basketball, and the players are excited to embrace the spotlight that comes with it.

“I’ve been playing in the Garden for a while,” said Mintz. “In the Big East, that was our conference tournament. My freshman year, we played Villanova in the championship of the Big East Tournament, so it’s been every year since then. … (It’s the home of) legends. Even in recent time, like Carmelo’s run with the Knicks, that was legendary. Patrick Ewing, thing like that. Playing against Patrick Ewing in the Garden with him as a coach.

“Just small things, it’s crazy like that. It’s one of the best arenas to ever play in.”

As far as the game itself, it doesn’t get much more historical than Coach K’s final season as a head coach. Kentucky will get the first shot at taking down Duke in the legendary coach’s farewell tour.

On one end, it’s cool to be a part of history, especially for a homegrown player out of North Carolina like Davion Mintz.

“It’s crazy. Growing up in North Carolina, I was always a Tar Heels fan,” said Mintz. “But my parents would ask me — just because I played basketball — they would ask “If Carolina and Duke offered you the opportunity (to play for them), who would you play for?” And I would always say Duke, and I didn’t understand because Carolina was always my team growing up.

“Now, being a kid, then maturing and coming to Kentucky, now being part of Coach K’s last (season), it’s super cool. Just as a kid from North Carolina, I am looking forward to that. It’ll be great to be out there, having fun.”

On the other, there’s the competitive aspect of it all. With all eyes watching in the world of college basketball, you want to make a statement to open the season.

“It comes down to the history behind it, that’s something all of these guys on this team recognize,” Allen told KSR. “That’s something that’s going to build up for this game. It’s going to be a very fun game.”

Players had that opportunity taken away from them last season due to COVID-19. The games were played, but the event simply wasn’t the same. Just one year later, we’re approaching arguably the most anticipated Champions Classic in event history.

For the Kentucky players, it’s been a long time coming.

“I used to watch the Champions Classic, even if I had a game,” Mintz told KSR. “Being a starting guard at a high-level university, I’d hurry up to take a shower after practice or a game trying to get back to watch Kentucky and Duke, whoever was in the tip-off event. Now to be playing in it is crazy to me.

“A lot of years of hard work goes into that, but I’m super excited to be in this position. From hurrying and rushing (home) to watch it to now being a part of it, it’s mind-blowing to me.”

Kansas vs. Michigan State will open the event at 7 p.m. ET, followed by Kentucky vs. Duke at 9:30 p.m. ET on Nov. 9.