BREAKING: Kentucky to play Kansas in Indianapolis for Champions Classic
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Photo: Icon Sportswire via Getty Images[/caption]
The State Farm Champions Classic will be played in Indianapolis at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
Well, at least half of it is.
ESPN officially announced this afternoon that Kentucky's matchup against the Kansas Jayhawks will be played in Indianapolis, INon Tuesday, Dec. 1 at 9:30 p.m. ET, while Duke will host Michigan State at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, N.C. the same day at 7:30 p.m. ET.
In the same release, ESPN also announced that the Jimmy V Men’s Classic is set for Wednesday, Dec. 2 featuring No. 1 Gonzaga vs. No. 12 Tennessee (7 p.m., ESPN) and No. 2 Baylor vs. No. 8 Illinois (10 p.m., ESPN).
“ESPN Events is pleased to provide an opportunity for these high-profile programs to compete against one another in the State Farm Champions Classic and Jimmy V Classic as we continue to navigate the unique circumstances surrounding this season,” said Clint Overby, vice president of ESPN Events. “We look forward to safely staging these events and building the momentum for what we hope will be an exciting college basketball season.”
None of the events will allow fans.
The Champions Classic, which matches four of the nation’s best programs against each other – Duke, Kansas, Kentucky and Michigan State – debuted in 2011 and celebrates its 10th annual event this fall. The Jimmy V Classic, named for legendary college basketball coach Jim Valvano, annually raises money and awareness for the V Foundation for Cancer Research. The men’s classic began in 1995, while the women’s event debuted in 2002.
All other ESPN owned and operated early-season college basketball tournaments, which were cancelled for the 2020-21 season, will return to their original destinations and formats in 2021.
Photo: Icon Sportswire via Getty Images[/caption]
The State Farm Champions Classic will be played in Indianapolis at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
Well, at least half of it is.
ESPN officially announced this afternoon that Kentucky's matchup against the Kansas Jayhawks will be played in Indianapolis, INon Tuesday, Dec. 1 at 9:30 p.m. ET, while Duke will host Michigan State at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, N.C. the same day at 7:30 p.m. ET.
In the same release, ESPN also announced that the Jimmy V Men’s Classic is set for Wednesday, Dec. 2 featuring No. 1 Gonzaga vs. No. 12 Tennessee (7 p.m., ESPN) and No. 2 Baylor vs. No. 8 Illinois (10 p.m., ESPN).
“ESPN Events is pleased to provide an opportunity for these high-profile programs to compete against one another in the State Farm Champions Classic and Jimmy V Classic as we continue to navigate the unique circumstances surrounding this season,” said Clint Overby, vice president of ESPN Events. “We look forward to safely staging these events and building the momentum for what we hope will be an exciting college basketball season.”
None of the events will allow fans.
The Champions Classic, which matches four of the nation’s best programs against each other – Duke, Kansas, Kentucky and Michigan State – debuted in 2011 and celebrates its 10th annual event this fall. The Jimmy V Classic, named for legendary college basketball coach Jim Valvano, annually raises money and awareness for the V Foundation for Cancer Research. The men’s classic began in 1995, while the women’s event debuted in 2002.
All other ESPN owned and operated early-season college basketball tournaments, which were cancelled for the 2020-21 season, will return to their original destinations and formats in 2021.
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