Takeaways from the 2025 Champions Classic

Image: Duke Athletics

On Tuesday night, the Champions Classic returned to Madison Square Garden for the first time since 2021. While we’re still a few days away from the start of Feast Week, College Basketball fans were treated to a nice holiday hoops appetizer with big wins from Michigan State and Duke.

Here are four key takeaways from this year’s Champions Classic.

Game 1: No. 17 Michigan State 83, No. 12 Kentucky 66

Takeaway 1: Confidence from three a key for Spartans

Michigan State opened this year’s classic with a bang, earning their first win in the event since a double OT victory, also over Kentucky, in 2022. With 12:09 left in the first half, Spartans freshman forward Cam Ward gave MSU a 19-17 lead that they would never relinquish. Leading by as much as 20 with 2:34 left to play, the Spartans shocked Kentucky with an 11 for 22 performance from three-point range. Heading into tonight, the Spartans had made just 13 three-pointers all season. Defensively, MSU refused to let the Wildcats (who boasted the 8th-best offense in the country pregame, via KenPom) cook up a response from three, only really allowing Kentucky’s offense to get going in transition. While MSU’s production from three slowed down in the second half in favor of more looks inside, their well-spread production from three in the first will be a scary sight for Big Ten squads that will already have to contend with their top 10 defense. 

The Spartans look to improve to 5-0 this Friday against Detroit Mercy.

Takeaway 2: Kentucky is missing a leader on the court

Similar to their loss last week at Louisville, the Wildcats found themselves on their heels after letting up a big run in the first half, trying and failing to play catch-up in the second. Offensively, Kentucky couldn’t respond to MSU’s three-point shooting, finishing a season-low 7-30 beyond the arc. Kentucky looked lost in the paint, scoring only 4 points down low in the first half. The Wildcats really only looked solid in transition, scoring 16 points in the fast break. Combine that with the fact that the Wildcats recorded a season-low in assists with 13, and it’s clear that Kentucky is missing a leader, one who can both move the ball and get buckets of his own to cut into opposing runs. Once they determine who that leader is, the Wildcats can rebuild their identity as a team. 

“I think that this team has a terrific future,” Pope said. “I believe that this group can become something. I feel like in the early part of this season, the identity that we thought we had carried has maybe been stripped away, and we’re facing some reality right now.”

It is important to note that Kentucky was still without junior guard Jaland Lowe. Lowe, who has been sidelined with a shoulder injury, last played in the loss to Louisville.

Kentucky returns to action Friday when they host Loyola Maryland.

Game 2: No. 5 Duke 78, No. 24 Kansas 66

Takeaway 3: The one-and-done will never die in Durham

It’s still way too early to call this season in favor of anyone, but after holding the ranked Kansas Jayhawks without a field goal for the final 4:59 of the second half, I wouldn’t knock you for pencilling Duke in as a second weekend team after their first five games. To no one’s surprise, Cameron Boozer led the way for the Blue Devils, recording 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists. Boozer is the complete package; he makes great cuts to the basket, confident when fighting through multiple defenders for layups, and has great vision for assists to teammates such as sophomore guard Isaiah Evans. His brother, Cayden, had a quiet first half, but was crucial during a stretch midway through the second as Kansas looked to close the gap. With the Jayhawks pushing their deficit down to five points, Cayden responded on consecutive possessions to keep this one just out of reach en route to a 12-point Duke victory.

In an era of college basketball where plenty of programs try to win with experience, via the portal or retaining talent, Duke pushes forward with the nation’s best (probable) one-and-dones year after year. If it ain’t broke, and if you have Duke’s recruiting budget, why fix it?

Duke’s non-con campaign resumes Friday against Niagara.

Takeaway 4: Kansas really needs a marquee non-con win

Don’t hit the panic button yet, Jayhawks fans. This team is good, probably tournament-bound, but something is missing that currently prevents them from getting it done against other high-major squads. Against Duke, the obvious answer was Darryn Peterson. The Jayhawks have been without their star freshman for three games due to a hamstring injury, and while guys like Tre White (22 points) and Melvin Council Jr. (15 points, 6 assists) kept this one as close as possible, they’ll struggle against any serious contenders if Peterson remains out of the lineup. However, if Peterson played, I really think Kansas could have kept this closer late in the game. 

Kansas’ final chance at a statement win will come against UConn on December 2nd. They return to action Monday against Notre Dame.