Kansas vs. Michigan State: 5 biggest questions for the Champions Classic battle

Kansas vs. Michigan State: 5 biggest questions for 2018 Champions Classic battle

DETROIT, MI - MARCH 18: Head coach Tom Izzo of the Michigan State Spartans looks on against the Syracuse Orange in the second round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Little Caesars Arena on March 18, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

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OMAHA, NE – MARCH 25: Lagerald Vick #2 and Udoka Azubuike #35 of the Kansas Jayhawks reacts against the Duke Blue Devils during the second half in the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Midwest Regional at CenturyLink Center on March 25, 2018 in Omaha, Nebraska. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

Michigan State and Kansas are set to do battle in the annual Champions Classic. What are the biggest questions that need to be answered in the game?

The annual neutral site double-header known as the “Champions Classic” has always been dubbed as the official start for college basketball with fans. Due to scheduling changes, it truly is

the opener for the sport.
In the first half of the double-header, powerhouse programs Kansas and Michigan State will face each other, with Duke and Kentucky going afterwards. Both the Spartans and the Jayhawks lost their respective games in the Champions Classic a year ago and each are coming off disappointing endings in the NCAA Tournament.

Kansas got run off the court in the Final Four last season against Villanova, unable to stop them on the defensive end. Michigan State’s defense did okay against Syracuse in the Round of 32 matchup but struggled mightily on the offensive end, unable to score on the 2-3 zone in the upset loss.

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Although both teams lost important players from last year’s roster, Kansas and Michigan State simply reloaded, thanks to both quality recruiting classes and elite transfers. The Spartans return an experienced backcourt along with a very good recruiting class, giving them a No. 10 preseason ranking. The Jayhawks also have a top-tier crop of freshmen coming in. But what propelled them to the No. 1 ranking are the transfers (KJ and Dedric Lawson, Charlie Moore) that have been sitting out since last season. With them eligible, Kansas has been deemed the “team to beat” for this upcoming season.

With Michigan State the underdog, what do they need to do to pull off the minor upset? And what must Kansas need to happen to remain No. 1 in the polls? Here are the five biggest questions that will determine the outcome of the game.

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