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NCAA Basketball: 5 biggest takeaways from 2019 Champions Classic

By Brian Rauf

LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY - NOVEMBER 01: Tyrese Maxey #3 of the Kentucky Wildcats shoots the ball against the Kentucky State Thorobreds at Rupp Arena on November 01, 2019 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY - NOVEMBER 01: Tyrese Maxey #3 of the Kentucky Wildcats shoots the ball against the Kentucky State Thorobreds at Rupp Arena on November 01, 2019 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 05: Tre Jones #3 of the Duke Blue Devils drives past Devon Dotson #1 of the Kansas Jayhawks in the first half of their game at Madison Square Garden on November 05, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 05: Tre Jones #3 of the Duke Blue Devils drives past Devon Dotson #1 of the Kansas Jayhawks in the first half of their game at Madison Square Garden on November 05, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) /

Duke and Kentucky pulled out narrow wins over Kansas and Michigan State, respectively, to start the NCAA Basketball season. Here are the biggest takeaways.

The NCAA Basketball season finally tipped off on Tuesday after a long offseason, and the day was highlighted by the Champions Classic, which featured matchups between the top four teams in the country in No. 4 Duke facing No. 3 Kansas before No. 1 Michigan State faced off against No. 2 Kentucky.

It was just the second time in college basketball history in which the top four teams all faced each other on the same day and, just like that day in 1992, the lower-ranked teams won both games.

The Champions Classic got started with a sloppy but close game between the Blue Devils and Jayhawks. Duke led for most of the first half before Kansas appeared to take control in the second, but Duke’s defense ultimately took over (they forced 28 turnovers on the night) and sparked a 19-6 run in the second half that gave them the lead for good.

In the nightcap, Kentucky and Michigan State provided us with another close game in which defense – or at least a lack of offense – was the story. Both teams shot below 40 percent from the field as they went back and forth throughout the course of the game. However, Tyrese Maxey hit a dagger three with a minute left that clinched the victory for the Wildcats.

There were over 100 games that took place on Tuesday, but the Champions Classic was the clear headliner with the best and most important matchups. So, what did we learn from those games?

Here are the five biggest takeaways from the night in a new Rauf Report:

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