Michigan State vs Duke: 5 storylines for 2020 Champions Classic matchup

EAST LANSING, MI - JANUARY 17: Rocket Watts #2 of the Michigan State Spartans celebrates his three point shot in the second half of the game against Wisconsin Badgers at the Breslin Center on January 17, 2020 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

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Duke Blue Devils (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

Michigan State and Duke will continue their yearly tradition of meeting in non-conference play. The 2020-21 edition will carry top ten implications for both teams.

With the 2020-21 Men’s NCAA Basketball season in a constant state of flux, the State Farm Champions Classic is not only scheduled to take place on Tuesday, Dec.1, 2020, but it is scheduled to be exciting as usual. Half of the Champions Classic will see Michigan State travel to Cameron Indoor Stadium to go up against Duke.

Waiting for the Spartans who are 2-0 after wins versus Eastern Michigan and Notre Dame will be Duke who bested Coppin State 81-71 on Saturday. Mike Krzyzewski and Tom Izzo coached these games prior to the Champions Classic as if they were just that, games before something important.

The box score shows the Blue Devils beat Coppin State by ten points while only seven players getting significant playing time, with Patrick Tape not dressed. Similar to what we saw Izzo do versus Notre Dame, the mixing of players on the floor and experimenting with players in unfamiliar spots on the floor had a lot to do with the score being so close.

The Champions Classic on Tuesday will not be a glorified scrimmage for either team. Here are some storylines to watch for them.

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