Kentucky vs. Kansas: 5 storylines to watch for 2020 Champions Classic

There are plenty of storylines to watch when Kentucky takes on Kansas in this season’s Champions Classic.

Over the course of the previous four seasons, both teams have kept their worth of being bluebloods and the cream of the crop in College Basketball. However, both programs have taken different approaches as to how to do it. Kentucky and Duke were essentially the first programs to begin the factory of signing five-star prospects and sending them directly to the league after one season in college. On the other hand, Kansas has gone for a different approach.

Although the Jayhawks sign their fair share of highly-rated players, recently they have leaned on experience and bringing a lot of their players with significant minutes the season before back. Players that have progressed while at Kansas, whether that be Frank Mason III or Devonte Graham. Even most recently, with Devon Dotson and four full seasons of Udoka Azubuike.

This season, experience reigns supreme once again in Lawrence as the starting lineup consists of just one freshman and three players that have been with the program for multiple seasons. For Kentucky, it is the same formula, dominated by blue-chip freshmen and are expecting half the roster to depart at the conclusion of the season.

The two collide on Tuesday in the Champions Classic as Bill Self and John Calipari have had their fair share of battles. Their most recent battle was during the 2019 Big 12/SEC Challenge when Kansas would defeat Kentucky, 71-63 in Lexington.

To not much of a surprise, no Kentucky player on that team will be playing in this game. However, three Jayhawks were apart of that game, with Guard Marcus Garrett scoring four and Ochai Agbaji getting seven points and grabbing a few rebounds.

Both already have one loss on the season, they are attempting to lick their wounds and climb back up in the rankings, in the hope to dodge a 1-2 start.