Latest news with #ChampionsClassic
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kansas Basketball Turns Heads with Major Team News on Wednesday
Kansas Basketball Turns Heads with Major Team News on Wednesday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. It was a tough and frustrating 2024-25 season for Bill Self and the Kansas Jayhawks. The 62-year-old head coach saw his team eliminated in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Advertisement This marked the third straight season Kansas failed to reach the Sweet 16 following its national title run in 2022. But Self, his staff and a revamped roster are ready to turn the page and gear up for the 2025-26 season. The Jayhawks recently posted their official non-conference schedule, and as usual in Lawrence, it's filled with high-level competition. Self is no stranger to tough early-season tests, and 2025-26 will be no different. Fan reactions summed up the anticipation: "This is a loaded Non-Conference schedule. Big props to Bill Self." said this commenter Jayhawk fan here loving the challenge: "North Carolina, UConn, and Duke? Bring it on." Advertisement "Louisville, UNC, Duke, UConn, mizzou, NCState and oh hey it's December 14." says this fan More tough competition talk: "North Carolina, UConn and duke are going to be tough games Border war should in Lawrence but I guess playing in Kansas City is fine I'm going to enjoy the burners (expletive) on Princeton those (expletive) nerds." "Guantlet." another adds here This fan knows it won't be easy: "Absolute mayhem." Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Sewell-Imagn Images The preseason tips off with a scrimmage against Pat Kelsey's Louisville Cardinals. Kelsey, in his first year, helped Louisville return to the NCAA Tournament last season. Kansas' first regular-season home game will be against Doug Gottlieb's UW-Green Bay Phoenix. From the Nov. 7 trip to North Carolina through a Dec. 13 visit to NC State, the Jayhawks will face one of the toughest slates in the country. Advertisement After visiting Chapel Hill on Nov. 7, Kansas hosts Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Princeton before facing Duke in the Champions Classic on Nov. 18. That showdown will be held at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Next comes the inaugural Players Era event in Las Vegas, a multi-game neutral site showcase with opponents to be announced later. Then it's back to Allen Fieldhouse for a high-profile home game against Dan Hurley's UConn Huskies on Dec. 2. The rivalry game against Missouri follows, this time played in Kansas City. Both the Huskies and Tigers made the NCAA Tournament last season. The non-conference schedule wraps up with a road game at NC State on Dec. 13, then home games against Towson and Davidson before Christmas. Advertisement Self addressed the ambitious schedule: 'Once again, we have a non-conference schedule that should be one of the most challenging anyone will play,' he said. 'We have a home game against UConn in early December, away matchups at North Carolina and NC State, neutral games like Duke in the Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden, the three games at the Players Era tournament in Las Vegas, and another with Missouri in Kansas City. Those, along with the Big 12 competition, make this a very tough and demanding schedule." The Jayhawks remain one of college basketball's elite programs, with four NCAA championships and six runner-up finishes in school history. While recent seasons have fallen short of expectations, Self has a strong track record of bouncing back. The revamped roster and elite schedule should have Kansas battle-tested by the time Big 12 play begins. Related: 7-Foot College Basketball Recruit Makes Final Commitment Decision on Friday Related: 4-Star Transfer Decommits Just Three Days After Big Announcement This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
22-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Michigan State basketball to play East Carolina in Fort Myers Tip-Off next season
Michigan State basketball to play East Carolina in Fort Myers Tip-Off next season This will be the first ever meeting between Michigan State and East Carolina An addition to the Michigan State basketball schedule for next season has been announced. Michigan State announced on Thursday that they will play East Carolina in this year's Fort Myers Tip-Off. This will be the first of two games for the Spartans during the event, with Michigan State battling the Pirates on Tuesday, November 25. The Spartans will then play North Carolina on Thanksgiving of that week. St. Bonaventure is the fourth team part of the event, with the Bonnies set to face North Carolina. East Carolina went 19-14 overall last year and finished in fifth place in the American Athletic Conference. This will be the first ever meeting between Michigan State and East Carolina. For the Spartans, we now know four of the Spartans' non-conference foes: Kentucky (Champions Classic) East Carolina (Fort Myers Tip-Off) North Carolina (Fort Myers Tip-Off) Duke (home) The full official Michigan State schedule for next season should be released in the next few months.
USA Today
07-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
What we know about MSU basketball's 2025-26 schedule at this point
What we know about MSU basketball's 2025-26 schedule at this point Here's what we know about the Spartans' schedule for next season, which includes a massive home non-conference matchup in December We are still months away from the official 2025-26 Michigan State basketball schedule coming out but who said we couldn't start piecing together what we already know about next year's slate? Unlike football, college basketball schedules are typically built in between seasons with only a few pre-planned games from years before included on the docket. Michigan State is no different with most of its non-conference slate still being constructed, but we do at least know of a few monster matchups on the slate for next year. With that being said, let's dive into what we already know about the 2025-26 Michigan State basketball schedule as we begin to look ahead to next year: Champions Classic Opponent: Kentucky Date: November 18 The annual Champions Classic will continue next year with the Spartans drawing Kentucky in the early season marquee matchup. The Wildcats are widely considered a preseason top 10 team and the Spartans are in the No. 15 - 20 range depending on the media outlet. So this should be a fun early season test for both of these programs that have aspirations of reaching the 2026 Final Four. Fort Myers Tip-Off Opponents: North Carolina and to be determined team Dates: November 25 and 27 The Spartans will take place in a pair of games as part of the Fort Myers Tip-Off event during the week of Thanksgiving. It has already been announced that Michigan State will face North Carolina on Thanksgiving Day, and we are still waiting to see who the Spartans will play in the game before that on Tuesday. Home vs. Duke Date: Reportedly sometime in December The Spartans will play host to the Duke Blue Devils in a non-conference monster matchup from the Breslin Center. This matchup hasn't been formally announced so the date is still to be determined. But Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports reported last week that it'll occur in December and will serve as the return trip to East Lansing, Mich. after Duke hosted Michigan State in the Champions Classic during 2020. Big Ten Regular Season The official Big Ten schedule will come out over the next few months, but last week we at least got an indication of where Michigan State will play each of its conference games with the official home-road splits announced. Here is an indication of who the Spartans will host at home, play on the road and play both at home and away: Home Only: Illinois Iowa Maryland Northwestern Ohio State UCLA USC Away Only: Minnesota Nebraska Oregon Penn State Purdue Washington Wisconsin Home and Away: Indiana Michigan Rutgers The Big Ten slate includes 20 regular season games and typically begins in December with a few games before the holidays break. My assumption is that will continue again this year, with conference games leading all the way through the first week in March. Big Ten Tournament Dates: March 11 - 15 The top 15 teams in the Big Ten qualify for the conference tournament so this is technically not a given that the Spartans will be playing in the event but we can somewhat assume here. The conference tournament will take place at the United Center in Chicago next season. Other Notes and Thoughts With what we know now, the Spartans have 24 of the 31 regular season games filled for next year. That means we should expect at least seven more non-conference games to be added to the slate. In-state foe Oakland is typically on the Spartans' roster so that should be expected again this year. I'm also anticipating the Spartans to add another marquee matchup in non-conference play to go with the three monsters they already have lined up in Kentucky, North Carolina and Duke. Over the next few months we should get a better indication and reports of who else the Spartans have added to its 2025-26 schedule. But as it stands now, it should have plenty of fun and intriguing games on the slate throughout the season. Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.
USA Today
02-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
MSU basketball to reportedly host Duke next season in home December major matchup
MSU basketball to reportedly host Duke next season in home December major matchup Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports is reporting Michigan State will host Duke from the Breslin Center next season NEWS: Duke and Michigan State will meet this December in East Lansing, according to a source. Return game from the 2020 Champions Classic, which was played in Durham during — Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) May 2, 2025 Michigan State basketball is going to be hosting one of the all-time best programs in all of college basketball next season. College basketball insider Jon Rothstein is reporting that Michigan State will host Duke in a home non-conference game next year. The official date is still to be determined but the game will occur in December, according to Rothstein. It was previously reported that Michigan State and Duke were working to get this game scheduled, but this latest report from Rothstein suggests this matchup is locked in place now. This game at the Breslin Center will serve as the return game from the 2020 Champions Classic, which was move to Durham, N.C. due to COVID. Michigan State last played Duke in the 2023 Champions Classic, which the Blue Devils won. The Spartans last hosted Duke in 2019 -- which the Spartans also lost to the Blue Devils. Both Michigan State and Duke will enter next year as top 20 teams as things currently stand. Duke is projected to again be a top 10 team while Michigan State is slated to be anywhere between No. 15 and No. 20 in the preseason polls. Stay with Spartans Wire for additional coverage and updates on this upcoming major matchup between the Spartans and Blue Devils next year. Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rick Pitino, St. John's to face Mark Pope, Kentucky in CBS Sports Classic
Rick Pitino appears to be getting his wish of playing his former captain and program after all. It just isn't going to take place in Lexington. According to a report from Field of 68's Jeff Goodman, Pitino's St. John's Red Storm is replacing UCLA in this year's CBS Sports Classic, and will meet up against Mark Pope and Kentucky in the marquee non-conference showcase game. It was first reported by Dave Berov of the "Eye on the Storm" podcast. REQUIRED READING: How does Kentucky basketball coach Mark Pope's second transfer portal class rank in SEC? Advertisement A date and time for the CBS Sports Classic between St. John's and Kentucky has not been announced. As for the location, it will be taking place at Atlanta's State Farm Arena, per Adam Zagoria. The CBS Sports Classic also includes Ohio State and North Carolina and travels from city to city each season, just like the Champions Classic, which Kentucky also competes in. The news that Pitino will coach against Pope, who captained the Hall of Famer's national championship team at Kentucky in 1996, comes seven months after the 2025 Naismith Coach of the Year told reporters at Big East Media Day in October that he didn't expect a home-and-home series between the two programs to happen. USA TODAY Sports Network later confirmed the report. "I don't think it's going to happen now because they want to skip a year," Pitino originally told Zagoria and in October at Big East Media Day. Advertisement It also comes a month after Pitino said at the Final Four that the Red Storm "may be going to Kentucky for an exhibition game' this upcoming season, according to Zagoria. The idea of a home-and-home series between St. John's and Kentucky first surfaced in April 2024 when Pope teased the idea during his introductory news conference. Pitino accepted the series on X (formerly Twitter) less than 24 hours later. The series was supposed to start in Lexington at Rupp Arena in 2025, with the return game the following year at Madison Square Garden. St. John's is expected to have one of the top rosters in the country in 2025-26, as Pitino brought in North Carolina guard Ian Jackson, Cincinnati forward Dillon Mitchell, Providence forward Bryce Hopkins, Arizona State guard Joson Sanon and Stanford guard Oziyah Sellers through the transfer portal this offseason. The Red Storm went 31-5 last season. Pitino posted a 219-50 overall record in his eight seasons at Kentucky, leading the Wildcats to six NCAA Tournament berths, five SEC tournament titles, three Final Fours and a national championship title in 1996. Pope led the Wildcats to a 24-12 record in his first season, including a Sweet 16 berth in the 2025 men's NCAA Tournament. Advertisement The CBS Sports Classic matchup between St. John's and Kentucky will be the second non-conference game that the Red Storm play against one of Pitino's former teams, as Louisville is set to travel up to Madison Square Garden this season to start a home-and-home series. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Report: Kentucky to play St. John's, Rick Pitino in CBS Sports Classic
