Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball's Champions Classic Crown in Jeopardy

Since beating Michigan State in 2017, Duke basketball has been alone or tied atop the all-time Champions Classic standings.

Matt Giles

Duke basketball (Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports)
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Jon Scheyer's second Duke basketball team will look to bounce back from its 78-73 home loss to then-No. 12 Arizona on Friday night when it plays No. 18 Michigan State at 7 p.m. ET Tuesday (ESPN) in the United Center as part of the annual Champions Classic.

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The Blue Devils (1-1), who dropped seven spots to No. 9 in the AP Top 25 Poll on Monday, may need a win to maintain at least a tie for Champions Classic supremacy.

After all, the program is 7-5 all-time in the event, which always includes two games on the same night from a field of Duke, Michigan State, Kansas, and Kentucky, but tied with the Jayhawks.

With its No. 1 ranking, Kansas will face No. 17 Kentucky in the follow-up to the Blue Devils' battle against the Spartans. Kentucky and Michigan State are both 5-7 at the Champions Classic.

Duke has won four of its last six Champions Classic outings and is 3-1 against Michigan State at the showcase. The Blue Devils are 14-4 overall in their all-time series against the Spartans.

However, despite Michigan State's overtime loss to James Madison in its season opener, which caused the Spartans to freefall from No. 4 to No. 18 in the AP Poll, there's no doubt Tom Izzo has a formidable roster as Scheyer prepares to square off against the Hall of Famer for the first time as a head coach.

It's a high-level test under the bright lights for a Duke basketball squad facing its first game outside Cameron Indoor Stadium after posting the program's first home loss of the Scheyer era.

Following the Champions Classic, Duke will head home to gear up for three upcoming Blue Devil Challenge matchups in Durham: versus Bucknell at 6 p.m. Friday, La Salle on Nov. 21, and Southern Indiana on Nov. 24.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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