PODCAST: Locked on College Basketball previews Champions Classic and battle with Kansas
The Champions Classic gets underway on Tuesday, November 14, with Duke and Michigan State squaring off first at 7:00 PM ET, followed by Kentucky and Kansas at 9:30 PM, with both games taking place at the United Center in Chicago and broadcast on ESPN.
Locked on College Basketball hosts Andy Patton and Isaac Schade previewed these two matchups, expressing concern about Kentucky's lack of size as they head into this game without big men Aaron Bradshaw, Ugonna Onyenso, and Zvonomir Ivisic.
"What are you going to do with Hunter Dickinson in the middle?" Schade wondered. "That's got to be the biggest question. The young Kentucky backcourt has been good so far; really curious to see how that matches up with Kansas' ability to defend."
Dickinson is a former All-American who is averaging 19.5 points, eight rebounds, and 3.5 assists through Kansas' first two games, albeit against weak opponents in NC Central and Manhattan.
Still, the presence of Dickinson and veteran big KJ Adams will present a very tough test for John Calipari and the Wildcats, who will rely on 6'9 veteran Tre Mitchell to anchor the post while they wait for Bradshaw and Onyenso to get healthy - and hopefully some clarity from the NCAA on Ivisic's eligibility.
Kentucky's young talent has yet to be tested this season, and a battle with Kansas' experienced core, including Kevin McCullar and Dajuan Harris, will provide exactly that - and regardless of outcome, it will make this Wildcats team better in the long run.
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