This week, the Champions Classic, a one-night event featuring some of the biggest names in college basketball, commences for the 15th time. Kansas, Duke, Kentucky, and Michigan State rotate playing each other in early-season, must-see matchups.
This year, the Kansas basketball team will face Duke in the late game, while Kentucky and Michigan State will clash in the early session.
Kansas has the best record of the four teams in the history of the Champions Classic, and the only school with a winning record against all three of the other teams.
What is the Kansas basketball team’s record in the Champions Classic
According to the NCAA, Kansas is 9-5 overall, and they are 3-1 against this year’s opponent, Duke. They are 3-2 against both Kentucky and Michigan State.
Duke has the second-best record at 8-6. They are 1-3 against Kansas, 3-2 versus Kentucky, and 4-1 against Michigan State.
Kentucky is 6-8 in the Champions Classic. They are 2-3 against both KU and Duke, and 2-2 against Michigan State.
The Spartans hold the worst record in the event's history, with a 5-9 overall record. They are 2-3 against the Jayhawks, 2-2 versus the Wildcats, and 1-4 when they’ve played the Blue Devils.
All four previous Champions Classic meetings between Kansas and Duke have been close affairs. In 2022, KU won 69-64. In 2019, in their only loss to the Blue Devils in this event, KU fell 68-66. In 2016, Frank Mason hit a late jumper to secure a 77-75 victory, and in 2013, Kansas’ 11-point 94-83 win was the biggest margin of victory between the two schools in the Champions Classic.
This edition of this blue blood rivalry might have featured two of the most heralded freshmen in the country. However, it appears that Darryn Peterson will not play in this game, which means fans will not get to see him and Cam Boozer on the court at the same time.
This season’s Kansas versus Duke Champions Classic matchup is shaping up to be just as exciting as the rest of the games between these two powerhouses.
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