Kentucky vs. Kansas: Champions Classic Preview, How to Watch

We’re almost there, folks. In just about an hour, No. 17 Kentucky will tip it off vs. No. 1 Kansas in the Champions Classic at the United Center in Chicago.

After two easy wins, it’s time to see what this group of young Cats can do against the top-ranked team in the country. Is Kentucky’s talent enough to overcome Kansas’ experience and size in the middle? Once Duke vs. Michigan State wraps up and ESPN shares the latest College Football Playoff rankings, we’ll find out.

How to Watch

No. 17 Kentucky (2-0) vs. No. 1 Kansas (2-0)
9:30 p.m. ET (approximate) | Tuesday, November 14 | United Center, Chicago IL

• TV: ESPN (Dan Shulman, Jay Bilas, Holly Rowe)
• Streaming: WatchESPN
• Local Radio: 630 WLAP, UK Sports Network (Tom Leach, Jack Givens)
• Online Radio: iHeart
• Satellite Radio: Sirius 106 or 190
• Live Stats: Statbroadcast

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Team Records

No. 17/16 Kentucky: 2-0 (KenPom: 14)

• 11/6: 86-46 W vs. New Mexico State
• 11/10: 81-61 W vs. Texas A&M-Commerce

No. 1/1 Kansas: 2-0 (KenPom: 3)

• 11/6: 99-56 W vs. North Carolina-Central
• 11/10: 99-61 W vs. Manhattan

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Kentucky vs. Kansas Odds on FanDuel

Spread: Kansas -6.5
Total: 147.5 points
Kentucky Total: 70.5 points
Kansas Total: 77.5 points

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Kentucky vs. Kansas Player Prop Bets on FanDuel

Points

• Justin Edwards: 11.5 points
• Tre Mitchell: 12.5 points
• Kevin McCullar Jr.: 13.5 points
• Hunter Dickinson: 18.5 points
• DJ Wagner: 11.5 points
• Antonio Reeves: 15.5 points
• Dajuan Harris Jr.: 7.5 points
• KJ Adams Jr.: 10.5 points

Rebounds

• Kevin McCullar Jr.: 5.5 rebounds
• Justin Edwards: 5.5 rebounds
• Tre Mitchell: 7.5 rebounds
• Hunter Dickinson: 8.5 rebounds

Assists

• Dajuan Harris Jr.: 5.5 assists

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Kentucky Projected Starters

(Starting lineup based on the last game)

#21 – DJ Wagner
6-4 • 192 • GUARD • FRESHMAN
12.0 PPG, 3.5 APG, 1.0 RPG

#12 – Antonio Reeves
6-6 • 195 • GUARD • SENIOR
16.0 PPG (50% FG, 7-14 3PT), 4.0 RPG

#0 – Rob Dillingham
6-3 • 176 • GUARD • FRESHMAN
14.5 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 3.5 APG

#1 – Justin Edwards
6-8 • 203 • FORWARD • FRESHMAN
14.0 PPG, 6.0 RPG

#4 – Tre Mitchell
6-9 • 231 • FORWARD • GRADUATE STUDENT
13.5 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 3.0 APG

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Kansas Projected Starters

(Starting lineup based on the last game)

#1 – Hunter Dickinson
7-2 • 260 • CENTER • SENIOR
19.5 PPG, 3.5 APG, 1.5 BPG

#3 – Dajuan Harris Jr.
6-2 • 170 • GUARD • RS SENIOR
1.0 PPG, 7.5 APG, 2.5 RPG, 1.0 SPG

#13 – Elmarko Jackson
6-3 • 195 • GUARD • FRESHMAN
8.5 PPG, 7.5 APG, 1.5 RPG

#15 – Kevin McCullar Jr.
6-7 • 212 • GUARD • GRADUATE SENIOR
18.5 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 4.5 APG

#24 – KJ Adams Jr.
6-7 • 235 • FORWARD • JUNIOR
13.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 1.5 APG

For more on the Jayhawks, I encourage you to read Brandon Ramsey’s very thorough Scouting Report.

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Kentucky vs. Kansas, Champions Classic History

This will be the 36th meeting between Kentucky and Kansas, the two winningest teams in college basketball history (the Cats reclaimed the top spot last month). Kentucky holds a 24-11 edge in the series, but it’s tied at 5-5 in the John Calipari Era. This is the 11th game between the two programs over the last 13 years. The Jayhawks have won four of the last six.

Kentucky is 8-15 against No. 1-ranked teams, 3-2 in the John Calipari Era. The last time Kentucky played a top-ranked team was the 2019 Champions Classic, when the No. 2 Cats beat the No. 1 Michigan State Spartans 69-62. Kentucky is 5-7 in the Champions Classic, 2-2 when facing Kansas in the event.

Kentucky in the Champions Classic

Date	Opponent	Result	Score	Venue
11/15/2011	Kansas	W	75 – 65	Madison Square Garden (New York, NY)
11/13/2012	Duke	L	68 – 75	Georgia Dome (Atlanta, GA)
11/12/2013	Michigan State	L	74 – 78	United Center (Chicago, IL)
11/18/2014	Kansas	W	72 – 40	Bankers Life Fieldhouse (Indianapolis, IN)
11/17/2015	Duke	W	74 – 63	United Center (Chicago, IL)
11/15/2016	Michigan State	W	69 – 48	Madison Square Garden (New York, NY)
11/14/2017	Kansas	L	61 – 65	United Center (Chicago, IL)
11/6/2018	Duke	L	84 – 118	Bankers Life Fieldhouse (Indianapolis, IN)
11/5/2019	Michigan State	W	69 – 62	Madison Square Garden (New York, NY)
12/1/2020	Kansas	L	62 – 65	Bankers Life Fieldhouse (Indianapolis, IN)
11/9/2021	Duke	L	71 – 79	Madison Square Garden (New York, NY)
11/15/2022	Michigan State	L	77 – 86 2 OT	Gainbridge Fieldhouse (Indianapolis, IN)
11/14/2023	Kansas	–	–	United Center (Chicago, IL)
11/12/2024	Duke	–	–	State Farm Arena (Atlanta, GA)
TBD, 2025	Michigan State	–	–	TBD

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Pregame Storylines

How will Kentucky’s makeshift frontcourt fare vs. Hunter Dickinson?

Kentucky will be without all three of its seven-footers tonight as Aaron Bradshaw and Ugonna Onyenso continue to work their way back from foot injuries and Zvonimir Ivisic awaits clearance from the NCAA. That leaves Tre Mitchell as Kentucky’s big man, at 6’9″, to go up against 7’2″ center Hunter Dickinson. Kentucky has three 6’8″ players to provide support inside, including sophomore Adou Thiero, who is expected to return after missing the last game due to concussion protocol. Will it be enough against Dickinson, who is averaging 19.5 points and 8.0 rebounds so far this season?

Hey, Hunter!

It wasn’t that long ago that we thought Hunter Dickinson would be Kentucky’s next big man. Dickinson entered the transfer portal following his junior season at Michigan and picked Kansas over Kentucky, Maryland, and Villanova. Dickinson said NIL was the primary factor in his decision, but he did tell a story of how John Calipari ordered chicken tenders while at Jeff Ruby’s on Dickinson’s visit. We later learned those tenders were for Calipari’s dog, but it’s still the first thing I remember about his recruitment.

Youth vs. Experience

Kansas is one of the oldest squads in the country, ranking 31st in Division I experience with an average of 2.68 years. Kentucky is 150th, with 1.97 years of Div. I experience per player. When you break that down by age, the Cats are the seventh-youngest team in the country, with an average age of 20.0 years.

We know Kentucky’s freshmen are talented, but is that talent enough to beat an experienced and talented squad three games into the season?

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Join The Discussion on KSBoard

For the first time in over a decade, KSR will be without its in-game live blogs, a longtime tradition here on the blog. Unfortunately, the company that hosted the KSR live blogs no longer exists, so we are without the machine that made it all possible.

If you still want to interact with the KSR crew tonight, consider joining the conversation on KSBoard. New members can try 1 month for $1.

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Rapid Reaction on the KSR YouTube Channel

Fall asleep early? KSR’s got you covered. Jack Pilgrim and Steven Peake are at the United Center and will share their Rapid Reactions on the KSR YouTube Channel. We’ll also have wall-to-wall postgame coverage on the website, including highlights, comments from John Calipari and the players, stats, and takeaways.

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