KSR Gameday: The Champions Classic is here

The 2022-23 Kentucky Basketball season started last week, but if you’re like me, it didn’t really feel real until this morning. Tonight, the No. 4 Wildcats (2-0) take on the Michigan State Spartans (1-1) in the Champions Classic in Indianapolis. It will mark Kentucky’s first trip back to Gainbridge Fieldhouse since the loss to Saint Peter’s in the first round of the NCAA Tournament eight months ago. I think most have turned the page from that fateful day, but a big win tonight would go a long way toward exorcising the demons.

The Cats vs. the Spartans is the first game of the doubleheader, tipping off at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. No. 6 Kansas will take on No. 7 Duke in the late game without Bill Self or Mike Krzyzewski on the sidelines. Of course, Coach K retired and has been succeeded by Jon Scheyer, but the defending national champion Jayhawks will be without Self as he serves the program’s self-imposed four-game suspension. With three top-ten teams in the building (and one that finished just outside the latest Top 25 at No. 26), it was only fitting to bring the 2023 national championship trophy too.

The 2023 Men’s Basketball National Championship Trophy will be making an appearance @GainbridgeFH on November 15. pic.twitter.com/QUrCKkoHqU

— State Farm Champions Classic (@championclassic) November 14, 2022

Hopefully, that’s not the last time the Cats see that beautiful piece of hardware this season.

Vegas, TV/Radio info

Kentucky opened as a 6.5-point favorite yesterday. That line has since moved to Kentucky -7.5. The total is 110 points. The Cats have covered the spread in both of their games so far, going over the point total in one and under in the other.

As mentioned, the game will tip off at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. Dan Shulman, Dick Vitale, and Holly Rowe will be on the call, marking Vitale’s first game back following his vocal chord surgery. If you can’t watch the game, you can listen to Tom Leach and Goose Givens on the UK Sports Network.

• AM: 840 WHAS, 630 WLAP
• FM: 98.1 WBUL
• Satellite: Sirius 83 or 84, SXM App: 80
• Online: iHeart Radio

The KSR Pregame Show will start at 4:30 p.m. ET on 630 WLAP, 840 WHAS, and affiliates across the state. Come on down to KSBar and Grille to see it in person and get some pregame grub.

Will Oscar Tshiebwe play?

The big question for Kentucky tonight is the status of Oscar Tshiebwe. Yesterday, John Calipari said whether or not Oscar was able to go through practice without his knee swelling would be the deciding factor. If he doesn’t play, Lance Ware, Ugonna Onyenso, and Daimion Collins will hold down the frontcourt. Calipari said Collins rejoined the team Monday after returning from Texas for his father’s funeral.

For what it’s worth, Michigan State coach Tom Izzo thinks Oscar’s playing.

“I’m 99% sure he’ll play from all indications I got,” Izzo said yesterday. “but it is different. How long does he play, what does he do, how do they play with him now, how much improved is he from last year? Those are all things that we’re going in not knowing and that’s a little discomforting, to be honest with you.”

Kentucky vs. Michigan State: By the Numbers

Thus far, Kentucky has cruised to wins vs. Howard and Duquesne, while Michigan State beat Northern Arizona by 18 in its opener and lost by one to No. 2 Gonzaga on an aircraft carrier. A.J. Hoggard and Joey Hauser are the only Spartans averaging in double figures scoring, with 10.5 and 10.0 points per game apiece. Center Mady Sissoko anchors the middle with 7.5 rebounds per contest.

It’s hard to tell much about either squad two games in, especially since the Cats have been without Oscar and Collins for two games and Sahvir Wheeler for one. Even Calipari said he has “no idea what to expect”. Regardless, here’s the statistical comparison:

Hype video time

UK Alumni Club pre-party at Tin Roof

If you’re going to Indy and want to party with the BBN, the Central Indiana UK Alumni Club is hosting a pregame party at the Tin Roof downtown (36 South Pennsylvania Street) starting at 2 p.m. The party will include door prizes, giveaways, and raffle items to raise money for student scholarships.

So, yesterday was busy

Our morning posts are supposed to focus on the day ahead, not the day behind, but man, yesterday was a doozy. If you were offline, first, congrats. Second, here is the Cliffs Notes version of what you missed.

— Kentucky’s new NIL collective, The 15 Club, launched.

— The Men’s Soccer team received the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament.

— The Governor’s Cup will kick off at 3 p.m. ET on SEC Network.

— Stoops admitted Kentucky’s offensive philosophy needs to change. He also talked about the offensive line’s issues and the importance of NIL now that college football is essentially free agency.

— Kentucky landed DJ Wagner and John Calipari is very happy about it. We even got some vintage Swaggy Cal, as he donned a shirt bearing the names of all of his 2023 signees in a video message to the BBN about today’s game.

Just got out of practice and wanted to share a quick message with #BBN before a really tough game tomorrow against Michigan State. pic.twitter.com/FPaAMtxk4r

— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) November 14, 2022

— I think this calls for a DJ Wagner-to-Kentucky link dump!

• Breaking news post
• Impact
• National Takes
• Film Room
• John Calipari’s Quotes
• Wagner on “Why Kentucky?”
• Behind-the-scenes

Now showing on the KSR YouTube Channel…

…a heck of a whole lot. Monday brought us press conferences from Mark Stoops and John Calipari, a new KSR Football podcast, a new Sources Say podcast, and a depressing yet accurate summation of the Vanderbilt game from our videographer Steven Peake. Subscribe and dig in.

Mark Stoops Press Conference

John Calipari Press Conference

Sources Say breaks down DJ Wagner’s commitment

Football Podcast discusses the loss to Vanderbilt

Fan reaction to the Vanderbilt loss as it was happening

Subscribe to the KSR YouTube Channel for press conferences, interviews, original shows, fan features, and exclusive content.

College Basketball on TV today

The Champions Classic is the marquee event of the night. Not that it matters for our purposes anymore, but the College Football Playoff rankings will be unveiled between the two games in Indianapolis, so around 9 p.m. ET.

TIME	AWAY	HOME	TIME / TV	VENUE
7:00 PM	Winthrop	13 Auburn	SECN	Neville Arena
7:00 PM	Michigan St.	4 Kentucky	ESPN	Gainbridge Fieldhouse
7:00 PM	Vanderbilt	Temple	ESPN+	Liacouras Center
7:30 PM	Chattanooga	Ole Miss	ESPN+	The Pavilion at Ole Miss
8:00 PM	Gardner-Webb	1 N. Carolina	ACCN	Dean E. Smith Center
8:00 PM	SIUE	Missouri	ESPN+	Mizzou Arena
9:00 PM	Montana St.	Oregon	—	Matthew Knight Arena
9:00 PM	17 San Diego St	Stanford	PACN	Maples Pavilion
9:30 PM	6 Kansas	7 Duke	ESPN	Gainbridge Fieldhouse
10:00 PM	18 Alabama	South Alabama	ESPNU	MItchell Center
11:00 PM	21 Dayton	UNLV	CBSSN	Thomas & Mack Center

That should be enough to get you rolling today. Go Cats.