Two of college basketball’s biggest ‘blue bloods’ squared off Tuesday night in one of the sport’s biggest early-season events and they didn’t disappoint.

In what was a back-and-forth second half, No. 18 Kentucky overcame a nine-point halftime deficit to pull off the 77-72 upset of No. 6 Duke in the nightcap of the Champions Classic for its first signature win of the Mark Pope era in Lexington.

Duke star freshman Cooper Flagg turned over the ball twice in the final three possessions for the Blue Devils. Despite those costly turnovers, the preseason Associated Press All-American had an all-around game for Duke as he finished with a game-high 26 points on 9-of-19 shooting from the field with 12 rebounds, two assists and two blocks.

The big storyline from Tuesday’s Champions Classic between Duke and Kentucky is the second-half turnaround from Pope’s squad, who picked it up on both ends of the floor in the final 20 minutes. In the second half alone, the Wildcats forced six turnovers and held the Blue Devils to 29.4% from the field. Duke shot 48.6% from the field in the first half with just one turnover.

Leading the way for the Wildcats was forward Andrew Carr, with 17 points. The Wake Forest transfer had some big shots down the stretch for Kentucky as he scored 10 of Kentucky’s final 15 points.

Duke will now return home for a one-game home stand before a challenging fourth-game stretch that consists of games vs. No. 1 Kansas, No. 4 Auburn and No. 8 Arizona. As for Kentucky, the Wildcats will next play next Tuesday, Nov. 19 against Lipscomb at Rupp Arena.

With that, follow along here for a recap of scores, updates, highlights and more from Duke vs. Kentucky basketball in the 2024 Champions Classic:

Watch Duke vs Kentucky in the Champions Classic with Fubo (free trial)

Duke basketball vs Kentucky score updates

Duke vs Kentucky live updates

(This section was updated with new information)

Final: Kentucky 77, Duke 72

Kentucky upsets Cooper Flagg, Duke

Kentucky secures its first signature win of the Mark Pope era as it overcomes a nine-point halftime deficit to upset No. 6 Duke 77-72 in the Champions Classic.

Kentucky extends its lead to three

Lamont Butler pushes Kentucky’s lead to 75-72 with one of two free throws. What a second-half turnaround by Mark Pope and Kentucky, who have outscored Duke 38-26 in the half alone.

Cooper Flagg turns over ball

Cooper Flagg turns over the ball in front of the Duke bench. He looked to have slipped before turning over the ball. Kentucky gets the ball back up 74-72 with 5.5 seconds remaining.

Duke turns over ball, Kentucky retakes lead

Cooper Flagg turns over the ball. Otega Oweh hits both free throws at the line to put Kentucky up 74-72 with 10.3 seconds left.

Duke calls timeout with 26.5 seconds left, tied 72-72

The Blue Devils call their last remaining timeout. Duke will inbound the ball with 26.5 seconds remaining tied 72-72 with Kentucky. Seven seconds separate the game clock and the shot clock.

Cooper Flagg ties it at 72-72

Flagg gets the layup to roll in to tie the game at 72-72.

Kentucky retakes two-point lead

Andrew Carr responds quickly to put Kentucky back up two at 72-70 with a layup and a free throw after drawing the foul on Duke’s Khaman Maluach. 1:41 remaining in the second half as a play goes to review.

Cooper Flagg up to 23, Duke retakes lead

Big time play from Cooper Flagg as he draws the and-one after hitting a tough jumper inside the paint. Flagg knocks down the free throw to put Duke back up 71-70.

Kentucky takes lead

Wildcats take their first lead since the first half on a wide-open basket under the rim from Otega Oweh. Duke calls a timeout as it now trails Kentucky 69-67 with 2:09 remaining. Things getting interesting in the nightcap of the Champions Classic.

Kentucky ties game with free throw

Andrew Carr hits the free throw coming out of the media timeout to tie the game at 67-67 with 3:57 remaining in the second half. Duke is 1 for its last 10 from the field.

Andrew Carr makes basket, draws the and-one

Kentucky will have the chance to tie the game at 67-67 coming out of the under-four media timeout as Andrew Carr drew the foul as he moved through the paint. Layup goes in from Carr just before the timeout to make it 67-66 Duke. Big free throw coming up.

Wildcats have turned it up offensively and defensively in the second half, as Duke hasn’t hit a field goal in nearly four minutes.

Kerr Kriisa hits tough 3-pointer

Kerr Kriisa makes it a 1-point game as he hits a tough, challenged 3-pointer bringing it to a 65-64 Duke lead. Wildcats on 11-4 run.

Kentucky makes it a two-point game, timeout on floor

Koby Brea finds Brandon Garrison open for the layup to make it a two-point game. Timeout on the floor as Duke now leads 63-61 with 6:31 to go.

Kentucky has out-scored Duke 24-17 to open up the second half. Duke is struggling to build continuous momentum here in the second half, as it is 1 for its last 7 from the field.

Cooper Flagg hits jumper, extends Duke lead to six

Cooper Flagg continues to do it all for Duke as he gives the Blue Devils their first points in two-and-a-half minutes with a jumper. He is up to 19 points.

Kentucky quick run makes it a four-point game

Duke calls a timeout on the floor after Brandon Garrison puts the missed shot back in for Kentucky to make it a four-point game at 61-57. Things are slowly heating up in Atlanta between these two college basketball blue-bloods.

Cooper Flagg hits 3-pointer

Cooper Flagg continues his all-around game with a big 3-pointer for Duke. It is the first 3-pointer of the second half for the Blue Devils, who now lead 61-53. He is now at 17 points.

Duke goes cold shooting, Kentucky heats up

Kentucky continuing to put pressure on Duke coming out of halftime. Lamont Butler moves through the lane to get the layup to roll in while drawing the foul, making it a four-point game going into the under-12 media timeout. Duke is currently on a scoring drought of over two minutes.

Blue Devils lead 56-52 despite missing their last six shots from the field.

Sion James down, injured

Duke guard Sion James is favoring his right arm and shoulder after going down following a collision with Kentucky’s Amari Williams on a screen. James is the second Blue Devil to leave in the last few minutes, with Khaman Maluach being the other.

Cooper Flagg up to 14 points

Nice spin move along the baseline leads to the easy bucket inside the paint for Cooper Flagg, who is now at 14 points on 5-of-11 shooting from the field. Duke holds a nine-point lead at 54-45.

Duke’s defense comes up with stop

The Blue Devils’ defense continues to be all over the Wildcats’ offense as Kentucky turns over the ball for the eighth time tonight. Kentucky’s turnover sends the game into the under-16 media timeout with Duke holding a five-point lead at 50-45.

Kon Knueppel leads the game with 14 points and has made a few nice passes to start the second half. He remains on the court with two fouls.

Khaman Maluach with dunk

Cooper Flagg finds Khaman Maluach for the poster dunk to give Duke its first points of the second half. Blue Devils up 48-42.

Otega Oweh hits big 3 for Kentucky

Otega Oweh hits a much-needed 3-pointer for Kentucky as he cashes in the 3-pointer on the second chance opportunity. Duke now leads 46-40.

Khaman Maluach banged up, gets up

Duke big man Khaman Maluach looked to have rolled his right knee after a collision with a Kentucky player inside the paint. He stays down for a second before getting back up.

Halftime: Duke 46, Kentucky 37

Duke takes a 46-37 lead into the locker room at halftime thanks to a strong final nine minutes. Blue Devils controlled the pace for most of the half. Impressively, Duke only turned over the ball once in the first half and out-scored Kentucky 28-6 inside the paint.

Blue Devils star freshman duo Kon Knueppel and Cooper Flagg lead the game with 12 points each at halftime.

Some halftime stats:

Field goal percentage: Duke 48.6%, Kentucky 36.7%
3-point percentage: Kentucky 43.8%, Duke 25%
Turnovers: Kentucky 7, Duke 1
Rebounds: Duke 21, Kentucky 20
Bench points: Kentucky 9, Duke 2
Points in the paint: Duke 28, Kentucky 6
Assists: Kentucky 8, Duke 7

Kentucky cold shooting continues

Amari Williams can’t get the jumper in the paint to roll in. Kentucky has not hit a field goal in the last 3:22. Duke leading 46-37 with 5.2 seconds remaining in the first half.

Khaman Maluach puts together 4-point play

Duke jumps out to its biggest lead of the night at 10 points. Khaman Maluach makes back-to-back baskets: a dunk off the pass from Kon Knueppel and a putback off the offensive rebound.

Tyrese Proctor hits stepback 3-pointer

Duke’s finding its groove late in the first half as Tyrese Proctor knocks down an open 3-pointer to push the lead to 36-29. Mark Pope calls a timeout as Kentucky is 2 of its last 11 from the field.

Otega Oweh ends Kentucky shooting drought

Wildcats big man Otega Oweh ends a Duke 9-0 run with a put-back inside the paint. Kentucky out-rebounding Duke 17-15 early in this one.

Duke run puts Blue Devils up four

Defense leading into offense for Duke as Kon Knueppel steals the ball at half court and hands it off to Cooper Flagg for the easy bucket. Flagg’s basket extends Duke’s run to 7-0 and forces Mark Pope to call a timeout with the Blue Devils now up 28-24.

Cooper Flagg in double digits

Cooper Flagg hits both free throws to put him at 10 points in the first half. Blue Devils trail the Wildcats 24-23 with 8:47 remaining.

Duke in bonus

The Blue Devils will shoot free throws from here on out in the first half as Kentucky’s Andrew Carr is called for his second foul. Kon Knueppel can’t hit the free throw, keeping Duke’s deficit at three against Kentucky at 24-21.

Amari Williams with tough basket, completes 3-point play

Physical play by Kentucky big man Amari Williams as he hits the jumper while drawing the foul. The Drexel transfer completes the 3-point play to push Kentucky’s lead back up to three at 24-21.

Amari Williams responds back with jumper

Amari Williams responds quickly for Kentucky with a jumper going into the under-12 media timeout. Wildcats up early 21-19 in this Champions Classic showdown.

Sion James slams one home to tie the game at 19-19

Sion James ties the game at 19-19 with a dunk in transition. Nice play by the Blue Devils that started with Caleb Foster grabbing the defensive rebound and finding James in transition.

Kentucky hot from 3 to open up

Back-to-back 3s from Kerr Kriisa and Ansley Almonor push the Kentucky lead to 6-0 over the last 54 seconds. Wildcats are 5 of 5 from deep to open the game vs. Duke.

Cooper Flagg hits pull-up jumper

Duke star freshman guard Cooper Flagg takes advantage of the open space and hits the pull-up jumper to put the Blue Devils back up 13-12.

Duke leading Kentucky at first media timeout

At the under-16 media timeout, Duke holds a slight lead over Kentucky at 11-9. Tyrese Proctor leads the Blue Devils with seven points on a perfect 3 of 3 shooting from the field.

Duke-Kentucky settling in

The Blue Devils and Wildcats are tied 6-6 with 16:53 remaining in the first half as both teams trade early baskets and get their offenses going.

Pregame

Kentucky fans dress up as The Pope

First sighting of the night of a member of Big Blue Nation dressing up like The Pope with a Mark Pope Kentucky uniform.

Duke Champions Classic record

Duke enters Tuesday’s Champions Classic with an 8-5 overall record and a 3-1 series record vs Kentucky in the annual college basketball event. The Blue Devils’ 8-5 overall record is tied with Kansas for the best record among the Blue Devils, Jayhawks, Spartans and Wildcats.

Kentucky Champions Classic record 

Kentucky enters Tuesday’s Champions Classic with a 5-8 overall record and a 1-3 series record vs Duke in the annual college basketball event. The Wildcats are on a two-game losing streak vs the Blue Devils in the Champions Classic. 

Here’s a look at past results between Kentucky and Duke in the Champions Classic: 

2012: Duke 75, Kentucky 
2015: Kentucky 74, Duke 63
2018: Duke 118, Kentucky 84
2021: Duke 79, Kentucky

Kentucky basketball arrives at Champions Classic 

The Wildcats are on-site for Tuesday’s Champions Classic matchup with No. 6 Duke. Kentucky, which will rock its home white uniform on Tuesday, is 1-3 against Duke in the Champions Classic.

Duke basketball uniform vs Kentucky

The Blue Devils will rock with their alternate black uniforms vs. Kentucky in Tuesday’s Champions Classic. 

Cooper Flagg stats

Through two games at Duke, Flagg is shooting 44% from the field (25.0% from 3) and averaging 15.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. 

Here’s a game-by-game look at Flagg’s stats at Duke: 

vs. Maine: 6 of 15 shooting (40%) from the field for 18 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals
vs. Army: 5 of 10 shooting (50%) from the field for 13 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, three blocks and two steals

Kon Knueppel stats

Through two games at Duke, Knueppel is shooting 56.5% from the field (50.0% from 3) and averaging 18.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. 

Here’s a game-by-game look at Knueppel’s stats at Duke: 

vs. Maine: 8 of 14 shooting (57.1%) from the field for 22 points, four rebounds, two assists and a steal
vs. Army: 5 of 9 shooting (55.6%) from the field for 15 points, two rebounds, two assists and a steal

Who is Kentucky basketball’s coach? Mark Pope in first season

Former Kentucky center Mark Pope is in his first season leading the Wildcats program. The captain of the Wildcats’ 1996 national championship title was hired as Kentucky’s coach in April following John Calipari’s departure for Arkansas. Pope previously coached at BYU, where he posted a 110-52 overall record in five seasons. 

Champions Classic extended

Prior to the 2024 Champions Classic, ESPN PR announced on X (formerly Twitter) that the annual four-team event between Duke, Kansas, Kentucky and Michigan State has been extended through the 2028-29 college basketball season. 

Next year’s Champions Classic will take place on Nov. 18, 2025 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

What channel is Duke vs Kentucky on today?

TV channel: ESPN
Livestream: Watch ESPN app | Fubo (free trial)

Duke’s game against Kentucky will air on ESPN, with Dan Shulman (play-by-play) and Jay Bilas (analyst) on the call, while Jess Sims serves as the floor reporter. Streaming options include watch ESPN and Fubo, which offers a free trial.

Watch Duke vs Kentucky in the Champions Classic with Fubo (free trial)

Duke vs Kentucky time today

Date: Tuesday, Nov. 12
Time: 9 p.m. ET
Location: State Farm Arena (Atlanta)

Duke vs. Kentucky in the Champions Classic is scheduled to tip off at 9 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Nov. 12 from State Farm Arena in Atlanta.

Duke vs Kentucky history

Series record: Duke leads 9-5
Duke’s last win: 2021 (Duke 79, Kentucky 71)
Kentucky’s last win: 2015 (Kentucky 74, Duke 63)

Duke vs Kentucky predictions

‘The Wildcats have more experience, but the Blue Devils have more big-game experience with Caleb Foster and Tyrese Proctor. Kentucky’s offense is a ton of fun that should be a joy to watch throughout the season. But behind another efficient scoring effort from Kon Knueppel, and the defensive prowess of Cooper Flagg and Khaman Maluach, Duke will get more stops down the stretch to disappoint Big Blue Nation in SEC country.’

Duke vs Kentucky betting odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Monday, Nov. 11

Moneyline: Duke -250 | Kentucky +195
Spread: Duke (-6.5)
Over/under: 159.5 points

Duke basketball schedule 2024-25

All times ET

Monday, Nov. 4: vs. Maine (W, 96-42)
Friday, Nov. 8: vs. Army (W, 100-58)
Tuesday, Nov. 12: vs. Kentucky, Champions Classic, 9 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 16: vs. Wofford, Noon
Friday, Nov. 22: at Arizona, 10:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 26: vs. Kansas, Vegas Showdown, 9 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 29: vs. Seattle, Vegas Showdown, 7 p.m.

Kentucky basketball schedule 2024-25

Monday, Nov. 4: vs. Wright State (W, 103-62)
Saturday, Nov. 9: Bucknell (W, 100-72)
Tuesday, Nov. 12: vs. Duke, Champions Classic, 9 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 19: vs. Lipscomb, 7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 22: vs. Jackson State, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 26: vs. Western Kentucky, 6:30 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 29: vs. Georgia State, 7 p.m.

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It’s incredible how the narrative turns so quickly for NFL teams after a victory, compared to another demoralizing loss. 

Look at the Miami Dolphins, who picked up their third win of the season on Monday Night Football with a 23-15 win over the Los Angeles Rams. 

The Dolphins host the Las Vegas Raiders (2-7) and New England Patriots (3-7) in the next two weeks. If all goes well, Miami could be 5-6 before their primetime Thanksgiving game against the Green Bay Packers. That’s surely an optimistic outlook for the Dolphins, who withstood a four-game absence from Tua Tagovailoa’s early-season concussion.

On the other hand, let’s look at the New York Jets (3-7) and Dallas Cowboys (3-6). Both teams scored six points, and surrendered more than 30 in their Week 10 losses. And how do we view their seasons? This week’s USA TODAY Sports NFL overreactions begin with the Jets and Cowboys.  

Jets, Cowboys will flounder until end of the season

Both of their seasons are pretty much over. There’s no postseason in sight.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

The best part (for the hate watchers) is there are eight more weeks to see how their much more their seasons unravel. Blame polarizing Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones for helping their team become such enigmas for how they captivate our attentions, then fail to deliver almost weekly. 

Rodgers and the Jets got a much-needed win against the Houston Texans in Week 9, but they are 1-4 since interim coach Jeff Ulbrich took over for the fired Robert Saleh on Oct. 8. The Jets have lost six of seven, and that’s even after Rodgers and Davante Adams got their wish to play together again. 

In Dallas, poor Jerry was forced to answer questions about the sunlight beaming into AT&T Stadium, blinding star receiver Ceedee Lamb from catching a touchdown pass last week. Cowboys starter Dak Prescott is out for the season, needing hamstring surgery. A season that started with playoff hopes might barely sniff third place in the NFC East. 

The Jets host the Indianapolis Colts this Sunday, while the Cowboys host the Texans on Monday Night Football this week. We’ll see if they can either turn their seasons around, or proceed toward the inevitable. 

Will any team beat Chiefs? At least 12-0 is in the cards

Will any team beat the Kansas City Chiefs this season? It’s hard to say. The Chiefs may not go undefeated, but we’ll play it safe with this overreaction: Kansas City will be 12-0 before December. 

The two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs remain undefeated at 9-0 thanks to linebacker Leo Chenal blocking a field-goal attempt as time expired to beat the Denver Broncos 16-14 last Sunday. 

Andy Reid’s Chiefs have won 15 consecutive games, dating back to last season. Whether it’s star quarterback Patrick Mahomes leading a late scoring drive, Steve Spagnuolo’s defense making timely stops or special teams making big plays, Kansas City is on a roll with their third straight Super Bowl in sight. 

No team would love to play spoiler more than next Sunday’s opponent. Mahomes and the Chiefs will visit Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills in the game of the week. Kansas City has bounced Buffalo from three of the last four playoffs, including last season’s divisional round game in western New York. Sure, Buffalo is 8-2 but those two losses showed offensive shortcomings they’ll experience again Sunday against Kansas City. 

After the Bills, the Chiefs will finish November facing the Carolina Panthers and Raiders and get to 12-0. As for the rest of the season, keep an eye on Chiefs vs. Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Day. 

Russell Wilson and Steelers are going to win a playoff game

You’d think Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens would be leading the AFC North, but guess again. It’s Mike Tomlin. It’s Russell Wilson. And it’s the Pittsburgh Steelers atop the division after improving to 7-2 with their 28-27 win over the Commanders last Sunday. 

Well, Pittsburgh has the lead until it hosts Baltimore this week. It’ll be their first matchup in the division this season. The Steelers may relinquish the division lead, but both teams are playoff bound in 2024. 

Our overreaction: The Steelers will win their first playoff game since 2016. They’re not a bona fide Super Bowl contender just yet, but Pittsburgh is the grittiest team in the NFL not named Kansas City and Detroit. Even as a wild card, they have the potential to upend a division leader. 

Tomlin has always coached his teams to fight until the very end, to believe when there’s no reason to believe even with the horrible quarterback play they’ve endured since Ben Roethlisberger retired. Tomlin made the right move starting Wilson in place of Justin Fields, although many questioned the Super Bowl-winning coach. Pittsburgh has won four in a row, including all three of Wilson’s starts this season. 

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Two of college basketball’s biggest ‘blue bloods’ will square off Tuesday night in one of the sport’s biggest early-season events: No. 6 Duke vs. No. 18 Kentucky.

The Blue Devils and Wildcats will close out the night at the 2024 Champions Classic at State Farm Arena in Atlanta at 9 p.m. ET, a matchup that was preceded by No. 1 Kansas taking on Michigan State.

Tuesday’s matchup against the Wildcats’ is the first big test of the season for Duke, who has opened up the season with wins over Maine and Army. It is also the first time that Blue Devils star freshmen Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel will play on the national stage. Flagg, the expected No. 1 overall pick in this year’s NBA draft, is averaging 15.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.5 steals this season.

Mark Pope, a member of the Wildcats’ 1996 national championship team, is in his first year coaching at his alma mater after Calipari left for Arkansas over the offseason.

The Blue Devils enter Tuesday having won five of their last seven games in the Champions Classic. Duke’s 8-5 all-time record in the Champions Classic is tied with Kansas for the best record in the annual event among the Blue Devils, Jayhawks, Spartans and Wildcats.

With that, follow along here for live scores, updates, highlights and more from Duke vs. Kentucky basketball in the 2024 Champions Classic:

Watch Duke vs Kentucky in the Champions Classic with Fubo (free trial)

Duke basketball vs Kentucky score updates

This section will be updated after tip-off

Duke vs Kentucky live updates

(This section was updated with new information)

Second half: Duke 61, Kentucky 57

Kentucky quick run makes it a four-point game

Duke calls a timeout on the floor after Brandon Garrison puts the missed shot back in for Kentucky to make it a four-point game at 61-57. Things are slowly heating up in Atlanta between these two college basketball blue-bloods.

Cooper Flagg hits 3-pointer

Cooper Flagg continues his all-around game with a big 3-pointer for Duke. It is the first 3-pointer of the second half for the Blue Devils, who now lead 61-53. He is now at 17 points.

Duke goes cold shooting, Kentucky heats up

Kentucky continuing to put pressure on Duke coming out of halftime. Lamont Butler moves through the lane to get the layup to roll in while drawing the foul, making it a four-point game going into the under-12 media timeout. Duke is currently on a scoring drought of over two minutes.

Blue Devils lead 56-52 despite missing their last six shots from the field.

Sion James down, injured

Duke guard Sion James is favoring his right arm and shoulder after going down following a collision with Kentucky’s Amari Williams on a screen. James is the second Blue Devil to leave in the last few minutes, with Khaman Maluach being the other.

Cooper Flagg up to 14 points

Nice spin move along the baseline leads to the easy bucket inside the paint for Cooper Flagg, who is now at 14 points on 5-of-11 shooting from the field. Duke holds a nine-point lead at 54-45.

Duke’s defense comes up with stop

The Blue Devils’ defense continues to be all over the Wildcats’ offense as Kentucky turns over the ball for the eighth time tonight. Kentucky’s turnover sends the game into the under-16 media timeout with Duke holding a five-point lead at 50-45.

Kon Knueppel leads the game with 14 points and has made a nice few passes to start the second half. He remains on the court with two fouls.

Khaman Maluach with dunk

Cooper Flagg finds Khaman Maluach for the poster dunk to give Duke its first points of the second half. Blue Devils up 48-42.

Otega Oweh hits big 3 for Kentucky

Otega Oweh hits a much-needed 3-pointer for Kentucky as he cashes in the 3-pointer on the second chance opportunity. Duke now leads 46-40.

Khaman Maluach banged up, gets up

Duke big man Khaman Maluach looked to have rolled his right knee after a collision with a Kentucky player inside the paint. He stays down for a second before getting back up.

Halftime: Duke 46, Kentucky 37

Duke takes a 46-37 lead into the locker room at halftime thanks to a strong final nine minutes. Blue Devils controlled the pace for most of the half. Impressively, Duke only turned over the ball once in the first half and out-scored Kentucky 28-6 inside the paint.

Blue Devils star freshman duo Kon Knueppel and Cooper Flagg lead the game with 12 points each at halftime.

Some halftime stats:

Field goal percentage: Duke 48.6%, Kentucky 36.7%
3-point percentage: Kentucky 43.8%, Duke 25%
Turnovers: Kentucky 7, Duke 1
Rebounds: Duke 21, Kentucky 20
Bench points: Kentucky 9, Duke 2
Points in the paint: Duke 28, Kentucky 6
Assists: Kentucky 8, Duke 7

Kentucky cold shooting continues

Amari Williams can’t get the jumper in the paint to roll in. Kentucky has not hit a field goal in the last 3:22. Duke leading 46-37 with 5.2 seconds remaining in the first half.

Khaman Maluach puts together 4-point play

Duke jumps out to its biggest lead of the night at 10 points. Khaman Maluach makes back-to-back baskets: a dunk off the pass from Kon Knueppel and a putback off the offensive rebound.

Tyrese Proctor hits stepback 3-pointer

Duke’s finding its groove late in the first half as Tyrese Proctor knocks down an open 3-pointer to push the lead to 36-29. Mark Pope calls a timeout as Kentucky is 2 of its last 11 from the field.

Otega Oweh ends Kentucky shooting drought

Wildcats big man Otega Oweh ends a Duke 9-0 run with a put-back inside the paint. Kentucky out-rebounding Duke 17-15 early in this one.

Duke run puts Blue Devils up four

Defense leading into offense for Duke as Kon Knueppel steals the ball at half court and hands it off to Cooper Flagg for the easy bucket. Flagg’s basket extends Duke’s run to 7-0 and forces Mark Pope to call a timeout with the Blue Devils now up 28-24.

Cooper Flagg in double digits

Cooper Flagg hits both free throws to put him at 10 points in the first half. Blue Devils trail the Wildcats 24-23 with 8:47 remaining.

Duke in bonus

The Blue Devils will shoot free throws from here on out in the first half as Kentucky’s Andrew Carr is called for his second foul. Kon Knueppel can’t hit the free throw, keeping Duke’s deficit at three against Kentucky at 24-21.

Amari Williams with tough basket, completes 3-point play

Physical play by Kentucky big man Amari Williams as he hits the jumper while drawing the foul. The Drexel transfer completes the 3-point play to push Kentucky’s lead back up to three at 24-21.

Amari Williams responds back with jumper

Amari Williams responds quickly for Kentucky with a jumper going into the under-12 media timeout. Wildcats up early 21-19 in this Champions Classic showdown.

Sion James slams one home to tie the game at 19-19

Sion James ties the game at 19-19 with a dunk in transition. Nice play by the Blue Devils that started with Caleb Foster grabbing the defensive rebound and finding James in transition.

Kentucky hot from 3 to open up

Back-to-back 3s from Kerr Kriisa and Ansley Almonor push the Kentucky lead to 6-0 over the last 54 seconds. Wildcats are 5 of 5 from deep to open the game vs. Duke.

Cooper Flagg hits pull-up jumper

Duke star freshman guard Cooper Flagg takes advantage of the open space and hits the pull-up jumper to put the Blue Devils back up 13-12.

Duke leading Kentucky at first media timeout

At the under-16 media timeout, Duke holds a slight lead over Kentucky at 11-9. Tyrese Proctor leads the Blue Devils with seven points on a perfect 3 of 3 shooting from the field.

Duke-Kentucky settling in

The Blue Devils and Wildcats are tied 6-6 with 16:53 remaining in the first half as both teams trade early baskets and get their offenses going.

Pregame

Kentucky fans dress up as The Pope

First sighting of the night of a member of Big Blue Nation dressing up like The Pope with a Mark Pope Kentucky uniform.

Duke Champions Classic record

Duke enters Tuesday’s Champions Classic with a 8-5 overall record and a 3-1 series record vs Kentucky in the annual college basketball event. The Blue Devils’ 8-5 overall record is tied with Kansas for the best record among the Blue Devils, Jayhawks, Spartans and Wildcats.

Kentucky Champions Classic record 

Kentucky enters Tuesday’s Champions Classic with a 5-8 overall record and a 1-3 series record vs Duke in the annual college basketball event. The Wildcats are on a two-game losing streak vs the Blue Devils in the Champions Classic. 

Here’s a look at past results between Kentucky and Duke in the Champions Classic: 

2012: Duke 75, Kentucky 
2015: Kentucky 74, Duke 63
2018: Duke 118, Kentucky 84
2021: Duke 79, Kentucky

Kentucky basketball arrives at Champions Classic 

The Wildcats are on-site for Tuesday’s Champions Classic matchup with No. 6 Duke. Kentucky, which will rock its home white uniform on Tuesday, is 1-3 against Duke in the Champions Classic.

Duke basketball uniform vs Kentucky

The Blue Devils will rock with their alternate black uniforms vs. Kentucky in Tuesday’s Champions Classic. 

Cooper Flagg stats

Through two games at Duke, Flagg is shooting 44% from the field (25.0% from 3) and averaging 15.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. 

Here’s a game-by-game look at Flagg’s stats at Duke: 

vs. Maine: 6 of 15 shooting (40%) from the field for 18 points, seven rebounds, five assists and three steals
vs. Army: 5 of 10 shooting (50%) from the field for 13 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, three blocks and two steals

Kon Knueppel stats

Through two games at Duke, Knueppel is shooting 56.5% from the field (50.0% from 3) and averaging 18.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game. 

Here’s a game-by-game look at Knueppel’s stats at Duke: 

vs. Maine: 8 of 14 shooting (57.1%) from the field for 22 points, four rebounds, two assists and a steal
vs. Army: 5 of 9 shooting (55.6%) from the field for 15 points, two rebounds, two assists and a steal

Who is Kentucky basketball’s coach? Mark Pope in first season

Former Kentucky center Mark Pope is in his first season leading the Wildcats program. The captain of the Wildcats’ 1996 national championship title was hired as Kentucky’s coach in April following John Calipari’s departure for Arkansas. Pope previously coached at BYU, where he posted a 110-52 overall record in five seasons. 

Champions Classic extended

Prior to the 2024 Champions Classic, ESPN PR announced on X (formerly Twitter) that the annual four-team event between Duke, Kansas, Kentucky and Michigan State has been extended through the 2028-29 college basketball season. 

Next year’s Champions Classic will take place on Nov. 18, 2025 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

What channel is Duke vs Kentucky on today?

TV channel: ESPN
Livestream: Watch ESPN app | Fubo (free trial)

Duke’s game against Kentucky will air on ESPN, with Dan Shulman (play-by-play) and Jay Bilas (analyst) on the call, while Jess Sims serves as the floor reporter. Streaming options include watch ESPN and Fubo, which offers a free trial.

Watch Duke vs Kentucky in the Champions Classic with Fubo (free trial)

Duke vs Kentucky time today

Date: Tuesday, Nov. 12
Time: 9 p.m. ET
Location: State Farm Arena (Atlanta)

Duke vs. Kentucky in the Champions Classic is scheduled to tip off at 9 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Nov. 12 from State Farm Arena in Atlanta.

Duke vs Kentucky history

Series record: Duke leads 9-5
Duke’s last win: 2021 (Duke 79, Kentucky 71)
Kentucky’s last win: 2015 (Kentucky 74, Duke 63)

Duke vs Kentucky predictions

‘The Wildcats have more experience, but the Blue Devils have more big-game experience with Caleb Foster and Tyrese Proctor. Kentucky’s offense is a ton of fun that should be a joy to watch throughout the season. But behind another efficient scoring effort from Kon Knueppel, and the defensive prowess of Cooper Flagg and Khaman Maluach, Duke will get more stops down the stretch to disappoint Big Blue Nation in SEC country.’

Duke vs Kentucky betting odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Monday, Nov. 11

Moneyline: Duke -250 | Kentucky +195
Spread: Duke (-6.5)
Over/under: 159.5 points

Duke basketball schedule 2024-25

All times ET

Monday, Nov. 4: vs. Maine (W, 96-42)
Friday, Nov. 8: vs. Army (W, 100-58)
Tuesday, Nov. 12: vs. Kentucky, Champions Classic, 9 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 16: vs. Wofford, Noon
Friday, Nov. 22: at Arizona, 10:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 26: vs. Kansas, Vegas Showdown, 9 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 29: vs. Seattle, Vegas Showdown, 7 p.m.

Kentucky basketball schedule 2024-25

Monday, Nov. 4: vs. Wright State (W, 103-62)
Saturday, Nov. 9: Bucknell (W, 100-72)
Tuesday, Nov. 12: vs. Duke, Champions Classic, 9 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 19: vs. Lipscomb, 7 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 22: vs. Jackson State, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 26: vs. Western Kentucky, 6:30 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 29: vs. Georgia State, 7 p.m.

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It only took one week for the first College Football Playoff rankings to be completely flipped on its head.

Just a few days after the selection committee set the tone for the rest of the regular season, Georgia was upset by Mississippi and Miami suffered its first loss thanks to Georgia Tech. As a result, the currently projected top 12 teams to make the newly expanded College Football Playoff was shaken up in the second release of rankings. In this week’s edition, we see how the automatic byes for conference champions really affected seeding, and who could end up having to play a first-round game on the road.

So what does the playoff look like at the moment? Here’s a look at the current bracket heading into Week 12.

College Football Playoff bracket

First round

Higher seed would be home team

No. 5 Ohio State vs. No. 12 Boise State
No. 6 Penn State vs. No. 11 Mississippi
No. 7 Indiana vs. No. 10 Alabama
No. 8 Tennessee vs. No. 9 Notre Dame

Quarterfinals

No. 1 Oregon (Big Ten leader) vs. winner of Tennessee/Notre Dame
No. 4 seed Miami (ACC leader) vs. winner of Ohio State/Boise State
No. 3 seed Brigham Young (Big 12 leader) vs. winner of Penn State/Mississippi
No. 2 seed Texas (SEC leader) vs. winner of Tennessee/Notre Dame

College Football Playoff format

The biggest victim of this week’s rankings is Georgia. Even though the Bulldogs are ranked No. 12, they wouldn’t qualify for the playoff at the moment because Boise State would be the fifth conference champion, and therefore gets an automatic spot into the playoff.

On the other hand, Miami still keeps a first-round bye because they are in position to win the ACC, even though it is coming off a loss. Big Ten teams Ohio State, Penn State and Indiana also fall back on seeding as a result of the Hurricanes and BYU getting the first round byes.

College Football Playoff rankings

Oregon (10-0)
Ohio State (8-1)
Texas (8-1)
Penn State (8-1)
Indiana (10-0)
Brigham Young (9-0)
Tennessee (8-1)
Notre Dame (8-1)
Miami (Fla) (9-1)
Alabama (7-2)
Mississippi (8-2)
Georgia (7-2)
Boise State (8-1)
SMU (8-1)
Texas A&M (7-2)
Kansas State (7-2)
Colorado (7-2)
Washington State (8-1)
Louisville (6-3)
Clemson (7-2)
South Carolina (6-3)
LSU (6-3)
Missouri (7-2)
Army (9-0)
Tulane (8-2)

The San Francisco 49ers are keeping one of their own.

San Francisco inked defensive back Deommodore Lenoir to a five-year contract extension that will make him among the richest players at his position.

The cornerback is one of the more underappreciated players across the NFL and hasn’t yet solidified himself as a household name on the Niners’ defense. But after taking a back seat to Nick Bosa and Fred Warner, Lenoir’s contract signals it’s time for fans across the league to take notice.

The 25-year-old’s rookie deal was set to expire following this season, sending the cornerback to free agency. This new deal will keep him in the Bay Area through 2029. San Francisco drafted Lenoir in the fifth round in 2021. His versatility and meteoric rise to stardom ensures that a key piece of the 49ers’ secondary isn’t going anywhere, anytime soon.

Here’s what to know about Lenoir’s extension:

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

Deommodore Lenoir contract details

Lenoir is signing a five-year extension worth $92 million, USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon confirmed. Here’s a look at how the deal breaks down.

Term: 5 years
Total value: $92 million
Average annual value (AAV): $18.4 million

The extension has been a long time coming for Lenoir, who has shifted between playing outside and nickel corner while doing whatever the team asks of him. The former Oregon Duck is just the latest example of the 49ers’ ability to find gems in the middle rounds of the draft every year. It’s an impressive list that includes the likes of Warner, George Kittle, Dre Greenlaw and Brock Purdy.

Lenoir stepped into a starting role in 2022 and maintained his hold on the job in 2023, starting all 17 games. He has appeared in 56 games over four seasons, posting six interceptions, 23 pass breakups, one sack, a forced fumble and 233 total tackles.

The extension marks a big raise for the cornerback, who is making $3.1 million this season, according to Spotrac. The guaranteed money remains unclear, but Lenoir will be among the highest-paid CBs in the league starting next season.

NFL’s highest-paid CBs

There are a variety of ways to measure contracts in the NFL. Between average annual value (AAV), guaranteed money and total contract value, Lenoir finds himself amongst the best cornerbacks the league has to offer.

AAV

Jalen Ramsey, Miami Dolphins: $24.1 million
Patrick Surtain II, Denver Broncos: $24 million
Jaire Alexander, Green Bay Packers: $21 million
A.J. Terrell, Atlanta Falcons: $20.25 million
Denzel Ward, Cleveland Browns: $20.1 million
Marshon Lattimore, Washington Commanders: $19.52 million
Marlon Humphrey, Baltimore Ravens: $19.5 million
Trevon Diggs, Dallas Cowboys: $19.4 million
Tyson Campbell, Jacksonville Jaguars: $19.125 million
L’Jarius Snead, Tennessee Titans: $19.1 million
Jaylon Johnson, Chicago Bears: $19 million
Deommodore Lenoir, San Francisco 49ers: $18.4 million

Total contract value

Denzel Ward, Cleveland Browns: $100.5 million
Marshon Lattimore, Washington Commanders: $97.6 million
Marlon Humphrey, Baltimore Ravens: $97.5 million
Trevon Diggs, Dallas Cowboys: $97 million
Patrick Surtain II, Denver Broncos: $96 million
Deommodore Lenoir, San Francisco 49ers: $92 million
Jaire Alexander, Green Bay Packers: $84 million
A.J. Terrell, Atlanta Falcons: $81 million
Tyson Campbell, Jacksonville Jaguars: $76.5 million
L’Jarius Snead, Tennessee Titans: $76.4 million

The former Atlanta Braves All-Star catcher, cast onto the free agent market after his team declined an $8 million option for 2025, signed a two-year, $12 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels, the club announced Tuesday. 

D’Arnaud, who turns 36 in February, was a key member of Braves teams that won four National League East titles and made five playoff appearances from 2020-2024. He hit 60 home runs and produced a .749 OPS in that span for Atlanta. 

He hit a pair of home runs during Atlanta’s 2021 run to the World Series title, and had three two-hit games in their six-game conquest of Houston in that year’s Fall Classic. 

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Yet after the Braves traded for Oakland’s Sean Murphy before the 2022 season, d’Arnaud fell into a timeshare role, though he caught the majority of games this year after Murphy suffered an oblique injury. He’ll be in a similar situation in Anaheim, where second-year player Logan O’Hoppe produced 20 homers and a 2.7 WAR season last season. 

A resident of Lakewood, roughly halfway between Angel and Dodger Stadium, d’Arnaud may look to play recruiter now for the always pitching-hungry Angels. His next-door neighbor in Atlanta, L.A. native Max Fried, is a free agent, as is Fried’s high school teammate, Jack Flaherty. 

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Russell Wilson has three wins in his first three starts of the season, and the Pittsburgh Steelers have occupied the top spot in the AFC North for the last two weeks.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin was questioned for starting Wilson in place of Justin Fields after a 4-2 start – but he’s surely happy about his decision.

Wilson helped rout the New York Jets with three total touchdowns, put together two scoring drives to put away the New York Giants and threw the game-winning touchdown Sunday to help Pittsburgh beat the Washington Commanders 28-27.

Wilson has accounted for seven total touchdowns, and the Steelers are 7-2 – their best start since 2020, when their first loss came in Week 13.

Is it enough to get Wilson in the MVP conversation? Not quite yet. But Wilson’s play in Pittsburgh has been worthy enough to ponder the discussion.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

If Wilson and the Steelers get a win next week over Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens, then it’ll be time to push Wilson into USA TODAY Sports’ NFL MVP rankings.

Arizona Cardinals star Kyler Murray and Philadelphia Eagles star Jalen Hurts have better cases at this point. Both have played every game for their division-leading squads, but they don’t quite stack up with our Top 5.

Joe Burrow and Baker Mayfield, each tied for the NFL lead with 24 touchdown passes, would have serious arguments if the Bengals and Buccaneers weren’t both 4-6.

Here are USA TODAY Sports’ NFL MVP rankings after Week 10:

5. Commanders QB Jayden Daniels, stock even

Daniels and the Commanders dropped to second place in the NFC East behind the Philadelphia Eagles after Sunday’s 28-27 loss to the Steelers.

Daniels went 17-for-34 (50%) for 202 yards and did not throw a touchdown in the game. He did lead two touchdown drives, where running back Austin Ekeler scored. But he was unable to create any late-game magic against Pittsburgh like he did with his Hail Mary touchdown in Week 8.

Daniels is still the favorite to win Offensive Rookie of the Year and is a contender for MVP. He just needs to bounce back to boost his case.

4. Bills QB Josh Allen, stock even

Josh Allen threw no touchdowns and had two interceptions, but a win is a win — Buffalo defeating Indianapolis 30-20 on Sunday. Allen did have a rushing touchdown, the 57th of his career, which tied O.J. Simpson for second in team history.

More important, Buffalo is atop the AFC East with the third-best record in the NFL (8-2). The Bills have won five in a row after dropping their only games of the season despite key injuries to pass-catching targets Keon Coleman, Amari Cooper and Dalton Kincaid.

Allen’s MVP case could either get a major boost or take a hit next week, when the Bills host the Kansas City Chiefs.

3. Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, stock even

Mahomes threw only one touchdown in a hard-fought, 16-14 Chiefs win Sunday over the Denver Broncos.

It was another week where Mahomes had to rely on either the defense or special teams to pull out another victory, with linebacker Leo Chenal blocking what would have been a game-winning kick for Denver at the buzzer.

Mahomes remains idle in our MVP race this week. And let’s face it: Mahomes’ MVP case is boosted because the Chiefs are the only undefeated team in the NFL. But Mahomes will have a chance to further separate himself against Allen and the Bills in Buffalo next week.

2. Lions QB Jared Goff, stock even

Not even five interceptions could drop Goff from the second spot in our MVP rankings. That’s because he led four scoring drives to help Detroit come back from a 16-point deficit in Houston on Sunday.

Goff threw two touchdowns and got kicker Jake Bates into position for a 52-yard field goal as the Lions beat the Texans 26-23 on ‘Sunday Night Football.’

Goff and the NFC-best Lions continue to roll. The comeback win helped Detroit improve to 8-1, the second-best record in the NFL. And Detroit’s schedule lightens up with the Jaguars, Colts and Bears in the next three games.

1. Ravens QB Lamar Jackson, stock even

The camera panned to Jackson after Joe Burrow found Ja’Marr Chase for a 70-yard touchdown pass, and it was like Jackson never even flinched.

Jackson and Burrow each threw four touchdowns, but it was the Ravens who left ‘Thursday Night Football’ with a 35-34 win after Cincinnati’s two-point attempt to win the game with 38 seconds left failed.

Jackson helped Baltimore overcome a 21-7 deficit in the third quarter with four scoring drives, including three touchdowns in the fourth quarter. He remains the leader in our NFL MVP race, keeping the Ravens at 7-3 and in contention for the AFC North crown with the Steelers.

Baltimore faces Pittsburgh next week in another game that could further boost Jackson’s chances of winning his third MVP award.

The 2024-25 men’s college basketball season began last Monday with a slew of games. For many across the country, though, their attention won’t be fixed on the sport until Tuesday night, when four of the best, most consistently successful programs in the country square off against one another.

The first of those games came with a bit of history.

No. 1 Kansas pulled away from Michigan State for a 77-69, helping coach Bill Self to his 591st win with the Jayhawks and allowing him to surpass the legendary Phog Allen as the career coaching victory leader with the program.

Hunter Dickinson led the way in what was an offensively challenged matchup at times, scoring a game-high 28 points and making 13 of his 21 shots. The fifth-year senior added a game-high 12 rebounds.

The game featured 11 ties and two lead changes, with Kansas leading by as many as 10 late in the first half. Leading 60-57 with about six minutes remaining, the Jayhawks finished the game on a 17-12 run to earn the eight-point victory.

The Jayhawks entered the season as the No. 1 team in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll and remained there after an undefeated first week that was finished off by a 92-89 victory against then-No. 10 North Carolina inside a raucous Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas. Self’s team led by as many as 20 before squandering the lead late and rallying for the win.

Here’s the score, updates, highlights and more from Kansas vs. Michigan State basketball in the Champions Classic:

Kansas basketball vs Michigan State score updates

Kansas vs Michigan State live updates

Final: Kansas 77, Michigan State 69

Jeremy Fears steal and layup keeps Michigan State alive

With Kansas nursing an eight-point lead and attempting to milk the clock away with 50 seconds remaining, Jeremy Fears Jr. pokes the ball away for the Spartans and gets an uncontested layup on the other end.

Jayhawks lead 72-66 with 45.9 seconds remaining. Michigan State needs more breaks like that, but Fears’ savvy play keeps his team within striking distance.

Kansas pulling away from Michigan State

The Spartans got within four, 63-59, after a bucket from Szymon Zapala, but the Jayhawks responded with five unanswered points from Dajuan Harris Jr., with the last of those points coming on a three-point play in transition.

Kansas is up nine, 68-59, with 3:29 remaining. It’s the largest lead for either team since late in the first half.

AJ Storr 3 puts Kansas up five

In what has been a back-and-forth, closely contested second half, Kansas is starting to create some distance, now with a multi-possession lead.

A 3-pointer from Wisconsin transfer AJ Storr has the Jayhawks up five and with a free throw from Hunter Dickinson, that advantage is now up to six with 7:17 left.

Michigan State’s second 3-pointer of night ties game

The Spartans have been ice cold from beyond the arc, missing 15 of their first 16 3-pointers. That didn’t deter Jaxon Kohler, though, who pulls up from near the top of the key and drains a shot to tie the game at 52 with 8:51 remaining, prompting a timeout from Bill Self.

Kansas, Michigan State starting to heat up

After a slog of a first half, the Jayhawks and Spartans are starting to deliver some excitement at the Champions Classic.

The teams have combined to make 13 of their 25 shots in the second half. Notably, Hunter Dickinson is now up to 23 points on an efficient 11-of-16 shooting, along with a game-high eight rebounds.

Kirk Cousins sitting courtside for Michigan State vs Kansas

Atlanta Falcons quarterback and former Michigan State star Kirk Cousins made the quick trip over to State Farm Arena to watch his alma mater take on Kansas.

Cousins is one of several former Spartans at the game, along with Steve Smith (who spent five of his 14 NBA seasons with the Atlanta Hawks) and Mark Dantonio.

Michigan State cuts into deficit to start second half

The Spartans are now within a bucket, having outscored Kansas 8-4 in the opening four minutes of the second half.

Frankie Fidler has led the way for Michigan State with four points in the second half.

Halftime: Kansas 30, Michigan State 24

The Jayhawks broke the game open a bit in the final minutes of the half, using a 12-2 run to take a 30-20 lead before Jase Richardson’s four-point play kept Michigan State within striking distance.

Some halftime stats:

Field goal percentage: Kansas 36%, Michigan State 26%
3-point percentage: Kansas 20%, Michigan State 9%
Turnovers: Michigan State 7, Kansas 6
Rebounds: Kansas 25, Michigan State 22
Bench points: Michigan State 18, Kansas 9
Points in the paint: Kansas 18, Michigan State 10
Assists: Kansas 10, Michigan State 3

Kansas’ Hunter Dickinson leading all players with 15 points and six rebounds while Richardson came off the bench to pace Michigan State with eight points.

Jase Richardson completes four-point play

Prized freshman Jase Richardson, the son of former NBA and Michigan State star Jason Richardson, has been one of the bright spots for Michigan State thus far and just turned in his most impressive play yet.

With the Spartans trailing by 10 in the final seconds of the first half, Richardson drains a 3-pointer and is fouled. He heads to the line and makes the free throw to complete the four-point play and get Michigan State within six at halftime.

Kansas run puts Jayhawks up five

Following a brutal start, Kansas is starting to find its rhythm offensively. The Jayhawks are on a 7-0 run over the past 1:42 to give the Jayhawks a 23-18 lead with 3:20 remaining in the first half.

After missing 21 of its first 27 shots, Bill Self’s team has made four of its past five attempts. Hunter Dickinson is up to 15 points and has made seven of his 10 field goals.

Hunter Dickinson up to double figures

For as much of an offensive struggle as it has been thus far for the Spartans and Jayhawks, at least one player has delivered.

Hunter Dickinson is up to 10 points with 7:05 remaining in the first half, accounting for the overwhelming majority of Kansas’ scoring output. He has made five of his team’s six field goals. He has a game-high four rebounds, as well.

Kansas, Michigan State cold shooting continues

It’s tied at 10 halfway through the first half, which has largely been a product of poor shooting. Both teams, especially Kansas, have gotten some good looks, but haven’t been able to knock them down.

The Jayhawks and Spartans have combined to make just six of their 32 shots. Hunter Dickinson is four of five. Everyone else is two of 27.

Michigan State takes lead with 8-0 run

The Spartans got off to a slow start, but have scored six unanswered to tie the game with 13:13 left in the first half.

Kansas has been held without a point for 4:08. After making four of their first eight shots, the Jayhawks have missed their past 10 attempts.

Hunter Dickinson gets Kansas’ first eight points

Jayhawks big man Hunter Dickinson is no stranger to Michigan State, having played the Spartans for three seasons at Michigan. He’s putting that familiarity to good use so far, having scored all eight of Kansas’ points early on.

Pregame

Officials for Kansas vs Michigan State basketball

The three referees working Tuesday night’s game in Atlanta between Kansas and Michigan State are Keith Kimble, Paul Szelc and Tony Padilla.

Kansas, Michigan State starters

Here’s a look at the starting lineups Tuesday night for the Jayhawks and Spartans, according to the StatBroadcast feed:

Kansas

G Dajuan Harris Jr.
G Zeke Mayo
G Rylan Griffen
F KJ Adams
C Hunter Dickinson

Michigan State

G Jeremy Fears Jr.
G Jaden Akins
F Frankie Fidler
F Xavier Booker
C Szymon Zapala

What channel is Kansas vs Michigan State on today?

TV channel: ESPN
Livestream: Watch ESPN app | Fubo (free trial)

Kansas’ game against Michigan State will air on ESPN, with Dan Shulman (play-by-play) and Jay Bilas (analyst) on the call, while Jess Sims serves as the floor reporter. Streaming options include watch ESPN and Fubo, which offers a free trial.

Watch Kansas vs Michigan State in the Champions Classic with Fubo (free trial)

Kansas vs Michigan State history

Series record: Series tied 5-5
Kansas’ last win: 2021 (Kansas 87, Michigan State 74)
Michigan State’s last win: 2015 (Michigan State 79, Kansas 73)

Kansas vs Michigan State predictions

‘It’s hard for me to imagine MSU winning this game unless the 3-point shots start to fall in a big way. We’re going to find out how ready this group is to compete at a Final Four-type level. Because unlike some years when MSU has beaten what’s turned out to be a disappointing Kentucky or Duke team at the Champions Classic, this Kansas squad is unquestionably a legitimate contender.’

Kansas vs Michigan State betting odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Monday, Nov. 11

Moneyline: Kansas -250 | Michigan State +195
Spread: Kansas (-5.5)
Over/under: 150.5 points

Michigan State basketball schedule 2024-25

All times ET

Monday, Nov. 4: vs. Monmouth (W, 85-67)
Friday, Nov. 8: vs. Niagara (W, 96-60)
Tuesday, Nov. 12: vs. Kansas, Champions Classic, 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 16: vs. Bowling Green, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 19: vs. Samford, 8 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 25: vs. Colorado, 5 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 26: vs. UConn/Memphis, TBA
Wednesday, Nov. 27: vs. UNC/Dayton/Iowa State/Auburn, TBA

Kansas basketball schedule 2024-25

All times ET

Monday, Nov. 4: vs. Howard (W, 87-57)
Saturday, Nov. 9: vs. North Carolina (W, 92-89)
Tuesday, Nov. 12: vs. Michigan State, Champions Classic, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 19: vs. UNC-Wilmington, 8 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 26: vs. Duke, Vegas Showdown, 8 p.m
Saturday, Nov. 30: vs. Furman, TBA

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No one knows if the NBA Cup will be around in 30 years.

Heck, no one knows what the world will look like in three decades let alone the NBA.

Thirty years ago, who knew that a player would score 40,000 career points and play at an All-NBA level at almost 40 years old? And who knew coming out of the 1992 Barcelona Olympics that three-plus decades later, the league’s MVP would be won by a player born outside of the United States for six consecutive seasons from 2019-2024?

The league’s plans for the NBA Cup are long term. It rebranded the “in-season tournament,” designed a trophy and added a title sponsor for the event which began last season.

The NBA is invested – including a significant promotional campaign that features actors Michael Imperioli and Rosario Dawson and NBA stars, including Steph Curry; specially designed NBA Cup courts for each team (NBA Commissioner Adam Silver admittedly is a fan of the colorful courts); and unique uniforms for home and road games.

The Emirates NBA Cup begins Tuesday, and the league looks to build on a modicum of success from last season that concluded with the Los Angeles Lakers beating the Indiana Pacers. TV ratings for the NBA Cup final averaged 4.58 million viewers and was the most-watched non-Christmas game since February 2018. It helped that it was the Lakers – featuring LeBron James and Anthony Davis – and an exciting Pacers team led by blossoming star Tyrese Haliburton.

As the 67-game event wrapped group play and headed for the knockout rounds in the quarterfinals, semifinals and final, teams wanted to win. And there is a financial reward, including nearly $515,000 this season for each player on the NBA Cup championship team.

A refresher course: The 15 teams from the East were divided into three groups of five and the 15 teams from the West were divided into three groups of five. Teams in the same group will play each other once – two games at home, two games on the road on Tuesdays and Fridays, starting Tuesday and wrapping up group play Dec. 3.

Four teams from each conference advance to the quarterfinals – the winner of each group plus one wild card (a team that finished second in its group and won the tiebreaker) from each conference. The semifinals are Dec. 14 and the championship game (East winner vs. West winner) is Dec. 17 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. All games, except the title game, count in a team’s overall win-loss record.

The league made minor tweaks to the NBA Cup such as excluding overtime scoring from points differential and total points tiebreakers. And there are intriguing groups: Denver, Dallas, New Orleans, Golden State and Memphis in Group C in the West, and New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Brooklyn and Charlotte in Group A in the East.

The NBA seeks to create a meaningful event early in the season that can generate interest post-World Series and pre-Christmas as the NFL and college football seasons unfold – and with games on nights when there are traditionally few high-profile football games.

Eleven months ago at the NBA Cup final, Silver said, ‘I want to thank all of the players in the league and the coaches, of course, the teams, for embracing this new concept. I know it doesn’t come without challenges. There’s no doubt there’s some things that we are learning this time through. Overall, we are thrilled with the interest we’ve seen so far this season.’

Traditions don’t happen overnight. Or over the course of two seasons. Now, we can make real-time judgements on TV ratings, ticket sales, fan interest and the competition of games.

But the true measure of the NBA Cup’s success – or absence of it – will be revealed in 10, 15, 20 or 30 years.

Follow Jeff Zillgitt on social media @JeffZillgitt