The first leg of the Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden will feature No. 12 Kentucky facing No. 17 Michigan State . The last meetings between the programs came in 2022, when Michigan State defeated Kentucky 86-77. The Spartans have won five of the last eight matchups against the Wildcats.

Michigan State enters this game 3-0 with wins over Colgate , Arkansas and San Jose State . The Spartans have one of the best nonconference wins of any team -- a 69-66 victory over John Calipari's Razorbacks -- and have a chance to add another marquee win against the Wildcats this week.

Kentucky has also been tested early. The Wildcats lost to in-state rival Louisville earlier this month in a rare November meeting between the programs. Kentucky bounced back days later with a blowout w

See Full Page