NEW YORK — Kentucky basketball enjoyed the early years of the Champions Classic . It won its first matchup in the inaugural edition of the event, 75-65 over Kansas , at Madison Square Garden in 2011. After the Champions Classic's first six years, UK owned a 4-2 mark in the revolving matchups versus fellow blue bloods Duke , Kansas and Michigan State .

But the tide has turned against the Wildcats since then.

Kentucky is 2-6 in its past eight games in the event. Stream Kentucky vs. Michigan State on ESPN

Entering tonight, UK's record in the Champions Classic is 6-8 . That ranks third of the four programs that comprise the event, ahead of only tonight's opponent: Michigan State is 5-9. (KU is 9-5, and Duke is 8-6.)

In the all-time series versus the Spartans, the Wildcats

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