Men's college basketball has struggled to tip off its season with any fanfare in the midst of November football.

 

To combat that, four of the sport's top programs -- Duke, Michigan State, Kentucky and Kansas -- have committed to create the Champions Classic, an early-season marquee event debuting in 2011 and televised by ESPN.

 

The first Champions Classic is set for Madison Square Garden in New York, with Duke facing Michigan State and Kentucky meeting Kansas on Nov. 15, 2011.

 

Year 2 at the Gerogia Dome in Atlanta will see Michigan State vs. Kansas and Duke vs. Kentucky on Nov. 13, 2012.

 

The third event, Nov. 12, 2013 at the United Center in Chicago, will have Michigan State playing Kentucky and Kansas playing Duke.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=5898231

 

Kansas in the Garden, Duke in the Georgia dome, and MSU at the United Center. Should be 3 great games for UK.

Nice! Will be fun to watch!

Nothing but good can come from it. I like an early season test. Forget protecting a meaningless ranking, lets test the mettle!!

Really like the idea of this event and the match ups it's going to create.

 

Would've liked to see Kansas/UK this year instead though. Jayhawks will lose a lot after this year, including Selby.

 

I think the UK/Kansas match up is a year too late.

Nothing wrong with strengthening the schedule and getting the season started off with some tough competition. I love it!

This is long overdue. And I agree with Walter, in that I would much prefer UK playing someone other than Kansas next year. Why would you not want UK vs. Duke in The Garden? Oh well, it's better than nothing, I suppose.

This is going to be great.

Great news!

Cool. Wish it was a little tournament so that you are guaranteed 2 games instead of 1. But that would probably eliminate everyone from competing in other early season tournaments.

'11 Kansas in NYC

'12 Duke in Atlanta

'13 Michigan State in Chicago.

 

Just awesome.

Love it. Definitely want to go to MSG to see this next year.

Really like the idea of this event and the match ups it's going to create.

 

Would've liked to see Kansas/UK this year instead though. Jayhawks will lose a lot after this year, including Selby.

 

I think the UK/Kansas match up is a year too late.

 

Count me among those who think the NBA is going to have a lockout after this year. UK and Kansas will have several of their stars back.

Kansas will get in good recruits regardless. Wonder when info about tickets will be released?

Poor North Carolina. Maybe some day they will be considered one of the top programs. Ain't going to be this day.

For the purposes of a better play on the teams it would have been cooler had it been:

 

UK v KU and USM v MSU. Of course, the 2nd game would have really sucked, but I was in it for the aesthetics.