This year's Champions Classic will probably be the best one yet, and also probably the best collection of teams in one spot that we will have all season. So why not continue?
The four schools are doing just that as Kansas joins Duke, Michigan State and Kentucky for three more years of the Champions Classic. The Champions Classic will, like this rotation, feature a game in Madison Square Garden and one in the United Center, and Indianapolis will replace Atlanta as the third location.
Kansas kicks off the next round next fall, taking on Kentucky in Indianapolis in a matchup of what should be two preseason top 5 teams and what could match up the best two recruiting classes in the country.
In 2015 Kansas will take on Michigan State in Chicago.
Finally, this round of the Champions Classic will conclude with Kansas taking on Duke in Madison Square Garden.
All four coaches are, as one could imagine, happy to continue the Champions Classic:
- "The University of Kansas is excited and proud to be part of the Champions Classic," said Bill Self, Kansas head coach. "It’s the most talked about premiere early-season event that our sport offers and to be involved with Duke, Michigan State and Kentucky on a yearly basis brings nothing but excitement to our sport."
From a college hoops standpoint, it's great to see two huge games that draw a lot of eyeballs to the sport so early in the year. From a Kansas perspective, it really helps get the brand out there and provides a big boost recruiting wise (as we have seen). I'm sure a lot of people would have liked to see a different school or two in there, but it's tough to beat the four we have in there.
Personally I would have liked to switch up the venues a bit more. Maybe a game in Staples Center to help recruiting on the west coast, or maybe playing one of the games outside (I know I'm a crazy person). Hopefully not playing one of these games in Atlanta won't hurt the inroads Kansas has made in that region lately, but regardless it will be great to have Kansas locked into one of the best nonconference games in the country for the next three years.