The opening week of college basketball is in the books, and what a week it was. No. 6 Gonzaga blew out No. 8 Baylor, No. 11 Auburn grounded its flight due to a player scuffle onboard and the Big East struggled out the gate.
The Champions Classic highlights the second week of the season. Here are the five best games from Nov. 11 to 17, plus predictions.
Michigan State vs. No. 1 Kansas | Tuesday
The Champions Classic is the true signal that college basketball has returned. The Spartans and top-ranked Jayhawks face off in Atlanta, with KU having won the last three meetings. Michigan State will have a chance if it can stop an old foe in former Michigan star Hunter Dickinson. In six career meetings against MSU, Dickinson has averaged 19.3 points and 7.6 rebounds. Kansas played two wildly different halves in Friday’s win over No. 9 North Carolina. After blowing a 20-point lead, KU prevailed. Which team shows up on Tuesday?
Prediction: Kansas takes care of business, leaning heavily on Dickinson for an 83-68 win.
No. 7 Duke vs. No. 23 Kentucky | Tuesday
Any time these two link up, it’s worth the watch. New head coach Mark Pope had Kentucky’s offense looking like a well-oiled machine last week, averaging 101.5 points per game. Duke’s offense isn’t far behind at 98 points per game. Tuesday is Duke’s stud freshman Cooper Flagg’s first primetime introduction to the world. He’s lived up to the billing so far, averaging 14 points, nine rebounds and four assists per game. Kentucky’s dogged defense will create problems.
Prediction: Kentucky uses its crisp ball movement on the offensive end and its veteran roster to surprise the Blue Devils, 90-81.
No. 2 Alabama at No. 14 Purdue | Friday
Purdue isn’t what it was last year without Zach Edey, but Mackey Arena is one of the toughest places to play in the country. In a world where Power 4 schools typically play neutral site games, it’s a beautiful thing to see a marquee matchup on campus. Watch the point guards in this one. Purdue’s Braden Smith and Alabama’s Mark Sears are two of the best in the nation. Sears is more of a scorer (19 points per game), while Smith is a pass-first guard (11 assists per game).
Prediction: Mackey is a tough place to play, but Alabama is elite. The Tide leave with a hard-fought 81-76 win.
Loyola Chicago at Princeton | Friday
Give some love to the little guys. Loyola was the Atlantic-10 regular season champion last year and received votes to win the title this year. Princeton won the Ivy League last season and received all but one vote to repeat. Keep an eye on Princeton’s Caden Pierce. Last year’s Ivy League Player of the Year is averaging 17.5 points and seven rebounds per game. Loyola will have to find an answer for him.
Prediction: Pierce puts together a big game to lead Princeton to a 75-62 win.
Ohio State at No. 13 Texas A&M | Friday
The Buckeyes upset No. 19 Texas to open the season thanks to a three-point shooting barrage. Ohio State knocked down 14 threes in its win. A&M will have to defend the long ball better than Texas did, but the Aggies also need Wade Taylor IV to find his stroke. He is averaging 11.5 points per game and shooting just 36% from the field. If he turns in another lackluster showing, it will be another statement win for Ohio State.
Prediction: Things could be different Friday night, but from what we’ve seen so far, it appears the Buckeyes are primed for another big win, 77-70.
