No. 1 Kansas to Face Michigan State in Champions Classic Tuesday

Tuesday, November 12

Atlanta, Ga. / State Farm Arena

5:30 p.m. CT

University of Kansas

Michigan State

Lawrence, Kansas - November 8, 2024 -KU Men’s Basketball during game between Kansas and North Carolina at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, KS. Photo by /Kansas Athletics

Photo by: Missy Minear/Kansas Athletics

No. 1 Kansas to Face Michigan State in Champions Classic Tuesday

11/11/2024 8:58:00 AM | Men's Basketball

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LAWRENCE, Kan. – No. 1 Kansas (2-0) will face Michigan State (2-0) in the State Farm Champions Classic on Tuesday, Nov. 12, at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta. The contest will start at 5:30 p.m. CT and will be televised on ESPN.

Kansas is coming off a 92-89 win against No. 9 North Carolina on Nov. 8. Michigan State improved to 2-0 with a 96-60 win versus Niagara on Nov. 7.

The Kansas-Michigan State series dates back to 1960 and Kansas holds an 8-7 edge. Kansas has won the last three and four of the last five meetings, including the last two Champions Classic matchups - 92-87 in 2018 and 87-74 in 2021 in New York City.

Kansas is 8-5 in the Champions Classic and the Jayhawks have won seven of their last eight appearances in the event after last year's 89-84 win against Kentucky in Chicago. Duke is also 8-5 in the Champions Classic, while Kentucky is 5-8 and Michigan State is 5-8.

With the Nov. 8 win against North Carolina, Kansas head coach Bill Self tied Phog Allen as the winningest coach in KU history. Self is 590-143 in his 22nd season at KU. Phog Allen was 590-129 in 36 seasons on the KU sidelines. Also with the win, Kansas improved to 25-4 against Associated Press Top 10 teams inside Allen Fieldhouse under Self. The Jayhawks have won their last nine AP top-10 matchups in Allen Fieldhouse dating back to a 71-58 win against then-No. 2 Baylor on Feb. 27, 2021.

Through two games, Kansas' 43.5 bench points per game ranks second in the Big 12 (Arizona at 45.5) and 22nd nationally. Kansas' bench produced 45 points against Howard on Nov. 4 and 42 points against No. 9 North Carolina on Nov. 8, marking consecutive games of 40 or more bench points. The last time Kansas' bench added 40 or more points in consecutive games was Jan. 2, 2011 vs. Miami (44) and Jan. 5, 2011 vs. UMKC (42). The highest bench points per game average in the Bill Self era is 25.5 in 2006-07.

Graduate guard Dajuan Harris Jr. leads Kansas in assists with eight on the season. With his fourth assist of the night against North Carolina, Harris moved into a tie for third on the all-time Kansas career assist list with Cedric Hunter (1984-87) at 684. Harris now trails Jacque Vaughn (804, 1994-97) and Aaron Miles (954, 2002-05) on the list. Harris also moved into fifth on the Kansas career minutes list played at Kansas. He now has 4,137 minutes, passing Jeff Boschee who had 4,109 from 1999-2002. He trails Kirk Hinrich (2000-03) who is fourth in minutes played with 4,187.

Senior guard Zeke Mayo, who has came off the bench in each of Kansas' first two games, is averaging 20.0 points per game with a 53.8 field goal percentage (14-26). Graduate center Hunter Dickinson is averaging 18.0 ppg and 8.0 rpg with a team-high three steals and three blocks. Senior forward KJ Adams and freshman forward Flory Bidunga are each averaging 10.5 ppg. Bidunga is also averaging 8.0 rpg.

UP NEXT
Kansas returns home to host Oakland on Saturday, Nov. 16. Tip from Allen Fieldhouse will be at 5 p.m. CT and the game will be televised on ESPN+.

This recent series that dates back to 2009 and Kansas is 2-0 all-time against Oakland. KU defeated Oakland, 89-59, on Nov. 25, 2009, in Allen Fieldhouse in a KU home contest for the Hall of Fame Classic. Kansas defeated Oakland, 102-59, on Nov. 24, 2017, in Allen Fieldhouse in a KU home contest for the Hoophall Miami Invitational.