Report: Final location determined for Michigan State basketball's Champions Classic matchup vs. Duke
College basketball season is right around the corner for Michigan State and now fans have an idea where one of the biggest games of the season will be held.
Michigan State will reportedly travel to Duke for their Dec. 1 contest in the Champions Classic, according to CBS Sports.
News: Duke vs. Michigan State’s Champions Classic game will be held at Cameron Indoor Stadium this year, on Dec. 1, source confirms to @CBSSports. @AdamZagoria had it first. Kansas vs. Kentucky is going to be in Indianapolis. Tip-off times not yet decided.
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) November 6, 2020
Because of COVID-19 concerns, Michigan State won’t have to contend with the Cameron Crazies, as fans won’t be permitted.
Duke will have no fans for this game. “This is done,” source says. The reason the Champions Classic is not going to be in the same building is due to differing COVID-19 protocols between Big 12/SEC and ACC/Big Ten. This makes it a lot easier and doesn’t threaten more messiness.
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) November 6, 2020
The expectation is that Michigan State will host Duke in the near future, either as part of a special event or a regular non-conference game.
Would expect Duke will have to return this game at Michigan State in the next year or two, but what’s not yet determined is if that return will be part of the Big Ten-ACC challenge or a separate standalone.
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) November 6, 2020
The Champions Classic had originally been scheduled for a neutral site location in Chicago. After that location was scrapped, ESPN had plans to try and host the event inside a bubble in Orlando, Florida. Now, MSU gets a tough non-conference road game early in the season.
Michigan State is coming off a season in which they posted a 22-9 record and finished in a three-way tie with Wisconsin and Maryland for the best record in the B1G. Duke meanwhile went 25-6 overall and tied with Louisville and Virginia for the second best record in the ACC. Duke leads the all-time series 13-3.
Going up against perennial power Duke will certainly be an excellent litmus test for Tom Izzo’s squad. In addition to the game against Duke, the Spartans will face Virginia in the B1G/ACC Challenge and will reportedly host Notre Dame to start the 2020-21 season.
