Champions Classic in New York a star-studded stage. Are players prepared for it?
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Champions Classic preview: No. 10 Kentucky vs. No. 9 Duke
The Kentucky men’s basketball team opens its 2021-22 season Tuesday in New York City against longtime rival Duke in the State Farm Champions Classic. Click below to view all the stories previewing the game that have been published on Kentucky.com.
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Madison Square Garden. Kentucky versus Duke. The first game of Mike Krzyzewski’s last season as a storied college basketball coach.
The Champions Classic — which features Kansas against Michigan State as a warm-up act — will put the four teams on a grand stage to start the 2021-22 season Tuesday night.
Kansas Coach Bill Self drove home that point by noting a distinctive detail in his preparation: It will extend beyond the court.
“I told them, if you’re struggling with me yelling at you now because of the pressure or whatever, wait till Tuesday,” he said late last week. “The first time you run out there, you’re in the Garden, probably got some famous people maybe sitting in the front row. The stakes are high.”
Self said he spoke to his players about the famous people so it would not be a shock during the game.
“Hey, Spike (Lee) is going to be sitting right here,” the Kansas coach said he told his players. “And this is who is going to be sitting next to him.”
Self said he mentioned the famous film director/avid basketball fan in speaking with his players “so that they’re not just totally blown away by the atmosphere.
“I don’t know how we’ll react to it. But I think the veteran (players) should be accustomed to it. Although in a first game, everybody has a little extra juice.”
Coincidentally, Kentucky Coach John Calipari said he communicated with Lee when he didn’t see him at the New York Knicks’ home game Sunday night.
Keion Brooks and TyTy Washington all but shrugged during a teleconference Monday when asked about possibly seeing Spike Lee sitting courtside at the Champions Classic. Both smiled when asked about being distracted by famous fans.
“Once the game tips off, we’re going to get lost in the game,” Brooks said.
Added Washington: “Once the game gets going, we’re not really going to be worried about who’s in the crowd.”
Duke players also spoke of putting Tuesday’s game in perspective.
“I always have faith they can handle the stage,” co-captain Wendell Moore said of his younger teammates. “The only thing I tell them is it’s just another game, not any different than the game we’re going to play against Army.”
After playing against Kentucky, Duke’s next game is at home Friday against Army, which is Krzyzewski’s alma mater.
But Duke’s other co-captain, Joey Baker, acknowledged that Tuesday is different.
“It’s New York City,” he said. “It’s the buzz in the arena. And it’s been awhile since we’ve played in front of a packed house like that. I can’t even describe how excited myself and the rest of the team is to play there on Tuesday. I mean, it’s a special place.”
Baker, too, spoke of limiting the influence of fans, famous or otherwise.
“Part of playing in those big games is how much louder it is than anything they’ve experienced,” he said. “Making sure they know it’s going to be packed, loud (and) rowdy. We can’t let that shake us.”
Of course, players can rise to the occasion. Freshman Tyrese Maxey did so when Kentucky opened the 2019-20 season against Michigan State in Madison Square Garden.
“The biggest part of it is guys like that aren’t afraid to look bad,” Calipari said. “They don’t care. They’re going to go play. They’re not afraid to miss a shot or a key shot or a game-winning shot.
“It’s not going to change how they see it. They want that play.
“I’ve had a bunch of those guys. You just don’t know till the game is over.”
Falling back on a familiar punch line, Calipari said the game is “big” only if Kentucky wins.
“So, go play,” Calipari said he told the UK players. “Let’s be at our best. They’ll be at their best. Let’s see who is a little bit behind because at the end of the day, both teams will be fine. But we’re both going to learn about each other.”
Calipari saluted Krzyzewski as “the absolute best.” The UK coach added a telling comment.
“Now, I’m hoping this isn’t the last time (to match wits with the Duke coach),” he said. “Don’t make any mistake about that. I’m hoping we play one more.”
That seeming reference was to a Kentucky-Duke game deep in the 2022 NCAA Tournament.
Coincidentally, Self linked the Champions Classic to that kind of game.
“There will be guys more nervous for this game than the first game of the NCAA Tournament,” the Kansas coach said. “Just because we don’t have 30 games under our belt. . . . I anticipate there being some anxiousness.
“The bottom line is all the guys playing in this need to learn to adjust and play in (big games) because that is what we’re hoping to play in later.”
Tuesday
Champions Classic
What: Season-opening college basketball doubleheader
Where: Madison Square Garden in New York City
Game 1: No. 3 Kansas vs. Michigan State, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 2: No. 9 Duke vs. No. 10 Kentucky, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN)
This story was originally published November 8, 2021 at 2:04 PM.
