Kentucky set to play in 2011 Champions Classic

In order to compete with the November Football schedule, College Basketball will try to place 4 of the top teams in the sport against each other in early season play. Today, ESPN announced that Kentucky, Kansas, Duke, and Michigan State will play each other over the next 3 years as part of the newly created Champion Classic.

In 2011, the first Champions Classic will take place in Madison Square Garden in New York. Duke will play Michigan State while Kentucky faces Kansas. Games are set for Nov. 15.

In 2012 the games will be hosted in Atlanta's Georgia Dome. Matchups for the second year will be Michigan State vs. Kansas and Duke vs. Kentucky. These games will be Nov. 13.

In 2013, the third and final year of the Champions Classic, games will be played on Nov. 12, 2013 in Chicago's United Center. The matchups will be Michigan State vs. Kentucky and Kansas playing Duke.

"I'm ecstatic about it because for our program it's probably bigger than all the others," said Michigan State coach Tom Izzo, who won the national championship in 2000 and has been to six Final Fours with the Spartans. "We're maybe the team that has come on in the last 10 years while the others have been there for 50. It's an honor and a privilege. It really will bring a lot of attention for basketball."

This has all along been part of the John Calipari scheme. Tough early season matchups leading to maturation and late season success.