CHICAGO - The Champions Classic usually gives the college basketball world its first real read on the heavyweights, and Tuesday night did exactly that. Michigan State knocked off Duke, while Kansas rolled past Kentucky and sent fresh doubt swirling around Mark Pope’s roster construction.
Kansas’ biggest buzz belonged to Darryn Stokes, who entered the night as the clear favorite to be the best prospect in this NBA draft class and looked the part against the school that finished second in his recruitment. Stokes said the game was “personal” to him, and he backed it up with 21 points, 10 rebounds and four assists.
He was the best player on the floor for long stretches, and the most eye-catching part of his night was the jumper: four made threes on eight attempts, including one on the move. He had come in just 1 of 4 from deep over his first two games, but Bill Self said afterward he believed Stokes could shoot 40% from distance this season.
The bigger takeaway with Stokes was how forcefully he played. He kept attacking in transition, got downhill to the rim, and still moved the ball without forcing the issue.
For a player with his size, physicality and feel, the ceiling is obvious. If this level holds, it’s hard to picture anyone else going No. 1 in June.
Kentucky, meanwhile, left the night with the same uneasy feeling that has hovered over its 2025-26 season. The Wildcats’ reported $22 million roster has already raised questions, and their spring portal additions did little to quiet them in their first major test.
The point guard spot remains the biggest concern, with Furman transfer Alex Wilkins and Washington transfer Zoom Diallo sharing the ballhandling load. Wilkins had a rough night, finishing with five turnovers, one assist and a 3-for-10 shooting line.
Diallo scored efficiently, but he didn’t record an assist. It’s only one game, but the Wildcats’ point guard play looks like a real issue with a stretch of marquee games coming over the next month.
Power forward is another spot worth watching. Kentucky’s late push for Mark Mitchell came up empty, leaving Ousmane N’Diaye and James Madison transfer Justin McBride to handle the job.
Kansas forward Tre White led all scorers with 30 points, while N’Diaye and McBride combined for just four points and four rebounds. That won’t make Kentucky fans feel any better about where things stand.
Duke’s loss carried a different kind of warning sign. The Blue Devils have assembled a loaded roster, and the bench is packed with former five-stars and future NBA talent.
Two top-20 recruits from this year’s class didn’t even play Tuesday. But against Michigan State’s pressure and disruption, Duke had no one who could seize the game and steady the offense.
Wisconsin transfer John Blackwell took on the biggest shot load, leading the team with 16 attempts. Patrick Ngongba II, who had been dealing with illness before the game, had been a focal point in exhibitions and early tune-ups.
The 17-year-old Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje, Duke’s most talented player, barely made a mark with five points and four rebounds.
That was the problem in a nutshell: when the game turned into a half-court grind, Duke didn’t have the kind of player who could take control and settle everything down. There’s no panic necessary, but it was not the cleanest first look at this team under real pressure.
Michigan State’s win was built on defense, and Scott was the reason. Tom Izzo has been praising him for a while, and Tuesday felt like his national introduction.
The sophomore posted five points, but his six blocks were the headline - and even that number undersells how much he changed the game. He erased shots, forced Duke’s wings out of their comfort zone and kept showing up as a help defender in the lane and on drives.
Jeremy Fears Jr. put up 18 points and 11 assists, but Scott was the one who swung the night.
Scott didn’t shoot it well, but he’s already started the season solidly on offense. Add in a defensive performance like this, and he starts looking like one of the most impactful two-way players in the Big Ten and beyond.
In Other News...
Kansas Freshmen Just Gave Fans A Dangerous Glimpse Against Kentucky
A nationally televised win over Kentucky gave Kansas fans an early look at what this freshman class can do when it starts clicking. Tyran Stokes set the tone with 23 points and four three-pointers, while Taylen Kinney kept the offense moving with eight assists in an 89-69 rout that felt as much about promise as it did about the final margin.
For Jayhawks supporters, the most interesting part may be where this goes next. Both Stokes and Kinney were heavily recruited by Kentucky, and they made a point of showing their value in a game that carried plenty of attention beyond the box score. If this is the kind of impact Kansas can get from its freshmen this early, the rest of the season could get very interesting in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Tyran Stokes Just Gave Kansas Fans A Reason To Dream
Tyran Stokes gave Kansas plenty to feel good about in the Champions Classic, turning in a 23-point, 10-rebound effort in an 89-69 win over Kentucky. The freshman forward looked comfortable in a big setting, and Bill Self pointed to the way Stokes handled his emotions while still staying effective from start to finish.
For Stokes, the matchup carried extra weight. He grew up in Louisville and was recruited by Kentucky, so the stage had a little more meaning than most November games, and he said as much afterward while crediting his coaches for the confidence he showed in his shooting. For Kansas, the encouraging part is not just the performance itself, but the possibility that a young player already looks ready for nights when the spotlight is brightest. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Already Looks Like A Team Nobody Wants To Face
Kansas got the kind of early-season win that tends to travel well, handling Kentucky 89-69 in a game that looked comfortable long before the final buzzer. The Jayhawks were connected on both ends, and Trey Kaufman-Renn played a big part in that rhythm, finishing with 12 points, six rebounds and six assists without a turnover while helping keep the offense flowing cleanly.
Kentucky never found much traction, especially with Malachi Moreno hampered by fouls and the Wildcats struggling to generate easy points off cuts. For Kansas, that kind of complete performance is exactly why the rest of the sport will start circling this team sooner rather than later, because it already has the look of a group opponents would rather avoid. [Read more 🡒]