Nov. 17--A fall version of the Final Four was designed to convert all of those who sleep on college basketball until March.
The fifth Champions Classic on Tuesday night at the United Center will showcase some of the nation's best teams. No. 2 Kentucky takes on No. 5 Duke, followed by No. 4 Kansas against No. 13 Michigan State.
Here are five storylines to watch in the marquee games:
Duke-Kentucky, finally
Big Ten fans were thrilled with Wisconsin's march to the NCAA championship game last season. The rest of the nation was mostly disappointed when the Badgers knocked off Kentucky in the Final Four, wanting to see a Duke-Kentucky blueblood showdown instead.
They have their chance now.
"Of course you want to go up against the best team, but Wisconsin came out on top and they were a great team as well, so we were looking forward to playing either team," Duke guard Grayson Allen told ESPN.com. "Now getting to play (Kentucky) this year after outside people wanted that matchup, it's going to be two completely different teams."
Both teams lost a bevy of stars from last season -- a combined 10 NBA draft picks, including six of the top 13 -- but they also brought in the nation's top two recruiting classes.
Home improvement
Kansas forward Jamari Traylor, a 6-foot-8 senior from Julian, has grand plans for his home city after his playing days are over.
"I want to start an organization for kids back home, to help them find somewhere they can play ball and stay off the streets like somebody did for me," Traylor told the Lawrence Journal-World.
Traylor spent some of his teenage years homeless before finding refuge through basketball.
In Kansas' victory against Duke in the 2013 Champions Classic in Chicago, Traylor had four points, one assist, one block and one steal in 13 minutes. In last season's event in Indianapolis, he scored two points as the Jayhawks lost to Kentucky 72-40. He scored eight points in Kansas' opener.
Other area alumni making a homecoming are Kentucky guards Tyler Ulis (Marian Catholic) and Charles Matthews (St. Rita), Duke walk-on guard Brennan Besser (Latin) and Michigan State guard Alvin Ellis III (De La Salle).
Michigan State forward Gavin Schilling, who attended Loyola and De La Salle before finishing his high school career at Findlay Prep in Nevada, will miss the game with turf toe.
No introduction needed
Allen introduced himself to college basketball fans at the most opportune time.
In last season's NCAA final against Wisconsin, Allen came off the bench to score 16 points -- he averaged only 4.4 for the season -- to help propel the Blue Devils to a 68-63 victory.
He hasn't skipped a beat as a sophomore, averaging 27 points and shooting 51.6 percent in the first two games while showing off some powerful dunks.
The Kentucky-Duke game will feature a battle between big men, but the 6-5 Allen could steal the show.
Hot and cold
Kentucky's Jamal Murray is destined for greatness. Kentucky's Jamal Murray needs work.
Depending on which game you watched, the freshman guard from Canada showed different sides of himself.
In the opener against Albany, he shot 8 of 15 for 19 points with eight assists and three steals. Saturday against NJIT, he shot 3 of 13 for eight points.
There's no denying Murray's skill and likelihood for a stellar season, but it will be interesting to see how quickly he can find consistency.
Big enough
Michigan State coach Tom Izzo was blunt about Kansas' inability to play 6-9 forward Cheick Diallo, a highly regarded freshman who is awaiting NCAA clearance.
"Hell, no, I don't want to see him," Izzo joked with reporters Monday.
Kansas will already have a frontcourt advantage with 6-8 Perry Ellis and Traylor. The Spartans are without Schilling, putting more pressure on 6-9 senior Matt Costello to deliver.
Costello, who averaged 7.0 points and 5.2 rebounds last season, had 15 and seven in the Spartans' opener against Florida Atlantic.
Freshman forward Deyonta Davis, who scored 13 in the opener, must also be serviceable.
Predictions
Kentucky 85, Duke 80. The Blue Devils will make it close, but the Wildcats' depth inside will make the difference.
Kansas 75, Michigan State 68. You have to get this free-throw business figured out, Spartans. The Jayhawks will be too tough inside.
sryan@tribpub.com
