2019 Champions Classic: #2 Kentucky takes down #1 Michigan State

Kentucky
Nov 5, 2019; New York, NY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Tyrese Maxey (3) reacts after defeating the Michigan State Spartans at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner/USA TODAY Sports

College basketball is finally back and we had two interesting games to highlight the beginning of the best time of the year. In the State Farm 2019 Champions Classic, the No.1 Michigan State Spartans took on the No.2 Kentucky Wildcats in headlining matchup.

First Half

The long-awaited matchup began with Michigan State claiming the opening tip. Cassius Winston used his cunning and experience to land a layup within the first few moments of the game, a flash and the Spartans already had points. The Wildcats led by EJ Montgomery and Ashton Hagans who both brought a lot of energy and for the first couple of minutes, Kentucky was highly disruptive of Michigan State. Although both teams are drastically different in age, with the Spartans being the more mature and developed team, you couldn’t tell the way they handled the ball in relation to the young Cats early in the first half.

The Spartans had to do without Joshua Langford, the 6’5″ senior who averaged 15 points per game in 13 games played last season, due to another injury that will take the talented guard out for an extended period of time for the second time this year. In the absence of Langford, There were multiple players who contributed early. Winston, Gabe Brown, and Xavier Tillman put up baskets early. The play was sloppy, but the energy was great from both teams. This was a physical game from the beginning and along with way too many turnovers, there were also too many fouls throughout the first half. Cassius Winston was electric for a stretch and kept the Spartans in the game throughout the first half when it looked like Kentucky would pull away.

Thoughts and Notes

  • Cassius Winston took a minute to get started but has been just as good as anticipated.
  • Ashton Hagans is an absolute monster on defense, better defender than Tyler Ulis in 2016.
  • Michigan State has the star in Winston, but what makes them so good is their ability to move players in and out and to fundamentally stay sound throughout the whole game.
  • Teams both got tired, but Spartans showed some weakness and got down by double digits at the half.
  • Nick Richards and EJ Montgomery are bringing the energy but not seeing a lot of offensive results. I’m worried that may lead to confidence issues and a lack of energy moving forward.
  • Fouls, fouls, fouls

Highlights

Kentucky has been playing crazy good defense and that is why Michigan State only put up 24 points in the first half. Winston led the Spartans with 12 points, and only four players scored for Izzo’s squad in the first half. The Cats got six players involved with Maxey leading the way with 11 points. There were 22 turnovers total in the first half and 14 came from Michigan State. Kentucky looked like the better squad overall in the first half, but the Spartans hung on until the halftime buzzer sounded. Kentucky led 34-24.

Second Half

The second half started out slow and was a bit dull at first. Michigan State chipped away at Kentucky’s lead. Winston started the second half as he did the first, with the first basketball of the new 20-minute session. As hard as Michigan State tried, bringing the game within two points with 16:00 left with a score 34-32, but the Spartans could never get over the hump in this game. The Wildcats took an offensive run to a 13 point lead with just 9:57 left after a Sestina three got John Wall off his feet!

Again, Michigan State seemed to be keeping up for most of the game with the Wildcats, but they just weren’t the better team tonight. Both teams showed why they are ranked as high as they are and both will be dangerous threats come March, but one night one of the season the young Kentucky team was able to take down Tom Izzo’s preseason No.1 team Michigan State. That doesn’t mean that Cassius Winston and company didn’t make it exciting by the end of the game. What was a 13 point lead for the Cats quickly faded to 2 points again at 62-60, until Tyrese Maxey nailed a three-point shot from deeeeeep! A quick steal and outlet pass to Sestina for a dunk put the game away for good and the Wildcats won their 2019 Champions Classic matchup with the Spartans 69-62.

Thoughts and Notes

  • Tyrese Maxey is REALLY good. There were some NBA executives who said they didn’t see a single player on Kentucky or Duke who looked like a lottery pick, and Maxey shut them up. He finished with 26 points on 7-12 shooting from the field 9-10 from the free-throw line, five rebounds, and brought a LOT of energy. Easily Kentucky’s best player.
  • Again, Hagans on defense was ridiculous. He showed an improved offensive game and put up 11 points to go along with 3 assists, 3 rebounds, and played seemingly the entire game.
  • Cassius Winston (21PTS, 4AST, 2REB) is perhaps the best player in the nation, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t any competition. A lot of preseason talk discussed Winston as a shoo-in for POY but at least two guys named Hagans and Maxey have something to say about that.
  • Michigan State played much better in the second half and even outscored Kentucky by three in the half. They cut down on turnovers and only gave it away twice in the half and even outrebounded Kentucky by six! They just didn’t have an answer to the tough defense and the number of fouls Kentucky was able to draw.
  • Kentucky shot 25-32 from the charity stripe and had three guys shoot 87.5% or better individually on at least five shots.
  • Michigan State needs another guy or two to step up on offense. Aaron Henry came on in the second half but finished with just 9 points. Winston is going to average 20+ points a game and just needs at least two more guys to average double digits this season for the Spartans to have a shot at a title.
  • Kentucky needs to rebound better and start getting more efficient on offense.

Highlights

The issues listed above will almost all be taken care of come February/March. The Spartans are going to find out who those dudes are that will step up, and will get Langford back in January if all goes well. Kentucky is going to mature and make better decisions on offense and learn to grab boards better. This game really doesn’t mean anything outside of deciding the order of the one seeds come Selection Sunday. It sure would be a shame if these two met in the tournament. Kentucky moves on to face Eastern Kentucky while Michigan State will take on Binghamton this Sunday.

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