The stakes might just have been raised in the Michigan State men’s basketball team’s showdown with Duke next month.
The Spartans are No. 2 in the preseason coaches poll, released Thursday, trailing only the top-ranked Blue Devils. Michigan State and Duke meet Nov. 14 in the Champions Classic in Chicago, potentially setting up a showdown between No. 1 and No. 2.
Michigan and Oakland are unranked, but both received votes in the poll, collecting 13 and 19 points, respectively.
Duke received 20 of the 32 first-place votes, while Michigan State had nine. Arizona, ranked No. 5, received two first-place votes, and Florida (No.