Tuesday marks the 6th annual State Farm Champions Classic and pits two bluebloods, Michigan State and Kentucky, against each other for only the second time in tournament history.
The last time these two met it was a matchup of the top two teams in the nation. The reigning champion Wildcats marched into the United Center in Chicago looking like a juggernaut. Led by freshmen Julius Randle, James Young and the Harrison Twins, among others, they seemed primed to make another deep NCAA run. On that night, however, the Spartans combination of experience and talent — notably the backcourt of Keith Appling and Gary Harris — helped them knock off UK, 78-74, and launch MSU to the top of the polls.