While each college basketball season is chock full of premier early season showdowns, the upcoming meeting between No. 1 Kentucky and No. 2 Michigan State could prove to be one of the best games in recent memory. It's rare to see the top two teams in the nation square off this early in the season but even though the 'Cats and Spartans have only played 3 games combined thus far, the battle between 1 and 2 will certainly have the feel of an NCAA Tournament game, especially when you add the passionate fans of Chicago into the mix.
No. 2 Michigan State looked strong in a 98-56 season-opening victory over McNeese State, making quick work of an opponent that was simply not up to the task of challenging the Big 10 squad. Grabbing a total of 66 rebounds while also shooting a comfortable 52% from the field, the Spartans and head coach Tom Izzo gave an early glimpse into how dominant they can be. Gary Harris led the way for MSU with 20 points on 7-of-15 shooting while also grabbing 10 rebounds. With forward Adreian Payne and guard Branden Dawson combining for 22 additional rebounds, the Spartans showed the ability to find balance on both ends of the floor, something they'll certainly need moving forward against top teams including Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio State and Michigan.
The Kentucky Wildcats will enter the Chicago United Center riding a two-game win streak after disposing of UNC-Asheville and Northern Kentucky to begin their respective campaign. A team that should have no problem scoring the season, head coach John Calipari hopes this major early season battle against a legitimate Top 10 team helps his team grow, especially since the roster contains six freshman who are expected to contribute right away.
"It's a hard game to play this early," Calipari said. "This is not like you're going to steal, sneak by. You're going to have to ball. For us, it's just a bar of where we are right now. We've got a long way to go. We're still trying to figure out how to play fast, how to get in the lane, how to post up, how to cut. Trying to figure out defensively how we need to play. We're still not right."
Rising freshman talent Julius Randle - who has displayed his amazing talent on both ends of the floor through 2 games - will certainly be watched with a close eye against MSU and throughout the 2013-2014 season since many believe he will be the top pick in next season's NBA Draft.
Kentucky Wildcats vs. Michigan State Spartans: DATE, TIME & TV INFO
DATE: Tuesday, November 12
TIME: 7:30pm, ET
TV COVERAGE: ESPN
LIVE STREAM: CLICK HERE
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