Kentucky Wildcats vs Michigan State Spartans features elite backcourts

Jan. 13, 2013; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Gary Harris (14) drives to the basket against Nebraska Cornhuskers guard Benny Parker (3) during 2nd half at Jack Breslin Students Events Center. MSU won 66-56. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports /

Oct 29, 2013; Lexington, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Andrew Harrison (right) and Kentucky Wildcats guard Aaron Harrison (left) during the practice shoot around before the Kentucky Blue-White Scrimmage at Rupp Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports /

The college basketball season is underway, and we will be treated to a potential Final-Four matchup before the season is even two weeks old, as the No. 1 Kentucky Wildcats will battle the No. 2 Michigan state Spartans Tuesday night on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. EST. Not only will it be a matchup of elite college teams, but two backcourts full of players who could be NBA All-Stars someday.

The Wildcats entered the season boasting one of the best backcourts in the nations with James Young paired with the Harrison twins to form a 3-guard combo of three players who entered college as top-10 recruits.

But the three combined to shoot just 7/21 against a UNC Asheville team lacking quality perimeter players, but did bounce back Sunday as Aaron Harrison scored 16 points and his brother, Andrew, chipped in 13, and both shot a combined 10/17. Young continued to struggle, shooting just 2/8 and is now 5/18 on the year after entering the year as a projected first-round NBA talent.

Jan. 13, 2013; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Gary Harris (14) drives to the basket against Nebraska Cornhuskers guard Benny Parker (3) during 2nd half at Jack Breslin Students Events Center. MSU won 66-56. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

The Spartans will have arguably the best veteran backcourt in the nation in Keith Appling, Denzel Valentine and Gary Harris, who combined to shoot 16/32 against McNeese State on Friday night. Harris is the player NBA scouts are drooling over the most, and watching him matchup against one of the Harrison twins will be a fierce battle to watch.

Ironically enough, Kentucky Head Coach John Calipari recruited Harris to come to UK, and he almost did:

"“I was very serious,” Harris, of Fishers, Ind., said of Kentucky. “They came in my final four schools (along with Indiana and Purdue). It was a tough decision to make after I took my four official visits. But I’m definitely glad with the decision I made.”“This is an opportunity to play in such a big game,” Harris said. “That’s the exciting part. On the big stage, Chicago, us against Kentucky, Duke against Kansas (in the second game). I mean, that’s what we came here for, to play in big games and we get to start off early, like always.”"