College Basketball Rankings 2017: Projected top 10 after Champions Classic
With four top-10 schools playing in the Champions Classic on Tuesday, we look at the projected top 10 following the two massive games.
The Champions Classic is one of the best early-season college basketball experiences imaginable. When you have the elite programs in the sport squaring off in a premier venue in the country, it’s always going to be special. That was the case on Tuesday as the No. 1 Duke Blue Devils faced off with the No. 2 Michigan State Spartans, followed by the No. 4 Kansas Jayhawks taking on the No. 7 Kentucky Wildcats.
In the opening clash, it looked as if the Blue Devils might run away with things. However, an eye injury to stud freshman Marvin Bagley Jr. threw a monkey wrench into their plans. That, however, only meant it was time for the veteran on Duke’s roster, Grayson Allen, to answer the call.
Answer the call he did as the senior guard was lights-out for the night, ending with 37 points. His long-range shooting kept his team ahead and ultimately put a knife in the heart of Sparty to give Duke the big win.
The second game of the night was even closer as Kentucky and Kansas represented two different approaches to the 2017-18 season. With the Jayhawks boasting a largely veteran team and the Wildcats having a young team, it was an intriguing matchup. However, Bill Self’s vets struggled early on, but their defense on everyone not named Kevin Knox was huge. Ultimately, Kentucky’s inexperience showed in the final minutes as they couldn’t convert late and fell short against Kansas.
With two top-10 matchups on the docket, the college basketball rankings are going to be shaken up. Let’s take a look at the projected top 10 in the college basketball rankings following the Champions Classic:
- Duke
- Arizona
- Kansas
- Michigan State
- Villanova
- Wichita State
- Florida
- North Carolina
- Kentucky
- USC
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No matter what happened on Tuesday night, though, it’s clear that all four of the teams from the Champions Classic will be factors come March Madness if they stay healthy. However, this was a great teaser for what’s to come throughout the 2017-18 season.