Fansided

25 NCAA basketball bucket list items every fan must experience before they die

By Mike Phillips

DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 07: The Duke Blue Devils mascot performs during the first half of their game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Cameron Indoor Stadium on March 07, 2020 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 07: The Duke Blue Devils mascot performs during the first half of their game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Cameron Indoor Stadium on March 07, 2020 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) /

22. Attend the Champions Classic

Now that you’ve gone a bit off the beaten path on the bucket list you’re probably craving some big-time college basketball action. The cure for that is getting tickets to the Champions Classic, which features some of the sports’ elite programs squaring off at the beginning of the season.

This brilliant event was a made-for-TV creation by ESPN, which helped recruit Duke, Michigan State, Kansas, and Kentucky to participate. The original concept of the Champions Classic was a three-year series of games rotating between different venues and changing matchups each year.

The first Champions Classic took place in 2011 at Madison Square Garden with Duke toppling Michigan State and Kansas falling to Kentucky. The Spartans were unranked during the first event, but ever since it has featured all four schools being ranked inside the top-25.

Aside from a one-year stop in Atlanta, the Champions Classic rotates between New York, Chicago, and Indianapolis. 2019 was a true high-water mark for the Classic when all four teams were ranked in the top four of the AP preseason polls.

Tickets to the Champions Classic can get a bit expensive but it is well worth it to see high-quality basketball during the regular season. The intense games add a bit of a March feel to November games, which makes the event even more exciting.