College basketball media reacts to Kansas routing Michigan State in Champions Classic
By Scott Rogust
The Kansas Jayhawks defeated the Michigan State Spartans in the Champions Classic on Tuesday night.
The 2021-22 men’s college basketball season officially tipped off on Tuesday night in the Champion’s Classic. The very first game to take place inside Madison Square Garden was between the No. 3 Kansas Jayhawks and the Michigan State Spartans.
The Jayhawks were the third-ranked team in the nation for a reason, as they picked up a huge 87-74 victory over the Spartans. College media members reacted to the first official win of the season.
FINAL: No. 3 Kansas 87, Michigan State 74
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) November 10, 2021
Thoroughly impressive effort by the Jayhawks, who were without Jalen Wilson. Ochai Agbaji was fantastic, and Remy Martin passed the first test: 15 points (all in the second half) on 5-9 shooting. Michigan State's TO issues a problem.
FINAL: KANSAS 87, MICHIGAN STATE 74
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) November 10, 2021
Ochai Agbaji (29 points) showed he has really expanded his offensive game, and Kansas just controlled the entire game against Michigan State.
And Kansas did it without Jalen Wilson.
FINAL - Kansas 87, Michigan State 74
— John Fanta (@John_Fanta) November 10, 2021
Ochai Agbaji goes off for a career-high 29 points as the Jayhawks command the Spartans in Game 1 of the Champions Classic.
Rock Chalk, Jayhawk echoing through MSG. Not what you wanted to hear if you're Michigan State. Oh well. Some positives to this game. Some things I'm suddenly very worried about. College basketball is back!
— Brandon Champion: Spartan Football Optimist (@BrandonthaChamp) November 10, 2021
Raise your hand if you had AJ Hoggard (17 points) and Julius Marble (13) as Michigan State's leading scorers tonight
— Colton Pouncy (@colton_pouncy) November 10, 2021
Honestly, so many of Michigan State’s turnovers are just unacceptable lazy passes. They’re making it easy on Kansas, and Kansas is taking advantage.
— Sam Vecenie (@Sam_Vecenie) November 10, 2021
Kansas looks more athletic, faster. The depth is already showing up. The pieces are there. Michigan State with a lot of potential, too.
— Myron Medcalf (@MedcalfByESPN) November 10, 2021
Michigan State-Kansas game got me ready to flip to Sixers-Bucks.
— Chris Williamson (@CWilliamson44) November 10, 2021
MSU basketball averages 30 turnovers per game in the Champions Classic. Probably.
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) November 10, 2021
Kansas beats Michigan State behind Ochai Agbaji’s 29 points
Senior guard Ochai Agbaji stepped up in a huge way for the Jayhawks on Tuesday night. Agbaji scored 29 points while shooting 9-for-17 from the field, 3-for-6 from the three-point line and was 8-for-8 on free throws.
As for Michigan State, their leading point-scorer was sophomore guard A.J. Hoggard. Coming off the bench, Hoggard scored 17 points, making 8-of-13 shots from the field. Additionally, he recorded four assists, two rebounds and one steal.
Michigan State’s main issue at the Garden was turnovers. Through two halves of action, the Spartans turned the ball over 16 times, nearly double the amount that the Jayhawks had (nine).
Kansas will look to carry the momentum from this huge win on Friday when they face Tarleton State. Michigan State will hope to pick up their first win of the season against Western Michigan on Friday.
Next. College basketball blue bloods ranked by legacy. dark
For more NCAA basketball news, analysis, opinion and features, check out more from the FanSided college basketball section to stay on top of the latest action.