🏀 KuBuckets Archive

Starting in 19-20. I wonder if this will replace the SEC Challenge?

Could be playing Nova annually now..

I like it better. We actually recruit out of areas we would play. Chicago, New York, Philadelphia. Much better than playing Lexington every year.

@Kcmatt7

I think its time for a change anyway. The Big-12 & Big-East also have 10 teams which gets everyone involved in this.

@Kcmatt7 I like an annual Kentucky game (Champions Classic/SEC challenges has made that possible); garners lots of national attention. I hope it continues in one form or another. There is plenty of room in the non-con to do both challenges (2 games) if the desire is there. One of Kentucky/Florida and Villanova/Xavier every year would be great as the college basketball landscape currently lays.

@BeddieKU23

Big10 has 14 members

Big12 has 10 members

Pac12 actually has 12

Branding got in the way of making sense.

@dylans

I edited to fix for Big-East, not Big-10.

Agree

@BeddieKU23 I like the the current challenge but I think good match ups in Jan or Feb are better than the champions classic in early Nov.

kjayhawks said:

@BeddieKU23 I like the the current challenge but I think good match ups in Jan or Feb are better than the champions classic in early Nov.

I don't mind the Champions Classic. You get an extremely early feel of where a team is at and it never hurts beating a Duke/UK/Sparty on national TV and having some bragging rights.

Will be interesting to see if this is replacing the SEC Challenge or becomes another standalone series

@kjayhawks I agree. While the Champions Classic is great for KU and college basketball as a whole the games are usually pretty sloppy. A lot of it has to do with Duke, UK, and KU usually having so many freshman garnishing big minutes.

If KU does Champions Classic, plus Big 12/SEC and Big 12/Big East, plus an early season tournament (Maui, NIT, etc.), and a non-con road test, the non conference schedule will be very strong every year. That's not a bad slate.