Looking to make a statement on the first night of the new college basketball season? A win over a top-two opponent at the Madison Square Garden should suffice.
No. 1 Michigan State takes on No. 2 Kentucky in the annual Champions Classic in what figures to be one of the best matchups of the non-conference season.
The doubleheader, which also features No. 3 Kansas vs. No. 4 Duke, is the first of its kind to include each of the top four teams from the preseason AP poll.
Tom Izzo's Spartans enter the season as the national favorites, thanks to All-American point guard Cassius Winston. Another star-studded class of freshmen — including five-stars Tyrese Maxey and Kahlil Whitney — leads John Calipari's Wildcats into the new year.
Below is all the info you need to watch Kentucky vs. Michigan State on Tuesday, including tip-off time, TV channel and both teams' upcoming schedule.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL SEASON PREVIEW
Sporting News' 2019-20 college basketball preseason All-Americans
What channel is Kentucky vs. Michigan State on tonight?
- TV channel: ESPN
- Live stream: WatchESPN
Kentucky vs. Michigan State is on ESPN, the second game of the network's Champions Classic coverage on opening night.
Dan Shulman and and Jay Bilas will be on the call for ESPN's coverage of the game alongside court reporter Holly Rowe. "College GameDay" will also be live from the event beginning at 6:30 p.m., with Bilas, Rece Davis, Seth Greenberg and LaPhonso Ellis.
Kentucky vs. Michigan State: What time is tipoff?
- Date: Tuesday, Nov. 5
- Start time: 9:30 p.m. ET
The 9:30 p.m. ET tipoff on ESPN caps a doubleheader for the Champions Classic on regular season's opening night. Duke and Kansas get things going on ESPN with a 7 p.m. ET tip.
MORE: Five takeaways from the AP preseason top 25 poll for 2019-20
Kentucky schedule 2019
Here are Kentucky's next five games:
| Date | Opponent | Time | National TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov. 8 | vs. Eastern Kentucky | 7 p.m. | SEC Network |
| Nov. 12 | vs. Evansville | 7 p.m. | SEC Network |
| Nov. 18 | vs. Utah Valley | 7 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Nov. 22 | vs. Mount St. Mary's | 7 p.m. | SEC Network |
| Nov. 24 | vs. Lamar | 6 p.m. | SEC Network |
Michigan State schedule 2019
Here are Michigan State's next five games:
| Date | Opponent | Times | National TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov. 10 | vs. Binghamton | 7 p.m. | Big Ten Network |
| Nov. 14 | at Seton Hall | 8:30 p.m. | FS1 |
| Nov. 18 | vs. Charleston Southern | 6:30 p.m. | Big Ten Network |
| Nov. 25 | vs. Virginia Tech (Maui Invitational) | 5 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Nov. 26 | vs. Dayton/Georgia (Maui Invitational) | TBD | ESPN |