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Kansas Basketball: Spartans have been problematic in Champions Classic

By Mike Norris

AMES, IA - FEBRUARY 13: Head coach Bill Self of the Kansas Jayhawks reacts to a call in the first half of play against the Iowa State Cyclones at Hilton Coliseum on February 13, 2018 in Ames, Iowa. The Kansas Jayhawks won 83-77 over the Iowa State Cyclones. (Photo by David K Purdy/Getty Images)
AMES, IA - FEBRUARY 13: Head coach Bill Self of the Kansas Jayhawks reacts to a call in the first half of play against the Iowa State Cyclones at Hilton Coliseum on February 13, 2018 in Ames, Iowa. The Kansas Jayhawks won 83-77 over the Iowa State Cyclones. (Photo by David K Purdy/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Kansas should win this game, but it won’t be easy. Izzo will have his players ready and they might even hit the young Jayhawks with an early blow to the head. How they respond will go a long way toward whether or not they come out on top.

Bill Self and his .823 winning percentage at Kansas doesn’t like to lose. Judging by his 14 consecutive Big 12 regular season titles, he is fond of streaks, and breaking one of 15 straight opening-season wins would go against the grain.

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That being said, it will be the talent on the floor that wins it for the Jayhawks. While there will be quite a bit of youth on the court, Azubuike and Vick combine for five years of experience and if the newcomers need a break, Self has a beefed-up junior Mitch Lightfoot who can come in and play valuable minutes in the paint.

We’ve seen with Kentucky, Duke and others that youth doesn’t always equal struggles, and the fact Kansas just keeps throwing former high school All-American after high school All-American at its opponents should be enough to wear down a less-talented team.

The Spartans, who lead the all-time series between the schools 7-6, won’t go down easy. Look for the game to be close, perhaps with Michigan State leading at half, before the Kansas bigs wear down the Spartans frontcourt and pull away with a five-point victory.

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Vick may not be the player of the game, but his renewed commitment to the team will pay off early in the season with a big play at a moment Kansas needs it most.

Dedric Lawson will be the player of the game with a double-double, setting the stage for some of the highest expectations for the Kansas Jayhawks since the 2007-08 championship team.

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