Kentucky basketball gets no time to feel sorry for itself.
Just a week after a 96-88 loss to Louisville, a game where the defense completely collapsed. Mark Pope's "distracted" team has to fly to New York for another massive test: the Champions Classic against Michigan State.
This is no longer a "measuring stick" game; it’s a "stop-the-bleeding" game. The Cats just failed their first big test in bad fashion, getting down 20 before fighting back. Now, in front of a national audience at Madison Square Garden, they have to prove it was a fluke and not the start of a trend.
How to watch Kentucky vs. Michigan State
- Date: November 18, 2025
- Time: 6:30 PM ET
- Location: Madison Square Garden, New York
- TV: ESPN
- Announcers: Dan Shulman, Jay Bilas, Kris Budden
- Streaming: ESPN App
- Radio: Tom Leach & Jack Givens (UK Sports Radio Network)
- Online: Stream live at UKAthletics.com or on iHeartRadio via WLAP 630.
- Local FM/AM Stations:
- Lexington: 98.1 FM / 630 WLAP
- Louisville: 840 AM WHAS
- London: 103.9 FM WWEL
- Hazard/Pikeville: 101.1 WSGS
- Madisonville: 93.9 FM WKTG
- 2022–23: L 86–77 (2OT, Indianapolis)
- 2019–20: W 62–69 (New York)
- 2016–17: W 48–69 (New York)
- 2013–14: L 78–74 (Chicago)
- 2004–05: L 94–88 (2OT, NCAA Regional)
A rivalry defined by close finishes
This is Pope's first time in this specific rivalry, but the series has a rich history defined by chaos, thrillers, and a slight edge for the Spartans. Michigan State leads the all-time series 6-4, and these neutral-site games are almost always decided in the final minutes.
When these teams meet, it feels like March in November. Mostly because both of these teams will be in March.
Will Kentucky's 'poor' team defense show up again?
The Champions Classic will be won or lost on one end of the floor. Kentucky's offense is fine; they still put up 88 points in the Louisville loss.
The defense, however, is a five-alarm fire.
Mark Pope admitted the team was "wildly out of character" and gave up a shocking "34 points in the first 8 seconds of the shot clock." He said the team's body language was "underwater" and their defensive principles were "incredibly poor."
Now, they face a Tom Izzo team.
This is a nightmare matchup for a "distracted" team. Izzo's Spartans are built on elite rebounding, halfcourt discipline, and defensive toughness. They will try to drag Kentucky into a slow, physical, grind-it-out fight. While Louisville used pace to expose Kentucky, Michigan State will use brute force.
The narrative has changed. This is no longer about showing off a fancy new offense. This is about proving the Wildcats have the toughness and focus to fix their defensive issues immediately. Or, will Tom Izzo and the Spartans expose the same critical flaws all over again in MSG?
Drew Holbrook is an avid Kentucky fan who has been covering the Cats for over 10 years. In his free time he enjoys downtime with his family and Premier League soccer. You can find him on X here. Micah 7:7. #UptheAlbion