It’s time for No. 2 Duke and No. 5 Michigan State to take their first big tests of the season.
The unbeaten teams meet Tuesday night in Chicago as part of the Champions Classic.
“We’re going to be ready to go,” Duke coach Jon Scheyer said. “We’ve got a bunch of these (marquee matchups) and you want to enjoy each one. I think we’re going to learn a lot about who we are.”
Duke (2-0) and Michigan State (2-0) each racked up a couple of lopsided home victories to start their respective seasons.
“We get to play in an incredible event in Chicago at the Champions Classic and get a better idea of where we are, what we have to work on and what we don’t have to work on,” Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said. “We’re making strides, and we’ll make more strides.”
Scheyer said he saw progress from his team last week in defeating Army 84-50 and Coastal Carolina 113-52.
“I thought we took a step,” Scheyer said. “It was a focus that I liked.”
This game is a homecoming of sorts for Scheyer, who grew up outside of Chicago. More important to him, though, is how his team fares versus a tough opponent.
“It’s going to be a battle for sure,” Duke guard Cayden Boozer said. “They’re one of the best teams in the country. But that’s why you come to Duke, to play the best of the best.”
For Duke, this will be the first of four games in a six-game stretch against teams that began the season in the Top 10.
The Spartans will be challenged with their schedule as well, so this is a good primer for what’s to come.
“This team’s not going to get much rest, and we’re going to have to figure it out,” Izzo said.
Duke center Patrick Ngongba II scored a career-best 28 points last Thursday vs. Coastal Carolina.
“The best version of our team (has) an aggressive and assertive Pat, and I’d like him to stay like that,” Scheyer said.
Much of Duke’s attention will be centered on defense. The Spartans are likely to present difficult matchups.
“The most important part is having great defense,” Boozer said. “We know we have scorers.”
Duke transfer guard John Blackwell will be going against a familiar opponent because he previously was in the Big Ten at Wisconsin. He had a smoother second game with Duke (15 points on 5-for-9 shooting) after a tough performance in the opener.
“I liked how he was aggressive,” Scheyer said of Blackwell.
Michigan State will be counting on its experienced players. Izzo is looking for Jeremy Fears Jr. to play at an elevated level, even though he delivered 12 points and nine assists in a 91-61 beatdown of Toledo last Thursday. Fears is a preseason All-American and the Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year.
“When you’re ranked high, there’s a responsibility to how you play,” Izzo said. “We’ve got to get a little more out of him and Coen (Carr).”
Fears was held to six points on 0-for-10 shooting from the field in Michigan State’s 66-60 home loss to Duke last December. Carr had 10 points in that game.
