The Champions Classic returns to Madison Square Garden with another heavyweight showdown as No. 5 Duke battles No. 24 Kansas in one of the premier nonconference matchups of the 2025–26 college basketball season. Two blue bloods, two elite coaches, and two rosters stacked with NBA-level talent — it’s everything the Champions Classic promises each year.
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This will mark the 10th meeting between Duke and Kansas since 2000, with the Jayhawks holding the recent upper hand. Bill Self’s squad has won five of the last six matchups, including a dramatic 75–72 victory last season in Las Vegas, a game that saw Dajuan Harris Jr. drop 14 points after Hunter Dickinson’s early ejection.
This time around, the spotlight shines even brighter — though the headliner duel projected for this year’s event won’t take place as expected.
Where to Watch Duke vs. KU basketball
- Date: Tuesday, Nov. 18
- Time: 9 p.m. ET
- Location: Madison Square Garden — New York
- TV: ESPN
- Live Stream: Gamepass (Try for free)
Storylines to Watch
Cameron Boozer Playing at an Elite Level
Duke may have lost reigning CBS Sports National Player of the Year Cooper Flagg to the NBA, but Jon Scheyer’s team hasn’t missed a beat thanks to Cameron Boozer, one of the top projected picks in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Boozer enters the Champions Classic averaging:
- 22.5 points
- 10.3 rebounds
- 4.3 assists
He’s been a nightly double-double threat, showcasing scoring versatility, defensive instincts, and elite physical tools. His most dominant performance came in Duke’s recent blowout win over Indiana State, where he erupted for 35 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, and 3 blocks.
Kansas will present his toughest test of the season, with Self’s defensive schemes historically giving young stars plenty to think about. Whether Boozer can maintain his torrid pace on a national stage is one of the game’s biggest questions.
Kansas Faces Pressure Without Darryn Peterson
This matchup was supposed to feature two top-five NBA Draft prospects — Boozer and Kansas star Darryn Peterson. But Peterson’s hamstring injury, which coach Bill Self described as keeping him out for “the immediate future,” means the Jayhawks must adjust on the fly.
In his absence, Kansas has struggled at times to generate consistent offense. Peterson’s scoring, spacing, and playmaking are irreplaceable, forcing Tre White and others to carry more of the offensive workload.
Replacing a player averaging Peterson’s impact is a tall task, especially against a Duke defense that thrives on forcing teams into contested shots late in the clock.
Match Timing
- Date: Tuesday, Nov. 18
- Tip-Off: 9 p.m. ET | 8 p.m. CT
Because the Champions Classic features a doubleheader, tip-off could be delayed depending on the finish of Kentucky vs. Michigan State, as well as ESPN’s live airing of the College Football Playoff Top 25 rankings.
What to Expect
Duke enters with momentum, star power, and one of the most complete freshmen in the nation. Kansas arrives with questions but also with the kind of defensive toughness and big-game experience that often thrive in these spotlight matchups.
The absence of Peterson shifts projections, but it also raises the stakes:
- Can Kansas find enough scoring to keep pace?
- Will Boozer dominate on a national stage again?
- And will the Jayhawks’ recent success against Duke continue?
At Madison Square Garden — the Mecca of basketball — the Champions Classic rarely disappoints. Expect intensity, high-level shot-making, and another chapter in one of college basketball’s most compelling modern rivalries.
