FOX NEWS: Tom Izzo Talks Importance of Champions Classic, Previews Matchup vs. Kansas — A Pivotal Early-Season Showdown That Could Shape the Spartans’ Season
EAST LANSING, MI — In a candid and wide-ranging press conference with FOX News this week, legendary Michigan State Men’s Basketball Head Coach Tom Izzo spoke at length about the significance of the Champions Classic and previewed the Spartans’ upcoming heavyweight matchup against perennial powerhouse Kansas. Izzo, as passionate and animated as ever, emphasized that the game isn’t just an early-season test — it’s a national spotlight event that shapes expectations and reveals character.
With the 2024 Champions Classic set to tip off this Tuesday at Chicago’s United Center, the stakes couldn’t feel higher. The Spartans will face off against Bill Self’s Jayhawks in one of college basketball’s most celebrated early-season tournaments. Duke and Kentucky will also battle in the other marquee game, making the night a can’t-miss spectacle for basketball fans across the country.
The Champions Classic: A Major Measuring Stick
Izzo began by putting the matchup in historical context. The Champions Classic, now in its 14th season, has become a signature event in college basketball, and Michigan State has been a proud participant since its inception. “There’s no better way to see where you stand,” Izzo told FOX News. “When you go up against the best — Kansas, Duke, Kentucky — you learn about your team real fast.”
For Izzo, the Classic is a proving ground. It’s where he tests his roster against elite competition and gains invaluable insight into who thrives under pressure. Even more importantly, he says these games set the tone for the entire campaign. “If you want to make noise in March, you better embrace these kinds of games in November,” Izzo continued. “Winning one of these sets the bar high. Losing one is a lesson that can also help us grow. Either way, we come out better for it.”
And this year’s matchup against Kansas holds special weight for Izzo. The Jayhawks enter the game ranked among the nation’s top teams once again, led by a loaded roster that includes elite talent at every position. “Bill Self does a tremendous job,” Izzo said. “Kansas is one of those programs that reloads every single year. We have great respect for what they do, and this is an early chance to compete at their level.”
Preparing the Spartans for Battle
As part of his preview with FOX News, Izzo spoke about the Spartans’ intense preparations. With a mixture of experienced upperclassmen and promising freshmen on this year’s Michigan State squad, Izzo knows his team must embrace every practice and film session leading up to tip-off.
“Our guys are hungry,” Izzo explained. “We have leadership in our locker room — guys like Malik Hall and Jaden Akins — who know what these big games feel like. But we also have some younger players who are going to see the bright lights for the first time. How they respond will say a lot about who we are.”
He also stressed the team’s need to execute the fundamentals at a high level: defensive rotations, rebounding, and sharing the basketball. “Kansas is going to come at you in waves,” Izzo noted. “They have size, skill, and one of the best home-court-like crowds you’ll find outside of Lawrence. Our rebounding and defense will keep us in this game — it always comes back to the basics.”
The Big-Game Atmosphere
While the Champions Classic is played at a neutral site, the spectacle surrounding the event often feels like a Final Four preview. Every year, national television networks descend upon Chicago or New York to cover the Classic as one of the sport’s most anticipated showcases. It’s also an opportunity for players to make a national name for themselves early in the season.
Izzo knows that the experience can shape a player’s mentality moving forward. “This is as close as you can get to March Madness in November,” he said. “The fans, the media coverage, the intensity — it all raises the level of everyone involved. That’s why this game is so important. It prepares our guys for the bright lights they’ll see down the road.”
And for Michigan State supporters, the game is a yearly tradition to rally around. Fans across Spartan Nation will gather at watch parties across the country, knowing that an early statement win can energize an entire fanbase. “We feel their support,” Izzo acknowledged. “Our players take pride in representing this school. Going up against Kansas is one of those games you grow up hoping to play.”