SEC Basketball: Duke and Kentucky Clash in Champions Classic Tuesday Night

Mar 19, 2015; Louisville, KY, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Willie Cauley-Stein (15) Kentucky Wildcats forward Karl-Anthony Towns (12) Kentucky Wildcats forward Trey Lyles (41) and Kentucky Wildcats guard Andrew Harrison (5) react during the first half against the Hampton Pirates in the second round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at KFC Yum! Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Prediction

Picking between these two teams, especially this early in the season, is like splitting hairs.

Plumlee will give Labissiere fits down low and the Blue Devils will likely light it up from three point range. Additionally, Duke — who hauls in 44.3 percent of offensive boards — will make it difficult for the Wildcats to rebound all night.

But in the end, I like Kentucky to edge Duke late. It’s just hard to pick against Calipari and a team that nearly went undefeated last season.

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Kentucky won’t be able to match Duke’s perimeter shooting, but Murray will make huge scoring contributions to propel the ‘Cats over the Blue Devils and hand Coach K just his second loss in the Champions Classic.