Champions Classic 2014: Matchups, Top Prospects, Projected Winners and More

Whether you root for a specific team or just like college basketball, the Champions Classic will be a thrill to watch.

Sure, college football fans will argue against the importance of these early season battles, as a loss will not be too damaging. However, fans are given a chance to see some of the best teams in the country face each other right away to give a truly exciting start to the season.

Additionally, anyone who wants to see the next generation of NBA stars can check out these games because some of the best players in the country will be in attendance at this doubleheader.

Instead of waiting four more months for March Madness, get your basketball fix with these two exciting matchups.

Date	Tuesday, Nov. 18
Where	Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis
TV	ESPN
Game 1 (7 p.m. ET)	Michigan State vs. Duke
Game 2 (9:30 p.m. ET)	Kentucky vs. Kansas

Games can be viewed online courtesy of Watch ESPN.

Top Prospects to Watch

Jahlil Okafor, Duke

Grant Halverson/Getty Images

Although this year's freshman class does not have the star power of Andrew Wiggins or Jabari Parker, there is no denying the fact there will be impact players in the 2014 class. Many of these stars will be in action in Indianapolis.

Jahlil Okafor leads the group as one of the most imposing centers to enter the college ranks in years. Head coach Mike Krzyzewski had a lot of good things to say about his prized recruit, via ESPN.com's Dana O'Neil:

"

Whether he has this amazing year this year or not, we'll see but he's got it. He's going to be a great player. He's smart, he cares. Get the list of intangibles and he's got it. He's got things, mostly how physical the game is. Big guys have the toughest transition, but he's terrific already.

"

The 6'11", 270-pound freshman averaged 18 points and 7.5 rebounds in the first two games and should only be able to keep this up over the course of the year against smaller competition. 

With size, strength and a willingness to do the dirty work inside, Okafor has a chance to be a star in his first season with the Blue Devils. 

Karl-Anthony Towns, Kentucky

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

While Okafor might put up some big numbers this season, he is not guaranteed to be the first pick of the NBA draft. Evan Daniels of Scout.com believes Karl-Anthony Towns has a chance to take over that spot by the end of the year:

College Basketball Talk believes the center could be one of the best in the country this year thanks to his skill set:

The 6'11" player can score in the paint with his back to the basket or stretch out to the perimeter and knock down three-point shots. He is a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses, and Kansas will have its hands full in this game.

Although a lack of minutes could prevent him from being too productive statistically, he is a thrill to watch whenever he is on the floor and should help Kentucky all season.

Matchup Predictions

Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Duke comes into its matchup against Michigan State after two dominant wins against Presbyterian and Fairfield. Nine McDonald's All-Americans create a deep roster full of players who can each make big contributions on both ends of the floor.

Okafor creates an inside presence that will be difficult to stop, while almost all the remaining players on the roster can light it up from three-point range. The offense will be difficult to stop no matter who is playing defense.

Meanwhile, the Spartans are known for their ability to peak at the end of the year, but they lack the game experience necessary to compete at a high level in November. Branden Dawson and others can make things happen offensively, but the supporting cast leaves a lot to be desired.

The Blue Devils will flex their muscles in this opening game to show they are truly one of the best in the nation.

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

In the second matchup of the day, Kentucky will try to show off its deep roster against a Kansas team that struggled a bit in its only matchup against UC Santa Barbara.

The Jayhawks have a talented incoming class, but as Seth Greenberg of ESPN notes, the young players are not completely ready to compete just yet:

Devonte Graham had a strong debut with 14 points and four rebounds, but Cliff Alexander and Kelly Oubre—two of the top 10 players in the 2014 class, according to 247Sports—only combined to play 16 minutes in the first game.

These players have the potential to be stars down the line, but they are clearly not ready to compete on a big stage just yet.

On the other hand, Kentucky's freshmen are more prepared for the start of the college basketball season and will pair with experienced players like Andrew and Aaron Harrison and Willie Cauley-Stein. The deep roster will keep everyone fresh and the veteran players will be able to make the tough plays late in the game to earn a narrow win.

Predicted Scores: Duke 84, Michigan State 68; Kentucky 67, Kansas 62

Follow Rob Goldberg on Twitter for the latest breaking news and analysis.