Duke vs. Kentucky: Champions Classic 2015 Start Time, TV Schedule and Prediction

As far as must-see college basketball games early in the season go, Tuesday night's clash in the Champions Classic between Kentucky and Duke is as good as they come.

While both teams are replacing a huge chunk of offseason departures and promise to look drastically different in March than they do now, Tuesday's game could still offer a valuable glimpse at where each program stands heading into the season.

Let's take a look at everything to know for this star-studded clash.

Duke vs. Kentucky Info

Date: Tuesday, November 17

Time: 7:30 p.m. ET

TV: ESPN

Preview and Prediction

With the one-and-done rule dominating college basketball and causing insane turnover year in and year out, the nation's top teams face a tough proposition of evolving their identity as the season goes along.

Kentucky and Duke's rosters are a prime example of that.

There may not be two teams in all of college basketball that are dealing with quite as much turnover from last season as these two. A combined 11 players across the two rosters left over the offseason due to either graduation or the NBA draft, including many of the impact players from each Final Four team.

That's not to say that either team is lacking in the talent department, however. Kentucky finished atop the 247Sports team rankings with their star-stocked 2015 recruiting class, while Duke is right behind them at No. 2.

Arguably the best of any is Jamal Murray of Kentucky, the do-it-all guard that is already looking beyond his years. Along with sophomore Tyler Ulis, Kentucky has a lot going for it in the backcourt, as CBS Sports' Doug Gottlieb analyzed:

Of course, it's not like Duke is lacking in the talented-freshman department, either.

Brandon Ingram looks poised to fill the shoes of Tyus Jones in the point guard spot, looking dominant already in Duke's opening two games. He shot four-of-six from beyond the three-point arc in the Blue Devils' win over Bryant last weekend.

Lance King/Getty Images

But the biggest impact player in Tuesday's game likely won't be a freshman at all.

Duke saw a glimpse of its future in the national championship game last season when Grayson Allen came off the bench to put the team on his back and lead them to victory over Wisconsin. 

He's already doing big things so far in 2015-16 as the team's offensive leader. Allen poured in 26 points in his season debut against Siena before putting up 28 points against Bryant, showing he's more than capable of being the bell cow in Mike Krzyzewski's offense.

Expect Allen to lead the way and produce a big early-season win for Duke, although don't expect things will turn out the same way if these squads face each other in March or April.

Prediction: Duke 81, Kentucky 78