Three-minute preview: Kansas men’s basketball vs. Michigan State

No. 4 Kansas vs. No. 13 Michigan State

▪ WHEN/WHERE: 9 p.m. Tuesday at the United Center in Chicago

▪ TV/RADIO: ESPN; KCSP (610 AM)

▪ ABOUT KANSAS (1-0): Simply put: Kansas coach Bill Self would like some better results at the Champions Classic. After a 72-40 loss to Kentucky last year in Indianapolis, the Jayhawks are 1-3 in the annual event, with their only victory coming against Duke at the United Center in 2013-14. The run also includes a loss to Michigan State in Atlanta in 2012-13. Kansas can avenge that loss on Tuesday, playing in the second game of the event, after Kentucky and Duke face off in the opener of the doubleheader. Kansas, of course, also played Michigan State last season in the final of the Orlando Classic, winning 61-56. The Jayhawks are coming off one of their best offensive performances in years in the season opener. They put up 109 points against an overmatched Northern Colorado program, putting a priority on playing fast. They also drained 15 three-pointers, the second-most in program history. Senior forward Jamari Traylor, who started alongside Perry Ellis in the opener, will return to his hometown of Chicago and play his second career game at the United Center. Traylor said he would have plenty of family in attendance, including his mother, Tracey Golson. KU will also participate in the Champions Classic next year, facing Duke in New York.

▪ ABOUT MICHIGAN STATE (1-0): For the second straight game, Michigan State will play without big man Gavin Schilling, a burly inside presence who started 33 games last season. The Spartans have the personnel to make up for his absence — senior forward Matt Costello had 15 points in a season-opening victory over Florida Atlantic. But it’s one less body that Michigan State coach Tom Izzo can throw at KU. The Spartans are coming off an unlikely Final Four appearance. A No. 7 seed last March, Michigan State went to the Final Four for the seventh time in Izzo’s tenure. The Spartans lost senior guard Travis Trice, but return a solid nucleus, including seniors Bryn Forbes and Denzel Valentine. The Spartans also have some Kansas City flavor. Sophomore forward Marvin Clark grew up in Kansas City and spent time at Blue Springs High School. Sophomore guard Lourawls “Tum Tum” Nairn played in the summers for MOKAN, a KC-based AAU program, while attending Sunrise Christian Academy near Wichita.

This story was originally published November 16, 2015 at 11:20 AM with the headline "Three-minute preview: Kansas men’s basketball vs. Michigan State."