Tomorrow’s inaugural CBS Sports Classic will feature four of the nation’s most prestigious college basketball teams: Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio State and UCLA. All four schools have a combined 25 National Championships, a possible 12 future NBA players, 4 of whom are top ten prospects, will be on display and each of the school’s four coaches – Roy Williams, John Calipari, Thad Matta and Steve Alford have been to multiple Final Fours in the last eight years.
“It’s a great deal for college basketball,” said UCLA coach Steve Alford. “There’s an awful lot of history and tradition with these four universities in regards to men’s basketball.”
No. 12-ranked Ohio State takes on No. 24-ranked North Carolina at 1:00 PM, ET, and is followed by No. 1-ranked Kentucky vs. UCLA at 3:30 PM, ET.
The Buckeyes, who have cruised by with a fairly cupcake schedule, will look to get their first win against a ranked opponent, while the Tar Heels will look to head into tough ACC conference play on a high note and a win against a talented OSU team could do just the trick. Both teams have something to prove not only to the world, but to themselves.
Could UCLA shock the world and hand John Calipari and his platoon system full of Monstars their first loss of the season? Conventional wisdom would say no, but this is college basketball and we all know anything can happen. If Columbia can challenge the Wildcats, it’s certainly not unspeakable that the Bruins could steal one at a neutral site, but they’ll have to play a nearly perfect game to do so.
The day’s action tips off with ROAD TO THE FINAL FOUR (12:30-1:00 PM, ET). Adam Zucker hosts and is joined bySeth Davis and Doug Gottlieb at the CBS Broadcast Center in New York City to preview the games and discuss the headlines and news around college basketball.
CBS Sports also will stream the CBS Sports Classic on CBSSports.com.