NCAA '10 Game of the Week Simulation: Champions Classic, Michigan State vs. Kansas

With the college basketball season underway, we've decided to do a simulation of this coming week's best Big Ten game. In the Champions Classic this Tuesday, Michigan State and Kansas will clash in a matchup for the ages featuring two outstanding coaches and teams. Both teams find themselves in the top 25 this season and come into the matchup 1-0, but only one will walk away 2-0 after the showdown. We let our NCAA '10 basketball simulation dictate which team that would be.

BT Powerhouse uses NCAA '10 with updated rosters and statistics to simulate 2015-16 college basketball games. The game is simulated as a regulation game for 40 minutes, and the CPU plays against itself on the video game console. All player statistics and appearances have been updated in the game to closely mimic present conditions. After that, we click play and watch what happens. Here's how week one's "Game of the Week" went down.

First Half

Michigan State came right out of the gates with two early buckets, but Kansas was able to penetrate and find easy baskets down low. After Michigan State went up 4-0 in the early going, they allowed the Jayhawks to go on an 11-2 run to take a 5 point lead. The story of the first half for Kansas was Wayne Selden Jr. He scored 7 of their first 17 and finished the half with a cool 14 points and 4 assists.

Kansas began to stretch its lead by as many as 11 in the first half. Closing in on the five minute mark, Perry Ellis hit a shot to make it 39-28 in the Jayhawks' favor. Michigan State went on a late first half run behind three straight baskets by Denzel Valentine, and the Spartans went into the halftime locker room trailing by only 5. Bryn Forbes led the Spartans at the half with 12 points and two three point field goals.

Halftime Score: Kansas 43, Michigan State 38

Second Half

The second half opened with the two teams trading buckets up and down the floor. Kansas managed to rebuild a double digit lead as it quickly made the score 56-46. Kansas would eventually take its  largest lead of the game at 14 around the 11 minute mark, but Michigan State would get some momentum as the game approached its final 10 minutes.

A three pointer by Denzel Valentine made Kansas' lead only 7 at 64-57, and the Spartans finally had some momentum going for them. Late in the game, Michigan State went on a 10-2 run capped off by an Eron Harris three to cut the Kansas lead down to 4 at 83-79, but it was all Kansas from there on out. Just when it looked as if the Spartans had it in them to overcome a double digit deficit, Frank Mason hit a dagger three pointer with 3 minutes to play, and Michigan State went cold for the rest of the game. The Spartans fouled towards the end, but Kansas made its free throws and pulled away for the victory at the Champions Classic.

Final Score: Kansas 92, Michigan State 82

Stats

Kansas had a very nice outing from a number of its players. 5 Jayhawks made it into double figures scoring, and Wayne Selden Jr. had a double-double. The Jayhawks had 39 rebounds and 25 assists. They committed 11 turnovers and shot the ball at 92% from the free throw line as a team. The Jayhawks made 53% of their shots from the floor and 42% of their three point field goals.

• Wayne Selden Jr: 21 points, 2 rebounds, 10 assists
• Frank Mason III: 21 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists
• Perry Ellis: 19 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists
• Brannen Greene: 15 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists
• Jamari Traylor: 12 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist
• Devonte' Graham: 2 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists
• Lagerald Vick: 2 points, 0 rebounds, 1 assist
• Carlton Bragg: 0 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist

Michigan State also had 5 players in double figures, including a double-double by Deyonta Davis. The Spartans had 33 rebounds and 22 assists on the game. They also turned the ball over 11 times, and they shot 81% from the free throw line. Michigan State made 42% of its field goal attempts as well as 39% of its 3 point field goals.

• Denzel Valentine: 18 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists
• Deyonta Davis: 15 points, 13 rebounds, 1 assist
• Bryn Forbes: 15 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists
• Matt Costello: 11 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists
• Eron Harris: 10 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists
• Lourawls Narin Jr: 4 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists
• Alvin Ellis III: 4 points, 1 rebound, 2 assists
• Matt McQuaid: 3 points, 0 rebounds, 1 assist
• Gavin Schilling: 2 points, 1 rebound, 0 assists

Overall

Michigan State and Kansas should have quite a battle this Tuesday when they face off in the Champions Classic. Both teams will be fighting for a huge resume-boosting win early in the season. When Bill Self and Tom Izzo face off with two talented teams, there's no telling what we're going to get. This one is a must-watch.

NCAA '10 Simulation Record: 0-0