The 2019 College Basketball season tipped off Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY. Madison Square Garden is home to both the New York Knicks (NBA) and the New York Rangers (NHL). The games presented by State Farm’s Championship Classic began at 7 P.M. with No. 3 Kansas against No. 4 Duke, and No. 1 Michigan State against No. 2 Kentucky followed.

The Kansas V. Duke game wasn’t pretty for the Jayhawks. Although they shot 46 percent from the field, they posted 28 turnovers compared to Duke’s 35.9 percent shooting and 16 turnovers. The Jayhawks were two turnovers shy of their record turnovers against Xavier on March 18, 1998. Despite the struggle, Kansas merely lost with a final score of 68-66.

The second game, MSU V. Kentucky, was a much more clean and sharp game. Kentucky upset the Spartans behind 38 percent shooting, 10 turnovers, and a star performance by Tyrese Maxey. Maxey is a freshman from Garland, Texas and posted 26 points, five rebounds, and one assist. The Spartans kept up with the Wildcats with 39.3 percent shooting, 16 turnovers, and a well played game by Cassius Winston. Winston posted 21 points, one rebound, and four assists in the 69-62 loss.

In the end, it was a great start to the season along with many other games across the nation. As the tickets are sold, the seats are filled, and the games are played, the road to madness begins.