The Spartans (0-1) tip off in the Georgia Dome against Kansas (1-0) in game two of the State Farm Champions Classic. The Champions Classic is a three-year series with four teams, including Kentucky and Duke, that play in a round-robin format.

Last season, in the first game of the Champions Classic, MSU fell to Duke, 74-69, giving Blue Devils head coach Mike Krzyzewski his 903rd career victory, which put him in the lead against Bob Knight for most of all time.

In this year’s game, the depth at point guard will be smaller with the possible absence of sophomore guard Travis Trice, who most likely will miss the game due to concussion-like symptoms suffered against UConn.

Head coach Tom Izzo said that sophomore guard Brandan Kearney and freshman guard Denzel Valentine are going to have to step up, as they will be chosen to fill the void for Trice.

Having to step up in a key role against a storied program such as Kansas in their second game might catch most freshmen off guard, but Izzo expects Valentine to rise to the occasion.

“Valentine is a little bit like Trice, in the fact that he has got some cockiness to him,” Izzo said. Valentine, a Lansing native, has been known for his great court vision and casual passing, and that will have to come into play whenever junior guard Keith Appling steps off the court.

As Trice goes on the injury list, freshman forward and former Michigan Mr. Basketball Award-winner Matt Costello might come off, as he is a strong possibility to play tonight.

“I was watching him do drills last night, and he has that strength and bulk that we’re going to need against a big Kansas team, but how long he can go (still is a question),” Izzo said.

Costello’s physicality will be an asset the Spartans will need, as 7-foot senior center Jeff Withey will anchor the Jayhawks’ frontcourt. Withey, the reigning Big 12 defensive player of the year who recorded 140 blocks last season, will stretch the floor with his shooting ability.

Izzo also heaped high praise for Kansas redshirt freshman guard Ben McLemore, who is one of nine freshman on the Jayhawks’ roster. Not only do the Spartans have to be on point against the Jayhawks’ size and athleticism, but Izzo mentioned another asset that Kansas has: experience.

“We are running into a very, very, very experienced team, as they have three senior starters that played on the team that went to the (NCAA Tournament) finals last year,” Izzo said.

This will be the first matchup between the two teams since MSU topped Kansas, 67-62, in the Sweet 16 of the 2009 NCAA Tournament.

MSU leads the all-time series, 5-4, and would make it a three-game win streak over Kansas if they carry the victory out of Atlanta.

The game between the two storied programs will tip off at 7 p.m. tonight in Atlanta.