This week, Calipari came out saying playing an experienced team like MSU is not fair for an inexperienced team such as his.

Whether Calipari actually believes this or not is in question, especially by MSU head coach Tom Izzo, but Izzo talked about the comment from the Kentucky head coach after the Spartans’ 98-56 victory against McNeese State on Friday night.

“I agree, I think he should forfeit,” Izzo said lightly. “If (John Calipari) doesn’t want to play, I’m not proud. I’ll take a win anyway I can get one. … a win or loss at this time of year means nothing.”

Izzo went on to say he doesn’t believe it’s unfair and he doesn’t care who MSU plays. He said these games are used to show his team where they are and what their strengths and weaknesses are.

This is the third year the Champions Classic is being held with the other two teams being Kansas and Duke. MSU is 1-1 in the series, with a loss to Duke in 2011 and a victory against Kansas last season.

It was announced earlier this week that all four teams agreed on a renewal of the classic through 2016 with the host cities being Indianapolis, Chicago and New York City.

“It should be a great night of college basketball with the four teams there,” Izzo said. “It’s what you dream of when you have a job like this. It’s your dream to go against the best and see where you are.”

Though MSU is ranked lower than Kentucky and doesn’t have nearly the amount of top recruits the Wildcats have, senior guard Keith Appling said the Spartans have nothing to prove.

“Michigan State speaks for itself,” Appling said. “We accomplished many different goals. Coach Izzo is one of the greatest coaches around. I don’t feel like we have to prove anything to anybody, it’s just a game and we just have to show up (and play) as hard as we can.”