Duke Embarrasses Kentucky In The Champions Classic
What most people thought was that this was going to be a close game between the two dark blue bloods in Duke out of the Atlantic Coast Conference and Kentucky out of the Southeastern Conference but it didn’t turnout that way as Duke embarrassed Kentucky.
- RJ Barrett scored 33 points and Zion Williamson added 28 in their first college games, leading No. 4 Duke over No. 2 Kentucky 118-84 on Tuesday night in the season-opening Champions Classic. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211779280&DB_OEM_ID=4200
It was the most lopsided defeat in coach John Calipari's tenure at Kentucky and marked the eighth time in 10 meetings the Blue Devils have beaten the Wildcats. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211779280&DB_OEM_ID=4200
Both Barrett and Williamson surpassed Marvin Bagley III's program record for points by a freshman in his debut at 25. Cam Reddish added 22 points and Tre Jones had six, giving Duke's freshmen a combined 89 points. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211779280&DB_OEM_ID=4200
The teams set a Classic record for most combined points, set hours earlier in No. 1 Kansas' 92-87 victory over No. 10 Michigan State. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211779280&DB_OEM_ID=4200
Keldon Johnson scored 23 points to lead Kentucky. Graduate transfer Reid Travis added 22 for the Wildcats, who had won all nine previous season openers under Calipari. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211779280&DB_OEM_ID=4200
The highly-anticipated game between two of the nation's most successful college programs was never close. Duke led by 10 after six minutes and extended the lead to 34-13 less than 10 minutes into the game. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211779280&DB_OEM_ID=4200
The Blue Devils didn't stop with that flurry. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211779280&DB_OEM_ID=4200
After making it 59-42 at halftime, Duke kept pulling away throughout the second half. Barrett's dunk with 16:11 remaining made it 72-47, Alex O'Connell's 3-pointer with 11:45 remaining made it 91-54 and Duke topped the 100-point mark on another dunk by Barrett with 7:36 left. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211779280&DB_OEM_ID=4200
Kentucky only got as close as 27 until the waning moments. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211779280&DB_OEM_ID=4200
Barrett was 13 of 26 from the field while Williamson was 11 of 13 with seven rebounds. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211779280&DB_OEM_ID=4200
With the win, Duke improves to 1-0 on the season while Kentucky meanwhile drops to 0-1 on the season.
Duke returns to Durham for their home regular season opener on Sunday when they will host Army West Point where Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski went to school.
Tip-off is set for 1:00pm from Cameron Indoor Stadium.