Duke Tops Kansas In The State Farm Champions Classic
Duke’s loss to Kansas in the regional final on March 27th 2018 by a score of 85-81 became a distant memory as they opened up the 2019-20 season at the World Most Famous Arena Madison Square Garden that is home to the NBA’s New York Knicks.
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski was pleased with his young team's poise in the season opener, especially that of sophomore Tre Jones.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/11/5/mens-basketball-no-4-duke-wins-thriller-over-no-3-kansas-in-champions-classic.aspx
Jones scored 15 points and Cassius Stanley added 11 of his 13 points in the second half to help No. 4 Duke beat third-ranked Kansas 68-66 in the opener of the Champions Classic on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/11/5/mens-basketball-no-4-duke-wins-thriller-over-no-3-kansas-in-champions-classic.aspx
"The difference maker was Tre. Lot of young guys, lot of new guys," Krzyzewski said. "We really tried to play good defense in our first 30 practices. We played really good defense (tonight). It starts with that kid. Really happy with my team. Terrific win for us."“according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/11/5/mens-basketball-no-4-duke-wins-thriller-over-no-3-kansas-in-champions-classic.aspx
While Duke doesn't have the star-studded freshmen class of last season of Zion Williamson, Cam Reddish and RJ Barrett, Krzyzewski may have a more balanced team, capable of making plays down the stretch when needed. “according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/11/5/mens-basketball-no-4-duke-wins-thriller-over-no-3-kansas-in-champions-classic.aspx
"One of the main things I have to learn how to do is sub," the Hall of Fame coach joked. "Last couple years might bring in one guy. All of a sudden there are three guys. Not sure I did a good job, but it worked."“according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/11/5/mens-basketball-no-4-duke-wins-thriller-over-no-3-kansas-in-champions-classic.aspx
Trailing 61-59 with 2:29 left, Stanley drove to the basket and made the layup and was fouled. The freshman guard converted the free throw to give the Blue Devils a one-point lead.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/11/5/mens-basketball-no-4-duke-wins-thriller-over-no-3-kansas-in-champions-classic.aspx
Devon Dotson missed a layup on the other end and Jones then hit a jumper that bounced off the rim twice before dropping in with 1:33 left.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/11/5/mens-basketball-no-4-duke-wins-thriller-over-no-3-kansas-in-champions-classic.aspx
Marcus Garrett got the Jayhawks back within one. After a miss by the Blue Devils, Kansas turned the ball over with 37 seconds left. It was the Jayhawks' 28th turnover of the game. Jones then converted two free throws with 26.2 seconds left.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/11/5/mens-basketball-no-4-duke-wins-thriller-over-no-3-kansas-in-champions-classic.aspx
Kansas had chances, but couldn't convert until Dotson banked in a meaningless 3-pointer at the buzzer. He finished with 17 points.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/11/5/mens-basketball-no-4-duke-wins-thriller-over-no-3-kansas-in-champions-classic.aspx
"We're disappointed in the outcome. That was a game that either team could have won multiple times. We had ourselves in good position in the second half and the game got away from us," Kansas coach Bill Self said. "It's a learning experience. Not sure a game win or lose on Nov. 5 will count much in March. There's a lot of things we can learn." “according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/11/5/mens-basketball-no-4-duke-wins-thriller-over-no-3-kansas-in-champions-classic.aspx
Self wasn't happy with the turnovers, but knows that it was the first game of the season.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/11/5/mens-basketball-no-4-duke-wins-thriller-over-no-3-kansas-in-champions-classic.aspx
"Duke's defense is better than the exhibition game. I think we played uncharacteristic," Self said. "I think we made easy plays difficult many times. A lot of that was the nerves, the environment. Guys wanted to do well so bad."“according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/11/5/mens-basketball-no-4-duke-wins-thriller-over-no-3-kansas-in-champions-classic.aspx
Tuesday's game marked the return of Kansas senior Udoka Azubuike, who played only nine games last year after tearing ligaments in his right hand. He had eight points. It also was the first game for Silvio De Sousa since the 2017-18 season. He was suspended for two seasons because of NCAA violations and sat out last year as Kansas was implicated in the FBI probe of college basketball. Kansas won an appeal that allowed De Sousa to play this year. He got a nice ovation from the fans when he checked in nearly 3:30 into the game. He finished with three points.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/11/5/mens-basketball-no-4-duke-wins-thriller-over-no-3-kansas-in-champions-classic.aspx
Duke led 33-30 at the half as neither team really got into much of an offensive rhythm in the opening 20 minutes. There was a lot of sloppy play with Kansas committing 18 turnovers. Despite all the miscues, the Jayhawks were able to stay in the game by hitting 10 of their 19 shots from the field.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/11/5/mens-basketball-no-4-duke-wins-thriller-over-no-3-kansas-in-champions-classic.aspx
NIFTY PLAY: Stanley had back-to-back dunks on the break, both coming on assists from Tre Jones. The second one came when Jones threw a 45-foot bounce pass to a streaking Spencer who finished the play with a one-handed jam.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/11/5/mens-basketball-no-4-duke-wins-thriller-over-no-3-kansas-in-champions-classic.aspx
NOT SO FREE THROWS: Both teams struggled from the foul line with Kansas going 16 for 26 and Duke 14 for 23.”according to https://goduke.com/news/2019/11/5/mens-basketball-no-4-duke-wins-thriller-over-no-3-kansas-in-champions-classic.aspx
While Duke got their season off to a 1-0 start Kansas meanwhile begins their season 0-1.
Twenty-eight turnovers were too much for No. 3 Kansas to overcome as the Jayhawks fell to No. 4 Duke, 68-66, Tuesday night in the State Farm Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden. Sophomore point guard Devon Dotson led KU with 17 points on the night, but it wasn’t enough as KU suffered its first season-opening loss since 2016. “according to https://kuathletics.com/gameday-live-champions-classic-vs-duke/
While the Jayhawks hit over 52 percent of their field-goal tries (10-of-19) in the opening 20 minutes of play, KU’s lack of ball security helped the Blue Devils gain a narrow edge by the intermission. Kansas committed 18 turnovers in the first frame, which Duke managed to convert into 19 points. The Blue Devils took a 33-30 lead into halftime, their third-straight halftime edge over the Jayhawks at the Champions Classic.”according to https://kuathletics.com/gameday-live-champions-classic-vs-duke/
Kansas came out of the locker room and quickly turned the momentum with a 14-0 run. The spurt helped KU built its lead to nine points, less than six minutes after the restart, with Ochai Agbaji connecting on one of his two 3-pointers on the night, highlighting the impressive Kansas stretch. It didn’t last though as the Jayhawks continued to be careless with the ball. KU gave it away nine more times in the second stanza and the Blue Devils took advantage.”according to https://kuathletics.com/gameday-live-champions-classic-vs-duke/
Kansas, which went 13-for-31 (41 percent) in the second half, managed only five field goals in the final 11 minutes of the half as Duke was able to trim down the Jayhawk advantage to single digits by the five-minute mark. IT seemed as though KU would weather the storm as Udoka Azubuike converted on a 3-point play with a dunk and a foul that put the Jayhawks on top 58-56 with 4:39 to play.”according to https://kuathletics.com/gameday-live-champions-classic-vs-duke/
Duke managed to outsprint KU to the finish and outscored the Jayhawks 12-8 over the final four minutes, all while Kansas managed just two field goals in that span. Dotson banked in a desperation 3-pointer as time expired, but it wasn’t enough as the Jayhawks suffered their first loss in the Champions Classic since 2015.”according to https://kuathletics.com/gameday-live-champions-classic-vs-duke/
Dotson led all scorers on the night with 17 points, which included a 6-of-8 clip from the free throw line. Agbaji and Marcus Garrett rounded out the Jayhawks in double-figures with 15 and 12 points, respectively. KU ended the game shooting 46 percent (23-of-50) from the field compared to Duke’s 35.9 percent (23-of-64) shooting clip. The Blue Devils converted KU’s 28 turnovers, the most by a KU squad in a game since 1992, into 29 points. “according to https://kuathletics.com/gameday-live-champions-classic-vs-duke/
Duke will now return to Durham to prepare for their home opener on Friday against Colorado State. Tip-off is set for 7:00pm from Cameron Indoor Stadium. The game will be televised on the ACC Network.