Freshmen help No. 4 Duke top No. 2 Kentucky
Zion Williamson and fourth-ranked Duke were well on their way to a blowout victory when the high-flying freshman blocked a shot to start yet another Blue Devil fast break.
Williamson dribbled up the left side, whipped a pass through traffic to classmate RJ Barrett, then met him under the basket with a hearty chest bump after Barrett fought off a foul to finish his layup.
Duke’s fabulous freshman weren’t just ready for their first turn in the spotlight. “They were magnificent,” coach Mike Krzyzewski said.
Barrett scored 33 points and Williamson added 28 as both players broke the school record by points in a freshman debut, and the Blue Devils romped over No. 2 Kentucky 118-84 on Tuesday night in the season-opening Champions Classic at Indianapolis.
“To play this well on this stage, right away against Kentucky is surprising,” Krzyzewski said after picking up victory No. 1,101 for his career. “I’m really proud of my freshmen.”
They were almost flawless. Barrett was 13 of 26 from the field with six assists and four rebounds, and Williamson went 11 of 13 from the field with seven rebounds. Duke won for the eighth time in the last 10 meetings between two of the nation’s four winningest programs, and this time handed coach John Calipari his first opening-night loss at Kentucky and his most lopsided loss since taking the job a decade ago.
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.
Keldon Johnson scored 23 points to lead Kentucky.
No. 1 Kansas 92, No. 10 Michigan St. 87: Kansas’ Quentin Grimes scored 21 points in his college debut and Dedric Lawson added 20 points in his first game with the Jayhawks, helping Kansas stymie No. 10 Michigan State in the season-opening Champions Classic. Lawson finished with 14 rebounds and six assists after sitting out last season following his transfer from Memphis.
Together, the tag-team tandem stole the show at one of college basketball’s premier events. Kansas picked up its third straight victory in the Classic and improved to 15-1 in openers under coach Bill Self. Michigan State was led by Joshua Langford’s 18 points. Kenny Goins had 17 points and 11 rebounds.
Xavier 82, IUPUI 69: The most important decision in Travis Steele’s debut was also his easiest: Run some plays to get Ryan Welage the ball. Welage scored 21 of his 24 points in the second half as Xavier blew an 18-point lead before rallying in Cincinnati for a victory in Steele’s debut as the Muske- teers coach.