Record loss for Calipari
INDIANAPOLIS — 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. 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.
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.
KANSAS 92, MICHIGAN STATE 87
Quentin Grimes scored 21 points in his college debut and Dedric Lawson added 20 points and 14 rebounds to lead No. 1 Kansas past No. 10 Michigan State in the season-opening Champions Classic.
SYRACUSE 66, EASTERN WASHINGTON 34
Oshae Brissett had 20 points and eight rebounds, No. 16 Syracuse held Eastern Washington to 22% shooting, and the Orange overpowered the Eagles, whose output was the lowest since the Carrier Dome opened in 1980.
VILLANOVA 100, MORGAN STATE 77
Villanova started to head out for the second half toward its rehabilitated court when it somehow got lost in a maze of exits and sprinted out the wrong end.
“Everything’s a first,” coach Jay Wright said. “We’re figuring it out.”
They already seem quite at home, and as dominant as usual, at the new-look Pavilion.
Eric Paschall scored 26 points, Phil Booth had 17 and No. 9 Villanova opened its national championship defense with a 100-77 victory over Morgan State.