The Champions Classic in Indianapolis was dominated by 2 champion coaches in Mike Krzyzewski and John Calipari. The night started off with Krzyzewski's Duke Blue Devils taking on Tom Izzo's Michigan State Spartans. Quin Cook had 19 points, while freshman Jahlil Okafor added 17 points and 5 rebounds in the 81-71 win for the 4ths-ranked Blue Devils.
Okafor showed off his defensive skills with 2 blocks and 2 steals, while finishing 8-of-10 from the field offensively. The Blue Devils put the game away with a 13-3 run for a 13-point lead with 7:58 left in the game. Duke never trailed in this game and has only trailed for 18 seconds in their 3-0 start.
The Spartans fell to 1-1 on the year, after being tested by Navy last Friday night in their season opener. They were lead by Branden Dawson's 18 points and 9 rebounds. Travis Trice added 15 points in the loss.
Meanwhile, the No. 1 Kentucky Wildcats played like the top team in the country in their 72-40 win over the 5th ranked, Bill Self-led Kansas Jayhawks. The Wildcats ran their record to 3-0, while the Jayhawks fell to 1-1 on the year.
Kentucky won their first 2 games by 40 and 19 points, and were lead in this blowout by Dakari Johnson's 11 points, Andrew Harrison's 10 points, and Willie Cauley-Stein's 7 points and 10 rebounds.
The Wildcat defense held Kansas to made 11 baskets the entire game, 8 in the first half, 3 in the second. They finished 19.6 percent from from the field and 3 of 15 from beyond the arc. They finished with the lowest point total in the Bill Self era that began in 2003-04. They beat their 49-point effort in November 2005 against Arizona. They nearly became the first Kansas team to finish under 40 points since a 37-point effort in February 1962.
The Wildcats have a favorable schedule throughout the year, making them a favorite for the national title. They will hosts Boston University on Friday, while Kansas will take on Rider in the Orlando Classic on Monday.
Okafor showed off his defensive skills with 2 blocks and 2 steals, while finishing 8-of-10 from the field offensively. The Blue Devils put the game away with a 13-3 run for a 13-point lead with 7:58 left in the game. Duke never trailed in this game and has only trailed for 18 seconds in their 3-0 start.
The Spartans fell to 1-1 on the year, after being tested by Navy last Friday night in their season opener. They were lead by Branden Dawson's 18 points and 9 rebounds. Travis Trice added 15 points in the loss.
Meanwhile, the No. 1 Kentucky Wildcats played like the top team in the country in their 72-40 win over the 5th ranked, Bill Self-led Kansas Jayhawks. The Wildcats ran their record to 3-0, while the Jayhawks fell to 1-1 on the year.
Kentucky won their first 2 games by 40 and 19 points, and were lead in this blowout by Dakari Johnson's 11 points, Andrew Harrison's 10 points, and Willie Cauley-Stein's 7 points and 10 rebounds.
The Wildcat defense held Kansas to made 11 baskets the entire game, 8 in the first half, 3 in the second. They finished 19.6 percent from from the field and 3 of 15 from beyond the arc. They finished with the lowest point total in the Bill Self era that began in 2003-04. They beat their 49-point effort in November 2005 against Arizona. They nearly became the first Kansas team to finish under 40 points since a 37-point effort in February 1962.
The Wildcats have a favorable schedule throughout the year, making them a favorite for the national title. They will hosts Boston University on Friday, while Kansas will take on Rider in the Orlando Classic on Monday.
