INDIANPOLIS — Folks were standing on their old school tippy toes hyped about getting into Bankers Life Fieldhouse to see the ultimate early season matchup between the two super powers, No.4 Duke and No.2 Kentucky. The city was a buzz for at least 24 hours before the game started. During the first game of the State Farm Championship Classic between Michigan State and Kansas the Blue Devil and Wildcat fans were chilling in the concourse not even interested in what those two were doing. Then all of a sudden the hype grew to a fever pitch. In less than 10 minutes Duke had burst that balloon and was dragging Kentucky up and down the floor as they beat the brakes off of them 118-84.
Duke started four freshman that looked like some GROWN men hanging out with Uncle LeRoy and his boyz down at the corner store. Of course Zion Williamson kicked in the front door like the feds followed by RJ Barrett and Co. They dove out of the ride shooting 58 percent from the field and 67 percent from behind the arc in the first 11 minutes of the game. That’s NUTS!!!
Kentucky was still trying to take their seat belts off and put the car in park as Duke jumped all in their front seat 34-19 by the 8:25 mark of the first half. With Kentucky being the more seasoned ball club you would have thought that they would find some composure to slow these young boyz down. Not a chance. They were on their heels the entire game.
Zion Williamson’s first step was a monster!! He’s 285 pounds and can move like a gazelle and jump out of the gym with a 45 inch vertical. Ole boy was not only going to the rack but he was pulling up threes like a shooting guard. Again, NUTS!!
At the 4 minute mark of the first half Kentucky was down by as many as 17 points and pulled to within 13 at the 1:43 mark only to go back down 17 points at the break down 59-42. Duke was shooting 55 percent from the field and 50 percent from behind the arc at that point.
Every time they tried to make a run Duke put their foot on the gas. What was so impressive about this group is that even though they were young freshmen they had the swag of an old veteran team that has been doing this for years at the college level.
The second half was even worse for the Wildcats. Duke picked right up where they left off, dragging these boyz up and down the floor. RJ Barrett finished with 33 points as Zion Williamson co-signed with 28 points and 7 rebounds. Cam Reddish brought up the rear with double figures for the Blue Devils with 22.
As a team they shot 55 percent from the field and 47 percent from behind the arc all while starting 4 freshmen!!! Look for these Blue Devils to destroy everything in their path this year. Stop me when I start lyin’!