Duke vs Kansas: Gameday Open Thread

No. 4 Duke tips off the college basketball season at 7:00 in the State Farm Champions Classic against the No. 3 Kansas Jayhawks, in New York’s Madison Square Garden.

Kansas has won its last three Champions Classic games, including a win over Duke in 2016. Kansas is 20-2 in its last 22 regular-season contests against top-10 ranked teams.

Duke has the best record in the Champions Classic, at 5-3, including last season’s epic beatdown of Kentucky to start the season.

Duke won both of its exhibition games, although the first was a much closer than expected six-point win, where Northwest Missouri State lit up the Blue Devils from outside.

Kansas has the ability to take advantage of that weakness. Guard Ochai Agbaji hit five of six threes in the Jayhawks’ last exhibition game, and Marcus Garrett and Christian Braun both hit five-of-nine in the preseason.

The matchup between Tre Jones and Jordan Goldwire against the experienced Kansas guards will be an interesting one, should Duke choose to go with the small lineup that worked so well in exhibition season.

It might benefit Duke to do that, since freshman center Vernon Carey, who is still learning the position after not playing it in high school, will be matched against seven-foot, 270-pound All-America candidate Udoka Azubuike.

Your starters: Tre Jones, Jordan Goldwire, Vernon Carey, Cassius Stanley, Matthew Hurt

Matching up with Azubuike was an area of concern heading into the game, but Duke has forced him into three turnovers early. Kansas with five turnovers in the first eight minutes. Duke up 15-12 at the under 12.

Carey and Hurt with 11 of Duke's 15 points early.

So far, Kansas has been intent on establishing things inside. No three-point attempts yet. Four Blue Devils with fouls in the early going, as it seems like Kansas is going to try to get people in foul trouble.

Kansas with back-to-back threes coming out of the break, up 18-15.

Duke shooting 41 percent, Kansas 67. Blue Devils very lucky to be tied at 18.

ESPN seems to be testing a new camera that turns the players blue. Not sure what's going on with that angle they keep going to...

Very sloppy series for Duke, several turnovers, poor shot selection, allowed a wide open drive to the hoop on the other end. Kansas up 22-18 at the under 8.

While Kansas has been pounding the ball inside, Duke seems very hesitant in the paint. Carey's only shot has been from 3. Moore is 1-of-6. DeLaurier missed a layup where he didn't go up strong. Lot of fadeaways from Blue Devils so far.

Alex O'Connell powered run for Duke. Had a dunk on an offensive rebound then a three next time down court. 25-22 Duke with 4:28 in the half.

Just as we all expected, AOC currently leads or is tied for team lead in points, rebounds, assists and steals.

Just when Kansas appeared to be going off the rails, with back-to-back turnovers to go down five, the Jayhawks go on a run of their own. 1:23 left in the half, 31-30 Duke.

At the half, Duke up 33-30. Kansas with 18 turnovers, while Duke had 8 offensive rebounds. On the flip side, Duke shot just 37 percent in the half, 3 of 12 from three. Both teams fortunate to be in this one.

Duke with a collapse on defense as Kansas goes 11-0 with an open drive to the hoop, back door cut, two guys open underneath and a long three. 43-37 Kansas at the under 16.

Duke misses two free throws, gives up a fast break dunk, takes a bad three. Run is now 13-0. Moore gets stripped, DeLaurier picks up his third foul on a fast break. Kansas free throw makes it 46-37, 14-0 run

Vernon Carey hits a three to stop the bleeding. 46-40 Kansas.

Moore picks up his second foul. He's 1-of-6 with four turnovers. Vernon Carey and DeLaurier have three fouls.

Duke forces turnovers on three straight Kansas possessions. Only gets two points out of it. Now 47-45 Kansas.

Cassius Stanley with back-to-back dunks. Score is tied at 47 at the under 12.

Duke now up to 11 offensive rebounds. Kansas has done better on its end in recent minutes, now up to 9 offensive boards. Duke goes to the under 8 up 56-52. Game remains Kansas turnovers (23) against Duke's shooting (40 percent).

Back-to-back shot clock violations by Kansas. Duke not taking advantage of most of these Kansas turnovers. Clinging to 56-55 lead as clock goes below 5:00

Could be a turning point. After Duke wastes back-to-back KU turnovers with poor shot selection, Azubuike gets a dunk and one, Kansas up 2.

Duke 9-of-17 from the free throw line so far. That could be a problem down the line ... or tonight.

Hurt hits a three to send Duke to the under four up 59-58.

That's at least the third time that Dotson has blown by Jones to get to the rim.

Jack White with an offensive rebound, Tre Jones with a high-difficulty pull up that bounces in. Duke up 64-61 with 1:33 left.

White with another steal in the paint. He's had some key defensive plays down the stretch and just missed getting an offensive rebound last possession. Duke ball, 64-63 lead.

Jones hits 2 free throws. 66-63, 26 seconds left.

Last ditch for Kansas. Carey with a block, Jones with the rebound. Foul. Three point lead, shooting FT with 4 seconds left.

That'll do it. Duke beats No. 3 Kansas 68-66.

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