Two of the most-pedigreed packages in faculty basketball will go at it tonight on a impartial flooring. It’s November, unseasonably early for “assertion sport” discuss, however each blue bloods ought to be motivated to indicate out for Tuesday evening’s Champions Basic.
No. 19 Kentucky Wildcats vs. No. 6 Duke Blue Devils
Venue: State Farm Enviornment — AtlantaTime: 9 p.m. ETTV: ESPNStreaming: Fubo (strive without cost)
Even if you happen to actually have been born yesterday or really keep residence below a rock, you’ve nonetheless heard about Duke and its freshmen phenoms.
Cooper Flagg is already being coronated atop the 2025 NBA Draft mock boards, and he hasn’t dissatisfied. The 6-foot-9 ahead is nimble, versatile and artistic with the ball in his palms. He’s averaging 15.5 factors, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.5 blocks via his first two collegiate video games.
Kon Knueppel calls for consideration in his personal proper. He has hit half of his 3-pointers up to now and darts round off-ball motion with zealous confidence.
Third-year starter Tyrese Proctor, Sion James and Caleb Foster are additionally averaging double-figures thus far. Maliq Brown transferred from Syracuse to snag rebounds for Jon Scheyer’s squad, Mason Gillis provides depth after 4 years at Purdue, and South Sudanese newcomer Khaman Maluach is a presence inside at 7-foot-2.
Granted, the Blue Devils have seemed good early, however they’ve performed Maine and Military. Kentucky is their first actual problem.
The Wildcats tipped off their season cracking 100 factors twice — sure, towards Wright State and Bucknell, opponents with triple-digit KenPom scores. Koby Brea is 10-of-12 from behind the arc and shot 49.8 % on the lengthy ball final 12 months at Dayton. He’s an excellent match for a Mark Pope offense, which relies on quick tempo and fixed motion across the perimeter.
Kentucky can be counting on an infusion from the switch portal with guards Otega Oweh (Oklahoma), Jaxson Robinson (BYU) and Lamont Butler (San Diego State), forwards Brandon Garrison (Oklahoma State), Andrew Carr (Wake Forest) and Ansley Almonor (Fairleigh Dickinson), and middle Amari Williams (Drexel). Sure, Kentucky’s prime eight scorers thus far are all transfers.
It’s an interesting early-season matchup and an amazing alternative for these loaded however unproven sides to make an announcement. The Wildcats lead the all-time sequence, 12-11. However the Blue Devils unquestionably declare the largest head-to-head win — Grant Hill to Christian Laettner is without end seared into the Kentucky consciousness.
Kentucky vs. Duke odds
(Picture of Kon Knueppel: Lance King / Getty Pictures)
