The Morning After Duke-Kentucky: Notes, Takeaways and More
Good morning from New York City, the site of last night’s Champions Classic in Madison Square Garden where Kentucky Basketball dropped its first game of the season, 79-71, to stupid Duke. The 9:30 p.m. game lasted well into the night and felt like it ended an hour ago, so it’s #TeamNoSleep at KSR Headquarters today as we pick up the pieces from the defeat.
You can read a ton of content from last night’s postgame coverage on the website already and there will be lots more to come throughout the day. For now, some leftovers and takeaways to get the day rolling.
Coach K will retire with a 7-2 record against Kentucky in his career.
Last night’s game was only the ninth meeting between Kentucky Basketball and Coach K in Coach K’s 42 years on the Duke sideline. As we told you before tip-off, Duke was 6-2 on his watch entering the 2021 Champions Classic game and the win got him to 7-2 over the Wildcats and 3-1 against John Calipari, all in Champions Classic events.
After the game, Calipari said he hopes Kentucky gets one more shot later this season in the NCAA Tournament. “We’re hoping for one more,” he said.
Run into Paolo Banchero and Trevor Keels again? No thank you.
Banchero and Keels are elite freshmen
Duke’s star freshmen outplayed Kentucky’s star freshmen and it wasn’t even close. Paolo Banchero, the projected No. 1 or No. 2 pick in next year’s draft, finished with 22 points, only to be outdone by Trevor Keels’ 25. They’re both legit.
Calipari said afterward, “Paolo’s the one that we recruited so hard. I’m fine with it. I don’t take this stuff personal. I hope he does well and I hope we play him again and he doesn’t play so well. But his dad is Italian and he’s an Italian citizen. So am I. I got a passport. And I still didn’t get him. I don’t know.”
For Kentucky, TyTy Washington didn’t have it during a 3-for-14 shooting night from the field. Washington went to the bench in the second half once it was already clear his shot was off in his debut game. Another Kentucky freshman, Daimion Collins played only two minutes. The same goes for Bryce Hopkins.
Maybe Oscar Tshiebwe’s 20 rebounds-per-game goal isn’t crazy after all?
In his debut game as a Wildcat, Tshiebwe had 19 rebounds in 29 minutes against Duke’s frontcourt, plus 17 points for a double-double. Even crazier, 12 of his 19 rebounds were on the offensive glass as he helped Kentucky to 19 second-chance points in the game.
Joining Tshiebwe in double figures, Sahvir Wheeler had 16 points and 10 assists, although Wheeler was a little out of control at times. He had seven turnovers.
More stats from the game
Celebrity sightings
Madison Square Garden was the place to be Saturday night in Manhattan. There were many celebrity sightings, several from Kentucky Basketball’s past. From the current New York Knicks, Julius Randle sat courtside with his wife Kendra while Immanuel Quickley, Kevin Knox, and Nerlens Noel watched on from front row seats on the baseline. John Wall was there too, as were Rex Chapman and Ramel Bradley.
Jacob Toppin’s older brother, Knicks forward Obi Toppin, was one of the biggest Kentucky fans in the building, sitting with Mama Toppin across from the Kentucky bench. The crowd sang her Happy Birthday. Paul Washington Sr. and Karl Towns Sr. were two other Kentucky Basketball parents in attendance even though their sons are in the NBA and no longer playing for John Calipari.
From the non-basketball guest list, Bruce Springsteen headlined the celebrity fan list at the Garden. The Boss was rooting for Duke though.
Blue Got In, but Duke blue did too
Though Calipari called it the “toughest ticket in a decade,” it was actually quite easy to get into Madison Square Garden as tickets were readily available for face value and lower before tip-off. But even with some empty seats throughout the building, the crowd brought the energy for Kentucky-Duke in the nightcap as the competing fan bases went back and forth bringing the noise throughout the game.
It pains me to admit it but I think Duke had the edge in attendance, made clear when Knicks guard RJ Barrett, a Dukie, received a much louder roar than teammate Julius Randle. Give the credit to New York’s huge Duke alumni base.
Jack Demsey’s was crazy before the game
Before the night went south, the NYC UK Alumni group hosted a pregame party at Jack Demsey’s down the street from Madison Square Garden. All four floors were packed full of Kentucky fans with the KSR Pregame Show playing over the speakers on every floor. There were CATS chants, Blue-White chants, and loads of fun in Big Blue Nation’s first big basketball gathering in a couple of years.
Calipari was in a good mood after the game
Coach Cal was anxious to get home but still seemed to be in good spirits following the loss. He joked about what he thought were dog noises coming from the back of the room (a joke he revisited throughout the conversation) and told reporters, “I need some bourbon right now to be honest with you” when talking about gifting Coach K a bottle of Pappy Van Winkle.
Hear everything Calipari, Oscar Tshiebwe, and Jacob Toppin said after the game.
Did you see the guy burp up his beer behind the announcers?
Moving forward…
The loss was not ideal, but Kentucky Basketball will be fine this year. Calipari seemed unbothered by any long-term concerns. He said, “This was a moment kind of game and for us to be in that game when our better players did not play well and their two really good players played really well and we had a chance to win, that’s crazy.”
Kentucky returns to action Friday night in Lexington against Robert Morris.
Go Cats.
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