College Basketball Preview: No. 9 Duke vs. No. 10 Kentucky
College basketball is finally back and opens up with the Champions Classic. Here is a preview for No. 9 Duke taking on No. 10 Kentucky.
Both of these teams struggled last season and both missed March Madness.
Kentucky finished last season at 9-16, while Duke finished 13-11. Both teams are looking to bounce back this season, especially Duke, with it being coach Mike Krzyzewski's final season with the team.
Kentucky has a good amount of new talent joining the roster this season that will look to help this team bounce back from last year.
Coach John Calipari signed three top-40 high school recruits. Freshman TyTy Washington is one of the most anticipated of those to join. Washington was a 5-star high school point guard. The freshman can get it done on both ends of the court.
Daimion Collins, who is the No. 15-ranked recruit in the class of 2021, is a great defensive asset and looking to improve his game on the offensive side. The freshman forward’s development will be something to watch this season.
Kentucky’s guard Davion Mintz is also back for another year after leading the team in total points last season. This Kentucky team has clearly reloaded after one of its worst seasons in its school’s history.
Duke has a top-five recruiting class for the 2021-2022 season. The Blue Devils have acquired the No. 2-overall recruit in forward Paulo Banchero.
Banchero was heavily linked with Kentucky but finally decided to take his talents to the Blue Devils. The 17th-overall recruit AJ Griffin and the 22nd-overall recruit Trevor Keels look to add more firepower to this Duke team.
With a great recruiting class to add to retaining crucial pieces from last season like, center Mark Williams, forward Wendell Moore and guard Jeremy Roach.
Williams is expected to take a leap this season after he ended last season on a high note. The guard duo of Keels and Roach will prove to be vital for this team's success this season.
However, Duke will be without Griffin to start against Kentucky in its season opener with a sprained knee.
This Champions Classic game will be taking place at Madison Square Garden, and this will be a huge statement win for both teams after their poor 2020-2021 seasons.
In previous years Duke has won the majority of its matchups against Kentucky. Both of these teams are favorites to win their respective conferences.
It should be mentioned that Kentucky struggled in an exhibition game against Miles College, and it has some raising their eyebrows. Was that game just a hiccup or, is it something to come for Kentucky this season?
This could also be Coach K’s final game against Kentucky, so it’s likely he will be pushing to end that chapter on another win.
The last time these teams played back in 2018, Duke demolished Kentucky 118-84. Payback could be some extra motivation for this Kentucky squad.
For Duke no extra motivation will be needed with legendary Coach K’s retirement looming, they’ll for sure leave it all out there on the court. With two of the winningest programs in this sport, this is bound to be a great game to start this new season.
Patrick Lepre is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email pjl5466@psu.edu.
