Kansas’ Dickinson, Duke’s Foster show out in 2023 Champions Classic

🤯 Kansas 89, Kentucky 84

A basic Blue Blood battle sunk No. 17 Kentucky, however not with out a struggle. The Jayhawks started on a 9-0 tear earlier than the Wildcats performed from behind to place up 9 three-pointers within the first half to steer by seven on the break. The Wildcat streak from the charity stripe halted within the second as Kansas attacked from inside-out, particularly holding guard Antonio Reeves to capturing 3-17 from past the arc. The Jayhawks shot 53.6% from the sector within the second half and scrapped by way of foul hassle to get by the Wildcats.

Redshirt senior Dajuan Harris Jr. and Hunter Dickinson each recorded career-bests in opposition to Kentucky. Harris, final season’s Large 12 Defensive Participant of the 12 months, confirmed off his experience on the opposite finish of the courtroom with 23 factors, beating out his earlier file by 5 factors. Impression switch and Preseason All-American Dickinson rebounded essentially the most of his profession, racking up 21 boards alongside 27 factors. Graduate senior Kevin McCullar notched a triple-double, dispensing 10 assists whereas placing up 12 factors and grabbing 10 boards.

In distinction, Kentucky’s youthful expertise put up numbers in opposition to a vetted Kansas squad. Sophomore Adou Theiro posted his first profession double-double with 16 factors and 13 rebounds, and freshman Reed Sheppard scored 13, knocking in 4-5 from the perimeter.

Kansas in the end confirmed poise down low and charged forward with 10 extra defensive rebounds (37-27) and virtually double the factors within the paint (42-22) as Kentucky. Just a few clutch factors down the stretch and the No. 1 workforce retained its composure within the face of stress.

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😈 Duke 74, Michigan State 65

Freshman guard and five-star recruit Caleb Foster caught fireplace within the second half off the bench for the Blue Devils to assist them energy previous Michigan State within the Champions Traditional in Chicago on Tuesday night time. Foster ended the sport with 18 factors with 16 of them coming within the second half. He shot 7-8 from the sector and 4-5 from three-point vary. 

A stellar efficiency of Michigan State’s star level guard Tyson Walker within the second half stored the Spartans in it, nevertheless it wasn’t sufficient for MSU to get the top-10 win. Walker ended the sport with 22 factors.

Duke’s premier ahead, Kyle Filipowski was the second main scorer for the Blue Devils with 15 factors, and almost recorded a double-double, notching eight rebounds. 

Though the sport resulted in Duke’s favor by 9, the primary drawback for MSU got here all the way down to the charity stripe. The Spartans shot simply 58% from the free-throw line, whereas Duke acquired the road considerably extra and knocked down 80% of its pictures from the stripe.