🚨 Official Gameday Thread- Duke vs Kentucky- champions classic 🚨

[pisgah101]

⏰ 9:00
📺 espn
📍 ATL

Big boy game number 1 as our number 6 blue devils take on the number 19 wildcats in this matchup of Goliaths. I’m always extra excited for a Kentucky matchup as my maternal side of my family are all Kentucky fans.

Kentucky is coached by Mark Pope, a 1996 national champion from UK and former BYU coach. Pope I’m sure has had this game circled since being hired as his prime time introduction. Nothing would be better then starting his Kentucky career with a dub over the blue devils.

Prediction- we show up big time and give the national an introduction to cooper, kon, and mal

Duke- 102
UK-73

We are favored by 6.5

 

[dukesince91]

I read over at Rupp Rafters and they have me scared. They are going to run Cooper to death and he’s going to have craps from his chin to his calves. They might even hurt us with some zone D. We just have a bunch of freshmen and they have a bunch of upper classmen that are grown a$$ men.

That said, Duke 92 Kentucky 81 😁

 

[JimboSlice00]

Duke 82
The other team 77

 

[smashmouth5]

I read over at Rupp Rafters and they have me scared. They are going to run Cooper to death and he’s going to have craps from his chin to his calves. They might even hurt us with some zone D. We just have a bunch of freshmen and they have a bunch of upper classmen that are grown a$$ men.

That said, Duke 92 Kentucky 81 😁

Cramps we can deal with. No doubt playing Kensucky can give one the craps. 👍

 

[NCirishman]

81-74 good guys

 

[Friction.]

Duke by 3

Even though UK is just a team mashed together from the portal, they got a nice mix and a lot of different pieces that a few Duke fans were tracking. Butler is an elite defender but struggles offensively. Brea elite shooter, poor defender. Kriisa excellent facilitator but struggled against pressure at UA and WVU and is flat-footed on D. Then you got the interior guys…Williams an excellent rebounder and defender but couldn’t see the floor for long periods of time at Drexel (conditioning? And now he’s in a high tempo offense?). Carr who can go long spurts but disappeared at times at Wake. It really is an odd team but they def can beat anybody on any given night.

To state the obvious, this is really going to be Cooper’s game. I could be wrong but I don’t see anyone over there giving him fits so he should have plenty of room to operate. Just hope he doesn’t force the issue.

 

[dukecorey]

LFG, Duke defense wins this game. 88-78 Duke. Just find a way to get the W. I think Foster has a breakout game tonight.

 

[The_Only_Blue]

Our upper classmen need to play well tonight since It'll be our freshman first big game. Our defense keeps us in the game until our offense comes around. As long as Coop doesn't have cramps, we pull away.

 

[christophero]

Us in a close one. They are improved.

 

[AlanInNJ]

I think tonight we be a bit of a reality check for us, but I believe we will play well and pull away with a win after a sluggish start. I am most curious how our frontcourt will perform against bigger, stronger, competition than they have faced so far. Someone other than Cooper or Kon will shine tonight.

Duke 85
KU 70

 

[Mac9192]

Should be a fun one. I think we will be ready. Duke by 9.

 

[kingbluedevil]

I think tonight we be a bit of a reality check for us, but I believe we will play well and pull away with a win after a sluggish start. I am most curious how our frontcourt will perform against bigger, stronger, competition than they have faced so far. Someone other than Cooper or Kon will shine tonight.

Duke 85
KU 70

I think Duke wins by 10 or more. I'm more concerned about our experienced guards being consistent and hitting open looks. I think our transfers play well tonight.

 

[pisgah101]

@christophero you watching live?

 

[Liftee]

The only thing I'm concerned about is Cooper reacting to some bad calls, or some chippy play by a guy 6 years older than he is, and losing his cool. He is pretty tightly wound and he hasn't seen pressure like this before. He's always been on the far superior team in high school.

If that happens, it will be a good learning experience for him, but I'm hopeful that he gets over his initial tightness very quickly and leads us to a win.

 

[sheyduke]

Duke by ten plus. Only worried about the front court matchup and if Mal and Brown get into foul trouble.

Really think we see an all the guys play. If you want to run we can .

 

[Mac9192]

@christophero you watching live?

We might need to do a wellness check on @christophero. Poor guy may be hyperventilating.

 

[t-towndomer]

We might need to do a wellness check on @christophero. Poor guy may be hyperventilating.

Take hot dogs and Coors, he'll be fine and Duke will win.

 

[jeffrey236]

The only thing I'm concerned about is Cooper reacting to some bad calls, or some chippy play by a guy 6 years older than he is, and losing his cool. He is pretty tightly wound and he hasn't seen pressure like this before. He's always been on the far superior team in high school.

If that happens, it will be a good learning experience for him, but I'm hopeful that he gets over his initial tightness very quickly and leads us to a win.

I’d like to think that the USA Olympic team applied some pressure on him. I’m not at all worried about how he handles this. The attached ESPN story on him is excellent - all his life, he’s been playing against older, more experienced players. I think he enjoys that. https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id...0s-nba-boston-celtics-team-built-cooper-flagg

 

[Dad2ze]

What’s up fellas!!! Been awhile but I think Duke struggles early. Duke will come out in the second half a little more aggressive. They’ll have to stop Kon from 3 but it will open up Coop and Man to dominate down low.


Duke - 83
UK - 75

 

[christophero]

We might need to do a wellness check on @christophero. Poor guy may be hyperventilating.

No I'm working. Busy day I forgot about the game

 

[pisgah101]

L

No I'm working. Busy day I forgot about the game

forgot?!?

 

[bullcity gamer]

Flagg
Knup
Brown
Proctor
Foster

Show out tonight! Duke shuts down Kentucky’s 3 point shooting.

Duke wins by 12-15 points.

 

[dukesince91]

Cramps we can deal with. No doubt playing Kensucky can give one the craps. 👍

Oops!
Your reply reminded me of Bobby Hurley when he played with a stomach bug. I’ll never forget watching him just take off running off the court and heading straight to the exit doors.

 

[christophero]

Duke by 6. Cooper with 12.

 

[devilsrule]

Krissa needs to stop trying to body Sion, it ain't gonna happen!

 

[The_Only_Blue]

Keep up the defense boys.

 

[JimboSlice00]

If it wasn’t for Kentucky shooting so well from 3- this is a 15 point lead. Keeping playing hard on both ends of the court boys…

 

[christophero]

The wrath of Kon.

 

[NCirishman]

Brown can’t seem to get his defense where it was last season so far…

Fouling too much 😬

 

[christophero]

Up 9 at the half. So far, so good. Cooper, Kon and Proctor leading the way.

 

[BNM79]

Brown can’t seem to get his defense where it was last season so far…

Fouling too much 😬

He fouled a lot last year too. But does suck he is in foul trouble

 

[Mac9192]

Kept the lead with Cooper sitting. Kon can play. I’d like to see Gillis hit a shot or two. All in all, solid first half.

 

[The_Only_Blue]

9 point lead with us just shooting 25% from 3, keep up the defense boys...20 more minutes to close this out

 

[sheyduke]

Thought it was an overall good first half one turn over .

 

[christophero]

4 point game now

 

[christophero]

Good thing our D is stellar. 3 of 16 from 3. Woof.

 

[denverexpat]

Good thing our D is stellar. 3 of 16 from 3. Woof.

but still jacking them up....

 

[JimboSlice00]

Caleb Foster…yikes

 

[christophero]

4 point game buckle up.
Up 6 nine to go.

 

[jamsession2]

That 2nd BIG will be needed.