Last spring, Jon Scheyer purposefully brought in seasoned transfers to support Duke’s talented freshman class, hoping to give his team an advantage in tight games where inexperience could be a drawback. On Tuesday, in Duke’s first significant challenge of the season, the Blue Devils saw a nine-point second-half lead slip away, resulting in a 77-72 loss to No. 19 Kentucky at the Champions Classic.
With four minutes left and Kentucky tying the game at the 3:57 mark, Duke’s inexperience became evident against a tough opponent. The Blue Devils scored on only two of their final seven possessions, with freshman Cooper Flagg as the sole Duke player to score in the last six minutes. Additionally, Duke had three critical turnovers in the final two minutes.
Flagg, who tallied 26 points and 12 rebounds, lost the ball in the lane with 12 seconds to go, leading to a steal by Kentucky’s Otega Oweh, who then scored free throws that put Kentucky in the lead. In an attempt to tie the game, Flagg mishandled the ball again, resulting in a turnover with five seconds remaining and sealing Duke’s fate. Though Flagg battled fatigue, which had been an issue in earlier games, he admitted it affected him in the late stages of Tuesday’s game.
Scheyer understood that Kentucky would expect the ball to be in Flagg’s hands during those pivotal moments, as he trusted Flagg as Duke’s best scoring option. However, Flagg needs more support from his teammates, as he was the only Duke player to make a field goal in the final 10:21.
Tyrese Proctor was the only other Duke player to score in that stretch, making two free throws after being fouled on a three-point attempt. Freshman Khaman Maluach, who also dealt with cramps, contributed 10 points and seven rebounds in 23 minutes. After leaving with nine minutes left, Duke’s lead diminished, and Maluach didn’t return until the game was tied. Kentucky then took the lead for good.
Scheyer acknowledged the challenge of managing young players’ endurance, highlighting the need for his team to stay strong in late-game situations. Veteran transfers Maliq Brown, Sion James, and Mason Gillis contributed just six points combined, shooting 3-of-9. James, who left with a shoulder injury while Duke held a 56-47 lead, also impacted Duke’s momentum.
Despite the loss, Scheyer remained optimistic, recognizing his team’s heart and resilience. “I feel more optimistic tonight losing than I did even before,” he said, noting the lessons learned. With upcoming games against top-ranked teams like Arizona, Kansas, and Auburn, Duke will have more opportunities to show they can close out games. This roster was built for such challenges, and the Blue Devils will need to meet them to achieve their season goals.