BOX SCORE: Team defense allowed Kentucky to pull away from Duke in statement win

Mark Pope brought a specific brand of basketball to Kentucky. After the hire became official and many settled in to look at the future of this program, the first thing that caught everyone’s attention was the unique five-out offense Pope would bring to Lexington, and how it would modernize Kentucky’s offensive approach. That offensive philosophy was on full display in the Champions Classic.

But Kentucky is leaving State Farm Arena with a 77-72 win because of what happened on the other end of the floor.

Team defense won Kentucky this game.

Duke’s high-powered offense led by freshman phenoms Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel finished the game with only 72 points in 72 possessions on 71 field goal attempts. The Blue Devils shot 50 percent from two-point range on 48 attempts but were ice cold from three (4-of-23) and produced only 10 second chance points on 12 offensive rebounds. Kentucky’s defense settled in and tightened the screws after halftime following a rocky start where Duke’s offense was rolling early in the game.

This game was won in the second half.

Kentucky: 40 points in 33 possessions, 21 rebounds, 3 turnovers

Duke: 26 points in 34 possessions, 24 rebounds, 6 turnovers

Certainly felt like the Blue Devils ran out of gas and Kentucky's depth pushed them over the finish line.

— Adam Luckett (@AdamLuckettKSR) November 13, 2024

Three Duke players played 32-plus minutes and Flagg would’ve been pushing close to 40 minutes if not for foul trouble in the first half. Only one Kentucky player reached 30 minutes. Depth played a factor into the second half, and Duke’s shooting went ice cold in the second half finishing the final 20 minutes shooting just 29.4 percent from the floor on 34 field goal attempts in 34 possessions.

Kentucky found a way to manage Duke’s significant size and length advantage by keeping the rebounding battle close (Duke 45-41) and limiting the Blue Devils to 12-of-20 shooting at the rim. The Wildcats got off seven more free throw attempts than Duke and owned a plus-18 advantage in the three-point battle.

Pope’s offense found a way to do enough to win posting 1.07 points per possessions led by Wake Forest big transfer Andrew Carr (17 points on eight field goal attempts) and Oklahoma wing transfer Otega Oweh (15 points on 10 field goal attempts). Kentucky will score points in bunches this season, but was the defense powered this upset.

The Wildcats continually created stops in the second half and that allowed the two-possession underdog to pull away from Duke late in Mark Pope’s first signature win.

Box Score: Kentucky vs. Duke