Kentucky's History Against Coach K Before Tonight's Final Meeting

Tonight we say goodbye to Mike Krzyskweskwski in the Hall of Fame head coach’s final game against your University of Kentucky Wildcats. You might’ve heard, Kryszswewski is retiring at the end of this college basketball season after 42 seasons at Duke. Brace yourselves. ESPN will use the next five months to drill his retirement into your brain.

John Calipari spoke about his one-and-done coaching understudy on Monday. He said of Kryzweski, “He’s made me a better coach. He’s kept me sharper. We did things those first five or six years that, you know, Duke started taking the same kind of guys and it became that competition back and forth. But I’ve never lost respect for what he’s been able to do over 40 years.”

In those 40-plus years, Kryzezswksi’s Duke played Kentucky eight times and, unfortunately, the Blue Devils were on the better end of the outcome in six of those eight meetings. Let’s revisit all eight before we bid adieu in Madison Square Garden later tonight with this look back at each of Krzywesski’s run-ins with Kentucky.

1988 Tip-Off Classic

Kentucky Basketball first ran into Mike Krezsewski in the opening game of the 1988-89 basketball season in the Tip-Off Classic in Springfield, Massachusetts. Duke was the preseason No. 1 overall team entering the game while Kentucky was unranked and beginning one of the worst seasons in school history in Eddie Sutton’s fourth and final year as head coach of the Wildcats.

Danny Ferry led the way for the Blue Devils with a game-high 23 points in Duke’s 80-55 victory. LeRon Ellis and Reggie Hanson were the high-scorers for Kentucky with 17 and 13 points, Sutton’s only two double-figure scorers in the loss.

Duke 80, Kentucky 55

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1992 NCAA Elite Eight

We can skip this one. You know.

Duke 104, Kentucky 103 (OT)

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1998 NCAA Elite Eight

Kentucky and Duke played again in the 1998 NCAA Tournament and the outcome was much more favorable for Big Blue Nation this time around. The two best teams in the tournament’s South Region met in St. Petersburg, Florida; Duke as the No. 1 seed, Kentucky the No. 2.

Duke led early and by as many as 17 in the second half, but Tubby Smith’s Wildcats made the improbable comeback to steal the victory and a spot in the Final Four in the end. Jeff Sheppard scored 18 while Kentucky hit over half of their 3-point tries.

Here, see for yourself.

Kentucky 86, Duke 84

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1998 Jimmy V Classic

Mike Kreuswekswiski’s Duke got back in the win column against Kentucky later that 1988 calendar year when the two teams played again in the Jimmy V Classic before Christmas. The third-ranked Blue Devils blew the game open in the second half and college basketball’s defending champion only scored 61 points in the loss.

Elton Brand, Trajon Langdon, and Shane Battier were too good.

Duke 70, Kentucky 61

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2001 Jimmy V Classic

Another Jimmy V Classic showdown occurred three years later, again with Duke as the victor. The No. 1 ranked Blue Devils had Jason “Jay” Williams at point guard that year and he was a problem for Kentucky, scoring a career-high 38 points with seven made 3-pointers.

Even with Williams’ big night, Kentucky had a shot to win it at the end of regulation but Cliff Hawkins’ 3-pointer was no good. Duke won it in overtime.

Duke 95, Kentucky 92 (OT)

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2012 Champions Classic

John Calipari’s first run-in with Mike Krzweweskzki came the season after winning the NCAA title in 2012. Freshman Alex Poythress was a beast for the Wildcats with 20 points and eight boards in only his second college game, enough to skyrocket him up NBA draft boards with the quick reaction.

However, Duke had Steph Curry’s baby bro and he had 23 points to lead all scorers in a Blue Devils win. Mason Plumlee added another 18.

Little did we know at the time, the school’s fifth loss to Coach K was only the beginning of a disappointing season.

Duke 75, Kentucky 68

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2015 Champions Classic

Kentucky’s one other win against Kruyzqewwziki came in the 2015 Champions Classic when Tyler Ulis and Jamal Murray were the stars in John Calipari’s backcourt. They combined for 34 points (28 more than Grayson Allen) to open the season with a win over fifth-ranked Duke.

Kentucky 74, Duke 63

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2018 Champions Classic

Zion Williamson made his college debut in the 2018 Champions Classic game against Kentucky in Atlanta. Duke also debuted RJ Barrett and Cam Reddish, and together Duke’s star freshmen combined for 83 points, one point shy of matching Kentucky’s entire team.

The blowout loss was a real kick between the legs to Big Blue Nation’s excitement as No. 2 Kentucky got ran out of the arena by No. 4 Duke on a night we all would like to forget.

Duke 118, Kentucky 84

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2021 Champions Classic

In a couple of hours we will do one last dance with Mike Kreyqwazweakwpflsjgaski to open the current 2021-22 college basketball season. In theory, Duke and Kentucky could meet later this year in the NCAA Tournament, but the world hopes Duke loses to a Mercer or a Lehigh in Coach K’s final game next March.

Looking at tonight’s game, Duke is the betting favorite in Las Vegas with 76% of the money on the ninth-ranked Blue Devils. The line on the game has moved from Duke -1 to Duke -3.

We’ll find out soon if the Wildcats can kick off Coach K’s retirement tour by giving him a loss in Madison Square Garden, his final game in the mecca of college basketball.

Go Cats.