The Duke basketball program improved to 5–0 on the young 2025–26 season after a 78–66 win over No. 24 Kansas in the State Farm Champions Classic at Madison Square Garden. It wasn’t Duke’s cleanest effort — not even close — but it didn’t matter. One freshman stepped in, took over, and carried the Blue Devils through a sloppy but decisive victory.
The win marks Duke’s ninth straight triumph at MSG and their first against a ranked opponent this season, a promising sign considering how uneven stretches of the night were on both ends of the floor.
Kansas arrives shorthanded — but still dangerous
Kansas played without superstar freshman Darryn Peterson, who remains sidelined with a hamstring issue. Even without their top scorer, Bill Self’s team refused to make it easy. Duke’s early turnovers fed Kansas transition chances, helping the Jayhawks stay within striking distance despite lacking their primary offensive threat.
Defensively, the Blue Devils weren’t quite as sharp as they’ve been through their first four games. They tightened up in the second half, but it still felt like Duke had to grind their way through long, messy stretches.
One freshman flips the game
The story of the night was Duke’s standout rookie, who finished with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists in 34 minutes. Kansas threw doubles, traps, and aggressive help at him, but he consistently found the right read — whether it was a cutter slicing to the rim or a shooter waiting on the wing.
After the game, he told ESPN’s Kris Budden how surreal the moment felt, calling the chance to play at Madison Square Garden for Duke “a dream.”
Duke finds a way despite the flaws
Even with the mistakes, Duke handled the big-picture details well. They held Kansas to 4-for-21 from three (just 19%), committed only 15 fouls, and did a much better job eliminating transition opportunities in the second half.
On offense, Duke continued to show signs of growth. They assisted on 17 of their 27 made field goals, and seven different players scored at least five points. Even though they struggled from deep (7-for-26), they made up for it by attacking the paint and getting to the free-throw line.
A signature early-season moment
It wasn’t perfect. It wasn’t polished. But it didn’t need to be.
Duke walked into Madison Square Garden and beat a ranked Kansas team on a night when their overall performance was far from their best — all because one freshman was simply too much to handle. And if this is the type of impact he’s having in November, the rest of college basketball might want to take notice now.
