Caden Fitzroy - 20 Nov,
2025
When the final buzzer sounded at Madison Square Garden on November 18, 2025, the Duke Blue Devils didn’t just win—they announced themselves as a force. A 78-66 victory over the Kansas Jayhawks wasn’t just another early-season upset. It was a statement. Cameron Boozer, the 6’9” forward from Georgia, finished with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists, turning the game’s pivotal stretch into his personal highlight reel. And when guard Caleb Foster turned to the roaring crowd and said, "It’s what dreams are made of," you believed him. This wasn’t just a win. It was validation.
The Game That Broke the Streak
For years, Kansas had owned Duke in big moments. Five of the last six meetings? Jayhawks wins. Two straight in the Champions Classic. But on this night, the script flipped. Duke entered 4-0, having crushed Indiana State 101-65 just three days earlier, where Boozer shot 13-for-16. Kansas? They were 2-1, coming off a brutal 93-87 loss to North Carolina and a gritty win over Princeton, where sophomore Flory Bidunga dropped a career-high 25 points. But without starting guard
Darren Peterson—out for his third straight game with a hamstring strain—the Jayhawks were already playing with a limp.
Who Stepped Up When It Mattered
The first half was a chess match. Kansas jumped out early, fueled by Bidunga’s relentless drives and defensive intensity. But Duke’s depth, especially from the bench, started to wear them down.
Isaiah Evans hit three straight mid-range jumpers in the second half, quieting Allen Fieldhouse’s echo in New York. Then came the turning point: with 5:12 left and Duke up just 69-64, Boozer stole a lazy pass, drove baseline, and finished through contact. The and-one. The crowd erupted. The momentum? Gone. Kansas never recovered.
Dame Sarr, the 6’5” forward from Mali who transferred from St. John’s, was the quiet assassin. He didn’t score much—just 11 points—but his defense on Jayden Dawson, Kansas’s explosive sophomore, was textbook. "Sar gunned on the flush by Dawson," one YouTube recap noted, referencing a key block that killed a fast break. Meanwhile, Patrick Ngongba II, Kansas’s 6’10” center, fought hard, but foul trouble forced him off the floor with 6:18 left. He finished with just 12 minutes on the court.
What the Coaches Saw
Duke head coach
Jon Scheyer, now in his fourth season, stayed calm. "We’re still assessing lineup combinations," he told reporters after the game. "Cameron’s versatility lets us play small or big. That’s the luxury we didn’t have last year." His team’s ball movement—24 assists on 31 field goals—was the difference. Kansas, under head coach Bill Self, looked disjointed. "We had chances," Self admitted. "But when you’re down a starter and your bigs get in foul trouble, you’re asking your guards to do too much. That’s on me."
Michael Swain, the longtime analyst for
The Phog, offered a more nuanced take in his YouTube breakdown: "Look, top to bottom, I think it’s more of an encouraging performance than a discouraging one for KU. The competitive nature they showed in the first 10 minutes? That’s the blueprint for the rest of the year."
The Bigger Picture
This wasn’t just about one game. It was about identity. Duke, now 5-0, looks like a Final Four contender. Boozer’s emergence as a two-way force, Evans’ clutch shooting, and Foster’s leadership—these aren’t flukes. They’re building blocks. Kansas? They’re still finding their rhythm. The loss marks their second defeat to a top-10 team this season, and now they face a brutal stretch: back-to-back neutral-site games against
Notre Dame Fighting Irish and
Syracuse Orange before Big 12 play begins in December.
The Champions Classic, held annually since 2011 at
Madison Square Garden, has become a barometer for national title hopes. This year, Duke passed with flying colors. Kansas? They’re still learning how to win when the stakes are highest.
What’s Next?
Duke heads home to
Durham, North Carolina with a top-five ranking, eyes on a potential showdown with North Carolina in January. Kansas? They’re heading to South Bend and Syracuse—two hostile environments—before Christmas. If Peterson returns by then, the Jayhawks might still turn things around. But if not? The pressure mounts.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Cameron Boozer’s performance compare to previous games?
Boozer’s 18-point, 10-rebound, 5-assist stat line against Kansas was his best all-around game of the season. He’d scored 13 points against Indiana State but shot 13-for-16; here, he was 7-for-14 from the field but added critical defensive plays and playmaking. His efficiency dipped slightly, but his impact rose—especially in crunch time, where he took over when Duke needed it most.
Why was Darren Peterson’s absence so critical for Kansas?
Peterson, Kansas’s starting guard and primary ball-handler, averages 14.2 points and 5.8 assists per game. Without him, the Jayhawks lost their offensive rhythm and struggled to create open looks. In their two losses this season—both to top-10 teams—they’ve been outscored by an average of 11.5 points in the second half. His absence exposed their lack of depth at guard, forcing younger players into roles they weren’t ready for.
What does this win mean for Duke’s national title chances?
Duke’s 5-0 start, including wins over Indiana State, Army, North Carolina (in a non-conference game), and now Kansas, signals they’re a legitimate contender. Their depth, defensive versatility, and Boozer’s development give them a rare blend of size and speed. With Jon Scheyer’s system improving each year, and key players like Foster and Evans stepping up, Duke is now in the top-five conversation—and could be a top seed if they stay healthy.
How does this result affect the Champions Classic’s legacy?
The Champions Classic, held at Madison Square Garden since 2011, has become a barometer for early-season supremacy. This year’s matchup delivered on that promise: a top-five team defeating a top-25 squad with national implications. It’s the kind of game that reminds fans why college basketball’s opening weekend matters—before conference play dulls the drama.
What’s the historical context between Duke and Kansas?
Before this game, Kansas had won five of the last six meetings, including the last two Champions Classic matchups in 2023 and 2024. But Duke had dominated the early 2000s, winning four straight from 2001 to 2005. This 2025 win breaks Kansas’s recent streak and re-establishes Duke as a program that can rise to the occasion in neutral-site marquee games—something they struggled with in the past.
Who is Dame Sarr, and why was he so effective?
Dame Sarr, a 6’5" forward from Mali who transferred from St. John’s, was Duke’s defensive anchor off the bench. He didn’t score much, but his length and timing disrupted Kansas’s drives. He recorded three steals and two blocks, including a key rejection on Jayden Dawson that killed a fast break. His presence allowed Duke to switch defensively without losing size—a crucial advantage against Kansas’s athletic frontcourt.
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