Just Hand the Trophy to Kentucky or Duke

So who else got all snuggled in with a hot toddy ready to watch some premier early season College Basketball action last night?

This guy is not going to lie. The thought of seeing No. 5 Kansas Jayhawks tangle with the No. 1 Kentucky Wildcats and the No. 4 Duke Blue Devils match up against No. 19 Michigan State Spartans was about as sexy a proposition this old man has had in a long while.

But what had promise turned into a 72-40 beat down by Kentucky, and a well orchestrated 81-71 Blue Devil victory over the Spartans in the State Farm Champions Classic.

Let’s start with the Dookies…

It looks like they are going to be a team of four horsemen in Quinn Cook, Tyus Jones, Justise Winslow and some kid named Jahlil Okafor. That quartet was all Duke needed to win as they scored 68 of the Blue Devils’ 81 points on the night. That looks like good news and bad news for the rest of college hoops and the ACC. Stop one or two of those four and you have a chance. But one of the four is going to have to be Okafor.

The Blue Devils were also dominant in an area that should terrify anyone who hates to see them win.

Duke was +16 from the free throw line as they nailed 20 of 26 while Michigan State was only 6 of 10. Everyone knows that if the Blue Devils get the no-calls on defense and have a big man to get calls inside on the other end, it is going to be a frustrating season to watch your team square off against the boys from Durham.

Now let’s turn our attention to Big Blue Nation…

There is one stat you need to know from their date with the Jayhawks.

34-12…

Kentucky outscored Kansas in the second half, 34-12. Yes. The amazing Jayhawks were held to 12 points in a half.

To make matters worse the Wildcats held Kansas to 19% shooting from the field and kept everyone (EVERYONE) in single digits in scoring. Kansas scored just 15 points from the free throw line, 15 points from deep and 10 points in the paint.

Y’all let that sink in and marinate real good for a minute…

On the flip side Kentucky only had two players in double-figures but had 12 different people score.

But the real story is how great of a defensive effort the Wildcats displayed on Tuesday. If John Calipari can get these young guys to buy into playing defense at this point in the season everyone else might just as well fold now.

To add to this, the last time Kentucky played Kansas in the Champions Classic and won they also ran the table, cut down the nets and walked away with their on copies of One Shining Moment.

Yes the season is a long one and a lot can happen from injuries to bong hits at the sorority house on the wrong night. But based on everything I saw last night, make sure Kentucky and Duke make your Final Four when it comes time to fill out your bracket in a few months.

*Section Photo credit to Andy Lyons, Getty Images; Featured Photo (above) credit to Porter Binks, USA Today Sports

(16) S.D. State Smothers (25) Utah, 53-49
(16) S.D. State Smothers (25) Utah, 53-49