On Tuesday, Duke will face Kentucky in the Champions Classic, and while a detailed analysis will follow soon, it’s worth discussing Kentucky since they’re certainly focused on Duke.
As you may know, following last season, the relationship between BBN and John Calipari had soured significantly. We’ve enjoyed poking fun at Calipari’s assertion that Draft Day is the highlight of Kentucky basketball, knowing it annoys Kentucky fans who are more interested in championships. New coach Mark Pope, who was part of the 1996 championship team, understands this sentiment fully.
Consequently, after losing out on high-profile recruits like Danny Hurley, the fanbase has rallied around Pope. While we’ll need to see how his teams perform on the court, he has quickly and impressively made changes from afar. Calipari simplified his offensive strategy to cater to his one-and-done players, yet even that didn’t yield the expected results, leading to a frustrating decline in Kentucky’s postseason achievements, much to the fans’ dismay.
Currently, Kentucky fans are extremely enthusiastic and view Duke as a benchmark, with a strong desire for revenge dating back to 1992. For instance, on Matt Jones’ Kentucky Sports Radio show, a caller named Vicky from Cynthiana claimed she would run naked on the highway if Kentucky triumphs over Duke on Tuesday. (Trivia note: Cynthiana is the hometown of former Kentucky coach Joe B. Hall.)
The players are equally fired up. Take Kerr Kriisa’s comments, for example. Listen closely, and you’ll catch a hint of his cockiness. There’s definitely a sense of excitement surrounding this match-up.
Additionally, check out highlights from Kentucky’s game against Bucknell; one standout play showcases some impressive ball movement, even if it’s not against a top-tier team.
This kind of play has Kentucky fans incredibly hyped up.
In their eyes, this game is an opportunity to reclaim status against Duke. With renewed energy and Atlanta on the horizon, they are ready to show their support in classic BBN style.
Conversely, Duke’s team is currently functioning well together, and Kriisa seems aware that Flagg is garnering significant attention. Tuesday could mark a big breakout moment for Flagg, as well as for Kon Knueppel and Khaman Maluach.
While we can’t predict the outcome of this first clash between Jon Scheyer’s Duke and Pope’s Kentucky, if Duke performs exceptionally well, it will be interesting to see how the Big Blue Nation reacts.
