Table of Content
Fifth-ranked Michigan State delivered a commanding 79-73 victory over second-ranked Duke in the Champions Classic at the United Center in Chicago. Despite the six-point final margin, the Spartans controlled the contest for most of the night, exposing key vulnerabilities in the Blue Devils’ setup.
Following the loss, Duke head coach Jon Scheyer expressed deep frustration with his team’s lack of cohesion and physical play across the board, as reported by CBS Sports.
“That wasn’t Duke basketball,” Scheyer said after the game.
Offensive Struggles and Lack of Execution
The Blue Devils struggled significantly on offense throughout the first half, managing only 25 points while averaging 0.75 points per possession. Duke’s attack was marked by forced individual efforts and erratic shot selection, departing from the ball movement typically seen under Scheyer’s leadership.
“For me, a little bit of an out-of-body experience,” Scheyer said. “Bottom line, we weren’t connected, and we’re gonna fix it, I can promise you that much. The whole night, we just did not play through any resistance. We weren’t able to get to the next action. The amount of times we just went one-on-one, against a set defense, put our head down, got our shot blocked or turned the ball over. I thought that’s how they got separation. They have a great defense. It’s what they do, but I’m still disappointed in our ability to fight for the rim and fight for better shots.”
Spartans Showcase Defense and Guard Depth
Michigan State was guided by point guard Jeremy Fears Jr., who dictated the tempo throughout the contest. On defense, sophomore wing Jordan Scott anchored the Spartans by recording nine rebounds and six blocked shots.
“Jordan is the X factor on defense,” MSU forward Cam Ward said. “He had six blocks tonight. He’s everywhere, all the time. It’s a luxury to have him on our team.”
Alongside their defensive display, Michigan State received scoring contributions from freshmen Jasiah Jervis and Carlos Medlock Jr., reinforcing a physical game plan centered on rebounding and defensive intensity.
Duke Guard Play and Youth Development
Duke’s backcourt faced a difficult evening against Michigan State’s pressure. Guard Caleb Foster shot 2 for 10 from the field, while Cayden Boozer was limited to nine minutes of play in the second half. Transfer guard John Blackwell scored a team-high 17 points for Duke, though much of his production came during a late run when the outcome was largely decided.
“I’ll be honest with you, I think on the perimeter, really, we didn’t have anybody play that well,” Scheyer said. “It was that kind of night. … Our guards have to be better.”
Freshman center Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje also faced challenges against Michigan State’s frontline, finishing with five points and four rebounds in limited impact.
“This is a high-level game; JoJo is wired for these moments, but we just gotta continue to figure out how to give him the ball,” Scheyer said. “I mean, we gotta look for him. We gotta put him in better positions. And then it’s just the things you have to learn as a 17-year-old, just of how to impact the game, without the ball, defense, rebounding. I was proud of him, man, ‘cause he came back in, and he showed some, uh, great competitiveness, got the rebound, uh, but we got to be better on getting him shots. We gotta be better. JoJo is gonna continue to learn and grow from this, and we’re gonna go through some of these moments this year.”
Following the defeat, Duke will focus on re-establishing offensive rhythm and evaluating lineup combinations as the non-conference schedule continues.
