Duke Stuns Kansas 78-66 in Champions Classic, Ends Jayhawks' Two-Game Win Streak
On Tuesday, November 18, 2025, the 2025 Champions Classic delivered a classic — literally. Duke Blue Devils outlasted Kansas Jayhawks 78-66 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, snapping Kansas’s two-game winning streak in the series and securing their first ranked win of the 2025-26 season. It wasn’t pretty, but it was physical, gritty, and decided by a 13-5 closing run that left the Jayhawks stunned. The game, tipped off at 7:00 PM Eastern, wasn’t just about rankings — it was about identity. Duke, under first-year head coach Jon Scheyer, proved they could win ugly. Kansas, led by veteran Bill Self, showed flashes of brilliance but couldn’t close the deal when it mattered most.
The Turning Point: Foul Trouble and Free Throws
The game swung on a single moment: Flory Bidunga, Kansas’s 6’10" sophomore center from France, picked up his second foul with 6:40 left in the first half. He sat for nearly eight minutes. Without him, Kansas’s interior defense collapsed. Duke, hungry for second chances, grabbed 13 offensive rebounds — 15 points came off them. Cameron Boozer, the freshman forward, didn’t shoot well (6-of-18), but he was everywhere: 18 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists. He turned a missed layup into a put-back, then drew a foul on Kansas’s KJ Tiller with 5:12 left in the first half, sinking both free throws to give Duke a 27-24 lead. That’s when the Blue Devils began to breathe.Kansas’s Fight — And Its Fatal Mistakes
The Jayhawks weren’t done. Jayden Dawson, a junior guard, made a clutch steal that led to an alley-oop dunk to Bidunga, giving Kansas a 24-18 lead. Later, Dawson’s first three-pointer of the season cut Duke’s lead to 69-64 with 1:47 left. But then came the twist: Isaiah Evans caught the ball at the top of the key with 0.8 seconds left on the shot clock. He didn’t hesitate. Swish. A 3-pointer that pushed the lead to 72-64 — a dagger no team in the Big 12 could recover from. Kansas’s frustration mounted. Tiller’s charging foul with 5:18 left killed a potential momentum shift. Dajuan Council, who’d been ice-cold from deep all season, finally found his range — but too late. And Bidunga, despite battling foul trouble and playing only 24 minutes, still managed 14 points and 7 rebounds. He’d scored 25 against Princeton just two nights earlier. But this wasn’t Princeton. This was Duke at MSG — loud, relentless, and better prepared.
Why This Win Matters More Than the Score
Duke’s 38 points in the paint told the real story. They didn’t rely on three-pointers — they attacked the rim, wore Kansas down, and outworked them on the glass. The Blue Devils are now 4-0, their first ranked win under Scheyer, who played for Duke from 2017 to 2021 and took over as head coach last year after Mike Krzyzewski’s retirement. This wasn’t a fluke. It was a statement: Duke’s new era is built on toughness, not just talent. For Kansas, the loss stings. They entered the game 3-1, their only defeat coming at the hands of then-No. 12 North Carolina. Their win over Princeton — where Bidunga shot 10-of-11 — looked like a sign of dominance. But against Duke, their depth showed cracks. They had no answer for Boozer’s versatility or Patrick Ngongba II’s slashing drives. Ngongba’s dunk off a Dame Sarr assist at 19:07 in the second half was the kind of play that exposes defensive gaps — and Kansas had too many.What’s Next for Both Teams?
Duke now turns to a home game against UNC Greensboro on Friday. They’ve got momentum, confidence, and a defense that’s tightening up. Scheyer’s system is starting to click — and Boozer, despite his shooting struggles, is becoming the kind of all-around force that wins championships. Kansas? They’ve got three neutral-site games in six days. Next up: Notre Dame on Friday, then Syracuse on Sunday. The Jayhawks need to reset fast. Bill Self called this a “big boy game,” and he’s right. But big boys don’t lose by double digits when they’ve got the talent to win. They’ll need to fix their foul trouble, improve their perimeter defense, and find a second scoring option beyond Bidunga.
The Bigger Picture: A Rivalry Rekindled
This was the 14th meeting between Duke and Kansas since 2000. Kansas had won five of the last six. They’d beaten Duke in the 2022 Final Four and again in 2023. But this time? Duke had the last laugh. The Champions Classic, featuring Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, and Michigan State, was created to spotlight elite programs early in the season. This game delivered. And it might just be the spark Duke needs to re-enter the national title conversation.Frequently Asked Questions
How did Cameron Boozer manage 18 points and 10 rebounds despite shooting poorly?
Boozer’s impact wasn’t about efficiency — it was about activity. He grabbed five offensive rebounds, drew fouls on key possessions, and made smart passes to open teammates. His 5 assists included a key feed to Patrick Ngongba II for a dunk that broke Kansas’s momentum. Even when he missed, he stayed in the play — a trait that defines elite big men.
Why was Flory Bidunga’s foul trouble so damaging to Kansas?
Bidunga was Kansas’s only consistent interior presence. When he sat for 8 minutes in the first half, Duke outscored them 14-4 in the paint. His absence opened the door for Duke’s 13 offensive rebounds and 38 points inside. Without him, Kansas’s defense became predictable — and easily exploited.
What does this win mean for Jon Scheyer’s coaching future at Duke?
This was Scheyer’s first win over a ranked opponent as head coach. After inheriting a program from Coach K, expectations were sky-high. Beating Kansas at MSG — in front of a national TV audience — proves he can handle pressure. If Duke continues to play with this intensity, he could be in serious contention for ACC Coach of the Year.
How does this result affect Duke’s NCAA Tournament projection?
Duke’s resume now includes a win over a top-25 team on a neutral court — a huge boost. Their non-conference slate gets tougher with UNC Greensboro and then a December trip to Michigan State. But this win alone moves them into the top 5 in most NET rankings. They’re no longer a team to watch — they’re a team to fear.
Is this the end of Kansas’s dominance over Duke?
Not necessarily. Kansas still leads the last six meetings 5-1. But this loss shows Duke has closed the gap. With Boozer and Ngongba emerging as dynamic freshmen, and Scheyer’s system gaining traction, the tide may be turning. Kansas’s reliance on Bidunga and Dawson’s inconsistency could be their undoing if they don’t develop more depth.
What’s the significance of the Champions Classic in college basketball?
The Champions Classic, held annually at Madison Square Garden since 2011, is college basketball’s version of a Super Bowl opener. It pits four blue-blood programs — Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, and Michigan State — against each other early in the season. These games set the tone for the year, draw massive TV ratings, and often reveal which teams are true contenders. Tuesday’s game was one of the most competitive in recent memory.
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