Mandy
No. 24 Kansas came out firing against No. 5 Duke on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden, even without star freshman Darryn Peterson, who was ruled out earlier in the day due to a hamstring injury.
Peterson, widely considered the team’s top player and a projected No. 1 NBA Draft candidate, was forced to watch from the sidelines.
Even without him, Kansas’ deep roster showed early dominance. Senior transfer Tre White delivered a huge performance with 22 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals, helping the Jayhawks surge ahead 15-10 by the first media break. But once both teams turned to their benches, the game began to shift.
Duke Takes Control Behind Energy And Depth
Duke seized momentum with an 11-2 run, turning the deficit into a 35-30 advantage, a surge highlighted by a full-court pass from Cameron Boozer that resulted in a fast-break dunk by Isaiah Evans. The Blue Devils continued to roll, closing the half on a 21-7 run for a 41-33 halftime lead.
Kansas didn’t collapse. The Jayhawks trimmed the margin and closed to within 67-64 late in the second half. However, their shooting struggles from beyond the arc — going just 4 of 21 (19%) — prevented them from fully completing the comeback.
Duke’s Youth Shows Championship Potential
Despite returning no starters from last season’s Final Four squad, Duke again looks like a championship threat.
Head coach Jon Scheyer’s new group features standout freshmen like Boozer and Dame Sarr, supported by veterans Isaiah Evans, Patrick Ngongba, and Caleb Foster, who played secondary roles behind a star-powered lineup last season.
As Kansas kept applying pressure, Duke repeatedly found answers, restoring control whenever the Jayhawks got close.
Cameron Boozer Continues Dominant Freshman Run
Cameron Boozer has opened his college career with impressive numbers, averaging 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.8 blocks through his first four games.
On one of the biggest stages in college basketball, Boozer delivered again with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists, powering Duke to a 78-66 victory.
While fans missed the highly anticipated freshman duel between Boozer and Peterson, both teams showed they have the talent to make deep postseason runs. A rematch in March is certainly possible.
Duke proved its strength despite a new starting lineup, using depth, energy and Cameron Boozer’s star performance to pull past Kansas.
The Jayhawks fought hard without Darryn Peterson, but cold shooting and Duke’s deeper rotation ultimately made the difference.
Both programs showed why they remain elite contenders in college basketball, potentially setting the stage for an exciting rematch later in the season.