nbcsports
LAWRENCE, Kan. — In a rare on-campus meeting between two of college basketball's most storied programs, Duke edged Kansas 90-84 on Sunday in an exhibition game at Allen Fieldhouse. The Blue Devils' last visit to Lawrence was in 1988, when they won 74-70 in overtime during the regular season, only to fall to the Jayhawks in the Final Four later that year.
Duke coach Jon Scheyer, who was an infant the last time Duke played at Kansas, reflected on the significance of the matchup. "This is a special thing, you know, the fact that our two programs haven't played here," Scheyer said. "Nothing about it felt like an exhibition game. The environment, everything here was beyond special. So for us to go on the road, play a really good team — hungry team — I think we learned a lot."
The game featured standout performances from freshmen. Patrick Ngongba led Duke with 28 points and 10 rebounds, while John Blackwell added 23 points. For Kansas, Tyran Stokes posted 27 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists, and fellow freshman Taylen Kinney contributed 14 points.
Key Analysis
High-profile exhibitions like this one offer obvious benefits: a chance to face elite competition without affecting the win-loss record, and a substantial financial windfall. The game was sponsored by State Farm and broadcast by ESPN, with courtside seats reselling for over $6,300. Kansas coach Bill Self noted that the proceeds can support name, image, and likeness efforts. "The good thing about the game is it's not a conference game. It's not on the season-ticket package, so that money can be used toward things that are pretty important to programs right now," Self said. The matchup also provided valuable experience for both teams as they prepare for the regular season. "I thought we showed a lot of toughness," Scheyer said. "You're still figuring out what you have, even in these exhibition games. So really proud of our group. Learned a lot, and we're looking forward to starting the season and taking these lessons and carrying forward."
Originally reported by nbcsports.