NCAA Basketball Opener By Ellie Bednarz

 

NCAA Basketball Opener

By Ellie Bednarz

        The stage was finally set as the NCAA Basketball season started on November 9, 2021.

The biggest games of the day didn’t start until later on in the night at the Champions Classic.

Michigan State University, Duke University, University of Kentucky, and Kansas University all

traveled to Madison Square Garden to tip off the 2021 season.

        The first game at 7 p.m. consisted of the Kansas Jayhawks and the Michigan State

Spartans. Starting 5 for the Jayhawks were F David McCormack, G DaJuan Harris, G Christian

Braun, G Ochai Agbaji and G Remy Martin. Starting 5 for the Spartans were G Tyson Walker, G

Max Christie, F Gabe Brown, F Marcus Bingham Jr., and F Joey Hauser.

        Stat leaders for the Jayhawks were G Ochai Agbaji with 29 points, G Christian Braun

with 8 rebounds, and G DaJuan Harris with 4 assists. For the Spartans were G A.J. Hoggard with

17 points, and 4 assists and F Julius Marble II with 7 rebounds.

        The whole game was a close battle back and forth until the Jayhawks pulled away in the

second half. G Ochai Agbaji was unstoppable. The Spartans defense seemed lost when covering

him and he made shots consistently. The Spartans also struggled mightily on turnovers with 16

total. Kansas won the game 87-74.

        

        Kansas shot 31-64 from the floor, with 30 total rebounds and 13 assists. 8 steals, 4

blocks, and 20 total fouls. For the Spartans they shot 29-63 from the floor, with 37 rebounds and

12 assists. 5 steals, 3 blocks and 18 total fouls.

        The second game tipped off at 9:30 p.m. with the Duke Blue Devils and the Kentucky

Wildcats. Starting 5 for the Blue devils were F Wendell Moore Jr., F Paolo Banchero, C Mark

Commented [GU1]: Capitalize Devils

        Williams, G Jeremy Roach, and G Trevor Keels. Starting 5 for the Wildcats were F Oscar

Tshiebwe, F Keion Brooks Jr., G TyTy Washington Jr., G Sahvir Wheeler, and G Kellan Grady.

Stat leaders for the Blue Devils were G Trevor Keels with 25 points, F Paolo Banchero

with 7 rebounds and F Wendell Moore Jr. with 3 assists. Stat leaders for the Wildcats were F

Oscar Tshiebwe with 17 points and 19 rebounds, and G Sahvir Wheeler with 10 assists.

        This game as well was a back-and-forth game. The first half showed consistent tight play

between both teams. Duke only led by 4 going into the half, giving Kentucky the perfect

opportunity to come back strong from the break. Towards the middle of the second half Duke

took a 15-point lead. Kentucky found a way to play better defense and take better shots but

ended up losing 79-71.

        Duke shot 31-61 from the floor with 36 rebounds and 7 assists. 9 steals, 5 blocks and 9

total turnovers. For the Wildcats they shot 29-77 from the floor with 44 rebounds and 15 assists.

4 steals, 3 blocks and 13 total turnovers.

        All four teams that played in the Champions Classic are considered some of the top “blue

bloods” programs. All four coaches are already in the Hall of Fame, and they continue to coach

and play in the country’s biggest games. It’ll be exciting to see if any of these teams makes a

deep run in the March Madness tournament.