Duke Basketball: 3 takeaways from Blue Devils’ win over Kentucky

2) The freshmen are as good as advertised

How good are these guys? We knew this class was going to be special as soon as Williamson signed with Duke, giving them the top three recruits in ESPN’s rankings, but all of them have delivered on the hype.

Barrett, the projected No. 1 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, showcased why he’s held in such high regard by scouts. His scoring ability was on full display with 33 points (including 20 in the first half) that came in a myriad of ways, and he also demonstrated his playmaking ability with six assists. Barrett was equally effective on the break and in the half court.

Williamson delivered a few of his patented highlight-reel plays yet also proved that he’s much more than just a dunker. The 6-7, 285-pounder scored 28 points and showed a solid jumper, making a three and draining a nice dribble step back over Reid Travis.

That was a welcome sight for Duke fans but Williamson’s impact was mostly felt in other ways. He was able to draw Travis away from the basket and routinely used his quickness to drive past him, and he used his strength and leaping ability to be effective on the glass. There were a few times where he brought the ball up the court after grabbing the rebound, instantly creating a fast break opportunity for the Blue Devils. These are the areas where he will have the most consistent impact.

Reddish contributed 22 points and showcased his great shooting stroke with deep range, something that is of extra importance for Duke’s spacing.

Jones also proved to be a threat from distance while being a steady hand for the group, dishing out six assists and playing lockdown defense on Kentucky’s point guards.

We wanted to see if this group could deliver on their lofty preseason expectations. It’s safe to say they passed the test. And just think – this team is only going to get better as they play more games together. That’s a scary thought for the rest of the country.