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NCAA Basketball: Each team’s history heading into 2019 Champions Classic

By Griffin McVeigh

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 31: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans is defended by Tre Jones #3 of the Duke Blue Devils during the first half in the East Regional game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 31, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 31: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans is defended by Tre Jones #3 of the Duke Blue Devils during the first half in the East Regional game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Capital One Arena on March 31, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – APRIL 06: Head coach Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils cuts down the net after defeating the Wisconsin Badgers during the NCAA Men’s Final Four National Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 6, 2015 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Duke defeated Wisconsin 68-63. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – APRIL 06: Head coach Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils cuts down the net after defeating the Wisconsin Badgers during the NCAA Men’s Final Four National Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 6, 2015 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Duke defeated Wisconsin 68-63. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

Duke

Overall record: 5-3

Record vs Kansas: 0-2

Record vs Kentucky: 2-1

Record vs Michigan State: 3-0

Over the eight years this tournament has been going on, Duke has the best record of the four schools, going 5-3. Not only do they have the most total wins, but the Blue Devils hold the most wins over one team, the largest margin of victory, and have been ranked inside the top five for seven out of the nine years now.

Going 3-0 against Michigan State, Duke joins Kansas as teams to have an undefeated record against one of the other three. The games between have been close, with the Blue Devils winning by an average of 7.3 points. While Michigan State’s Tom Izzo is one of the greatest coaches to ever do it, his career record against Coach Krzyzewski while at Duke is 1-11. The Champions Classic has the two teams playing every three years, but Coach K has continued to beat the Spartans.

Their biggest win throughout the eight years came last season, as they faced No. 2 Kentucky, and destroyed them 118-84. Last season’s big three of Cam Reddish, RJ Barrett, and Zion Williamson combined for 83 of those 118 points, as Barrett led the way with 33 points. What the Blue Devils were able to do that night showed the entire country what we would be getting from them that season.

If the Blue Devils can secure a win against Kansas this year, it will be their first win against them in three attempts.

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