Busting Brackets
Fansided

Kentucky Basketball: 3 takeaways from Wildcats season-opener loss to Duke

By Jerran Anderson

Nov 9, 2021; New York, New York, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Oscar Tshiebwe (34) reacts after dunking the ball against the Duke Blue Devils during the second half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 9, 2021; New York, New York, USA; Kentucky Wildcats forward Oscar Tshiebwe (34) reacts after dunking the ball against the Duke Blue Devils during the second half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 4
Next
Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Krzyzewski Kentucky Basketball Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Krzyzewski Kentucky Basketball Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports /

Kentucky basketball opened the season with a loss in an early-season matchup of Top 10 teams in the 2021 State Farm Champions Classic. Things were competitive, but it was too little too late in the end for the Kentucky basketball as they dropped their first game of the college basketball season 79-71 to the Duke Blue Devils.

Oscar Tshiebwe and Sahvir Wheeler both finished with double-doubles in their debuts for the Wildcats. Tshiebwe nearly finished with 20 rebounds, going for 17 points and 19 rebounds, including 12 on the offensive end of the floor, on 8-of-14 shooting from the floor.

Wheeler was stellar at the floor general position, finishing with 16 points and 10 assists along with three rebounds and a steal on 6-of-15 shooting from the field.

Outside of the duo of Tshiebwe and Wheeler, things were a bit hard to come by for the Wildcats on offense. TyTy Washington had a rough outing, though he still finished with nine points, three assists, and two rebounds on 3-of-14 shooting from the field and 0-of-2 shooting from 3-point land.

Kellan Grady and Keion Brooks Jr. were two other players that finished with nine points apiece as well but in the end, it wasn’t enough as Kentucky basketball dropped Game 1 on the young season. Here’s a look at 3 takeaways from their loss in the State Farm Champions Classic.

Home/Kentucky Wildcats