Jeff Borzello

After last season's blowout Champions Classic loss, Mark Pope said that his "message isn't resonating" and called his team "really poorly coached." He sounds far more optimistic and positive after tonight's defeat. "This is a learning group. And this is a brutal lesson."

FINAL: No. 15 Kansas 89, No. 24 Kentucky 69 Thoroughly impressive performance by Kansas. Led by double-digits all 2nd half. Clinic offensively. Tre White w/ 30. Tyran Stokes: 23 PTS, 10 REBS, 4 AST, off-ball movement catch-and-shoot stuff looked great.

Kansas' offense is firing on all cylinders. With TKR at the 5, they've been picking apart Kentucky's defense in the halfcourt - while also beating the Wildcats in transition with Kinney, White, Stokes (22-0 edge in pts off turnovers). Unselfish, versatile and a star in Stokes.

Kansas takes a 17-point lead on Kentucky early in the second half ...

FINAL: No. 5 Michigan State 79, No. 2 Duke 73 Statement win for the Spartans and an incredible defensive performance from Jordan Scott and co. Duke never had a lead. Jeremy Fears: 18 PTS, 7 REBS, 11 AST Jordan Scott: 9 REBS, 6 BLKS Duke: 33.3 FG%

STREAK OVER: Duke had a lead or was within one possession of the lead in the final minute in each of its last 79 games, including all 77 games over the last two seasons. That run ended tonight.

Jordan Scott has been OUTSTANDING tonight. Jumper not falling, but has done literally everything else. 5 points, 9 rebounds, 5 blocks, 2 steals. Just had a huge layup to push Michigan State's lead back to 7.

Duke had a chance to cut Michigan State's lead to six (or even five), would've been as close as they had been all second half. But Dame Sarr missed a transition layup and Caleb Foster missed a 3. Blue Devils running out of time to make a run.

MASSIVE shot by Jasiah Jervis and Michigan State is back up 12. Patrick Ngongba had a chance to put some real game pressure on the Spartans but failed to convert a three-point play and then missed the front end of a one-and-one.

Jeremy Fears in the first half: 8 assists, 1 turnover.

HALFTIME: No. 5 Michigan State 34, No. 2 Duke 25 Just a dominant defensive performance by the Spartans in the first half. Took Duke completely out of rhythm. Six blocks, five steals. Duke shooting 26% from the field. Jordan Scott and Cam Ward have been fantastic for Mich St.

Duke went on a 7-0 run in 55 seconds midway through the first half. In the other 14+ minutes, the Blue Devils have scored seven points.

Michigan State hasn't scored in 5:30 -- and still leads Duke by five at the under-12 timeout. Spartans' defense has been incredible so far tonight. Size, length, toughness, connected. Duke having trouble getting anything clean in the half-court.

Three assists for Jeremy Fears in the first 2:33.

NEWS: Kansas guard Melvin Council Jr. suffered a broken right foot today in practice, the school announced. Bill Self says he's hopeful Council will return around the start of Big 12 play.

After Florida, Duke and Illinois all received first-place votes in the preseason poll, only Florida (53) and Duke (7) received first-place votes this week.

Memphis was the first team left out (four votes shy of Nebraska), followed by Saint Louis, Iowa State, North Carolina and Iowa.