More on Duke’s Big Road Win Over Arizona

If you’re like us, do you remember what it felt like in the days leading up to Duke’s win over Arizona?

It’s not like we thought Duke was going to lose, but of course there were no guarantees. And you saw the Arizona fans line up and camp out for this ticket. They pointed to this game as a major highlight, potentially a season-long game as the Wildcats prepared to compete in the Big 12.

There were some butterflies, in other words. If Duke had lost to Kentucky, then Arizona and then Kansas played Tuesday night only to lose … the pressure of a 3-3 start would have been intense.

Not that it couldn’t have been overcome, but the media and the reactions on social media would have been crazy.

It didn’t happen that way.

Duke put the pressure on Arizona instead, and did so in a tough environment, too.

For anyone who hasn’t been to the McKale Center, or to the UA or Tucson, it’s very different from what we experience in the Triangle. It’s kind of like Kentucky, as everything in town focuses on Arizona. It’s kind of weird, honestly. There is no UNC or NC State around, no fans of other schools to make up or have fun with or hide from after a painful loss.

Like the cheer, it’s just the one: U. Of. ONE! U. of ONE! U. of ONE!

And by the way, that cheer is ancient and changeable. Please, Arizona fans: think of a new one. You can keep the old one! Just find something else, mix it up. It’s so boring, so robotic. You can do better!

The point, though, is that the atmosphere in Tucson is just relentless. It’s like Lexington, but usually healthier, and they were ready to pounce on the Blue Devils.

Instead, Duke pounced on the Wildcats — and did so with three freshmen.

Watching Cooper Flagg start off a little slow and then take over the game…watching Kon Knueppel just shiv Arizona with a couple of late threes…watching Khaman Malauch expand his game with a corner three, which in our opinion is the hardest three of all. .. it was remarkable.

But apparently it wasn’t just them. It was Maliq Brown and Sion James who defended like hell. It was Mason Gillis who held up his end of the deal.

It was Duke coming to one of the toughest places to play in the country and just shutting down Arizona. Duke took away offensive rebounds, great strength, shooting, which Tommy Lloyd coaches brilliantly, and the transition game. All of it!

It was a brilliant showing and, as mentioned, it came with high stakes: lose here, lose Tuesday against #1 Kansas and you’re out of the polls. The media mocks you and calls you overrated and in a way you have to start over. The pressure would have been insane.

The win was great and Duke played very, very well, especially on defense, but one of the biggest things to come out of this win is that the Blue Devils handled that pressure.

Now it’s on to Kansas and there will be a lot less pressure than there would have been after a loss. Win it and Duke’s aura will burn bright. Lose that and you lost to the #1 team in the country. Most teams lose to the #1 team in the country.

This early season glove has been and will continue to be tough. The good thing about it is not winning, although of course that is the goal. The good thing about it is that it forces this team to grow quickly. Win or lose, Kansas will step it up.