NEW YORK, NY (Chambana Today) – Saturday’s matchup between Illinois and Duke at Madison Square Garden was supposed to be a non-conference test—an opportunity for both teams to sharpen their skills before heading into NCAA Tournament play. However, the No. 3 Blue Devils demonstrated their national championship potential, beating Illinois with a 110-67 loss.
After a rough first half where Illinois missed 17 consecutive three-pointers, Duke went on a dominant 38-15 run, ultimately taking a commanding 54-37 lead at halftime. Duke shot 54.5 percent from the floor and racked up 14 assists on 18 made field goals.
Despite Illinois’ defensive efforts, they had no answer for Duke’s dominant freshman Cooper Flagg. Flagg, who had been a major concern heading into the game, was quiet in the first half with only six points on 1-of-4 shooting. But once he found his rhythm in the second half, the Blue Devils’ lead ballooned. Flagg finished with 16 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, delivering several momentum-shifting plays. Alongside Flagg, seven Blue Devils scored in double figures, showcasing their depth and balance. Meanwhile, Illinois’ effort was limited to Tre White, who scored a team-high 16 points, and Kasparas Jakucionis, who added 14 points, seven rebounds, and six assists in a losing effort.
Illinois will have to regroup and refocus quickly after suffering their largest defeat of the season when they host Iowa Tuesday night.