Duke vs. Wisconsin: Score and Twitter Reaction for ACC-Big Ten Challenge 2014

Most assumed that if No. 4 Duke was going to beat No. 2 Wisconsin in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge at the Kohl Center in Madison, it would take a big game from a certain freshman. And they were right about that.

They just targeted the wrong freshman.

Tyus Jones scored 22 points to go with six rebounds and four assists Wednesday night, leading the Blue Devils to an 80-70 win over the Badgers in a matchup of two legitimate Final Four contenders.

Head coach Mike Krzyzewski summarized the team's game plan, via The Chronicle: 

In a game hyped by the individual battle of freshman Jahlil Okafor (13 points, six rebounds) and senior Frank Kaminsky (17 points, nine rebounds), arguably the two best centers in America, it was Duke's backcourt that was on display in the victory.

Sports Illustrated's Brian Hamilton noted the mistake-free play from Jones and senior Quinn Cook:

Traevon Jackson had 25 points on 12 shots, but Wisconsin simply couldn't slow down the Blue Devils, who shot 65.2 percent from the field and finished with a jaw-dropping offensive rating of 132.9, per scacchoops.com.

It was a deafening statement made by Krzyzewski's squad:

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So that was Duke starting three freshmen and beating No. 2 Wisconsin convincingly. The sky – or Kentucky – is the limit for the Blue Devils

— David Gardner (@byDavidGardner) December 4, 2014"

Okafor scored Duke's first four points of the game but didn't attempt a shot in the final 15 minutes of the first half. That was partly due to a couple of unnecessary fouls that sent him to the bench. Sporting News' Michael DeCourcy noted the talented freshman still clearly has some things to learn:

Still, with Okafor silenced and fellow freshman Justise Winslow making his impact on the defensive end, the Blue Devils showcased their depth. Jones and Cook each hit a pair of threes, while Rasheed Sulaimon chipped in five points off the bench to lead Duke to a 35-32 lead at intermission.

At the same time, Wisconsin had to feel fortunate about the score, as Sports Illustrated's Seth Davis pointed out:

The beginning of the second half belonged to Jones, though.

Using his quickness to get into the lane at will—a common theme of the second half—the young point guard was directly responsible for 11 of Duke's first 13 points (eight points, one assist on a Sulaimon three).

Hamilton was impressed by the freshman's seemingly unflappable demeanor in the difficult environment:

The Associated Press (per ESPN.com) had more from Coach K on the freshmen in Wednesday night's win:

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"When those freshmen see that the upperclassmen are setting the table for them, it helps a lot," Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "They didn't look like freshmen tonight."

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Kaminsky and Jackson kept Wisconsin close, but the Badgers simply couldn't get enough stops on the defensive end. Jones and Cook continued to create penetration with the dribble, and that in turn opened up space for Okafor to work against single coverage on the block.

Of course, while Duke's offensive efficiency and versatility were undeniably impressive, Amile Jefferson's defense down the stretch shouldn't go unnoticed:

Wisconsin got as close as three, 63-60. with just over five minutes left, but Jones once again responded when it mattered most, getting in transition for a layup and knocking down a jumper to seal the victory.

The Badgers have little time to rest after this one, as they get set to take on intra-state rival Marquette on Saturday.

Duke has a longer turnaround. The Blue Devils host Elon in 12 days before an enticing matchup against Connecticut's dynamic backcourt on December 18.

Looking beyond that, Wednesday night provided very little evidence to suggest these teams aren't a strong bet to see each other again in April.