Duke vs. Michigan State Basketball: Kyrie Irving Outplays Kalin Lucas, Spartans

What Just Happened?

With a solid win over the Michigan State Spartans, the Duke Blue Devils improved to 7-0 on the season, including a 2-0 record against top 10 teams. While the win wasn’t what I would call “convincing”, they don’t have to be against a Tom Izzo-coached team.

The win was Duke's 81st straight at home against a non-conference foe; a streak that won’t be in any kind of jeopardy until maybe Temple shows up in late February.

The Game Was Over When...

Kyle Singler put back a blocked shot with 2:55 to play. Let’s set it up for you. Duke is up five with the ball. The Blue Devils were up nine, but Michigan State’s Durrell Summers scored back-to-back baskets. This possession was key. The Spartans needed the stop.

The Devils go into slowdown mode. Nolan Smith has the ball high up top. Mason is trying to set a screen, but it’s not happening. Nolan looks stuck. The shot clock is ticking down. Suddenly, he goes left and Irving streaks to the basket. Nolan throws him a perfect bounce pass with three seconds on the shot clock. It’s a thing of beauty, but suddenly Draymond Green comes out of nowhere and blocks the shot.

Shit! Shot clock violation…but wait, no…Kyle Singler swoops in and patiently puts a shot up (and yes, the ball was out of his hand before it hit zero). Two points!

The putback was huge. If Duke doesn’t make a basket, Michigan State has the ball. They'd scored four straight and could now get back within three or even two with plenty of time on the clock. Instead, Duke goes back up by seven and the Spartans miss their next four shots.

Who Deserves Mad Props?

This one is too damn easy. Kyrie Irving had a career game (and to think it’s only game No. 7). The kid simply took over.

In the first half, Duke was struggling. Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith were 1-for-9 from the floor. Andre Dawkins and Seth Curry were missing shots and turning it over. The brothers Plumlee scored some, but foul trouble was taking them out of the game. Yet the freshman simply put this team on his back.

For a good 10 minute stretch in the first half, he was unstoppable. Just like with Jacob Pullen a week ago, there was nothing senior guard Kalin Lucas could do.

In the second half, the rest of the Duke squad finally jumped on board, but in the end, Irving again decided he was going to be the finisher. When the Spartans made a good basket, Irving took it upon himself to take it all the way down and respond. At the end of the game, he wanted to be at the free-throw line to finish the game.

All told, Kyrie finished with 31 points, four assists, six rebounds and three blocks. He shot 8-12 from the floor (the rest of the team was just 17-for-41). He was 13-for-16 from the free-throw line. That’s just unfair.

Could he be the best basketball player in college? Too early to say. But Harrison Barnes, eat your heart out.

Don't Forget About...

Mason Plumlee in the middle. He finished with his fifth double-double of the season, producing 10 points and 10 rebounds. Seven of those 10 boards were offensive, although it would help if Duke could do a better job capitalizing on some of those offensive rebounds.

Of those, Duke only managed to produce points twice (five total points). Twice Mason grabbed the rebound and then immediately turned it over…which brings me to one last point.

There are times when Mason looks like he has cement for hands. What can the coaching staff do to soften those puppies up? Without a doubt, the middle Plumlee is a superior athlete for a man his size. His understanding of the position and his role on this team is outstanding.

He’s a lot better than he was last year, but he still struggles to finish plays and he turns the ball over (without the ball being stolen from him) way too much. Just look at the stat sheet…Mason had five steals tonight, great…but he also turned it over five times.

His ability to finish strong at the basket is key, especially when teams are fouling him. When you’re 40 percent from the free-throw line, you need to force that ball into the hoop.

Continue reading: Kyrie Irving > Michigan State