Duke edges Gonzaga in battle of top teams, potential top picks

The postulation extracurricular T-Mobile Arena connected Friday nighttime slowed to a crawl, and a oversea of bluish — navy and Duke bluish — formed extracurricular the venue hours earlier No. 1 Gonzaga played No. 5 Duke successful the Continental Tire Challenge.

All the while, Gonzaga freshman Chet Holmgren and Duke freshman Paolo Banchero practiced shooting connected the hoops tribunal wrong the bare venue they would aboriginal enthrall. The imaginable No. 1 NBA draught picks were good alert of the stakes that accompanied the archetypal respective presumptive showdowns betwixt the 2 classmates.

But this 1 belonged to Banchero and the Blue Devils.

Banchero dazzled a assemblage of 20,389 and helped Duke (7-0) to a signature victory, scoring 20 of his 21 successful the archetypal fractional en way to an 84-81 triumph implicit Gonzaga (6-1). The 6-foot-10-inch guardant unveiled his full violative arsenal successful the archetypal 20 minutes, scoring via dribble drives and jumpers disconnected the dribble and catch.

Cramps slowed his output successful the 2nd half, and teammate Wendell Moore Jr. played the relation of person — finishing with 20 points, six rebounds, six assists and 4 steals to clinch the event’s MVP honors.

Holmgren held his ain and supplied 16 points, 7 rebounds and 3 blocks.

“I ne'er thought it was astir Paolo and Chet,” Gonzaga manager Mark Few said. “They’re 2 large players with large futures up of them. They’re some winners. And I deliberation they’d astir apt archer you the aforesaid thing. It was ne'er astir that. I’m definite you’ll beryllium seeing them guarding each different and playing against each different for the adjacent 15, 18 years.”

Banchero and Holmgren person established themselves arsenic the apical prospects successful the 2022 NBA draught — on with Auburn freshman helping Jabari Smith and erstwhile Coronado prima turned G League Ignite defender Jaden Hardy. The matchup astatine T-Mobile Arena connected Friday provided prognosticators and fans an aboriginal look astatine the 2 wunderkinds.

Holmgren stands 7 feet with a 7-6 wingspan, and could beryllium a generational antiaircraft subordinate astatine the adjacent level. Banchero could beryllium a generational violative player, though, and didn’t person immoderate qualms astir attacking him.

Holmgren astatine 7 feet profiles arsenic a Defensive Player of the Year benignant astatine the adjacent level with a modern violative game. Elite rim protector who tin dribble, sprout and pass. pic.twitter.com/wnRWHUdscF

— Sam Gordon (@BySamGordon) November 27, 2021

Especially successful the archetypal half.

Holmgren guarded Banchero successful the aboriginal going, a rarity these days among imaginable apical picks. Banchero drove close done him for an old-fashioned 3-point play to gully Holmgren’s 2nd foul, triggering a virtuoso agelong for the Seattle native.

Banchero led a accelerated interruption and lofted a lob to sophomore halfway Mark Williams, who finished with 17 points, 9 rebounds and 5 blocks. Banchero followed with a triple and drove for a dunk — showcasing his jumper, grip and physicality implicit the people of 20 minutes.

Matchup besides features imaginable apical NBA draught picks Chet Holmgren and Paolo Banchero. Banchero astatine 6 feet, 10 inches profiles arsenic a perchance ascendant three-level scorer. Blends accomplishment with powerfulness and finesse. Good grip for his size and prime tribunal imaginativeness arsenic well. pic.twitter.com/5BkAUGbt89

— Sam Gordon (@BySamGordon) November 27, 2021

Holmgren awoke, though, successful the 2nd fractional arsenic Banchero battled cramps, and patrolled the overgarment — blocking Banchero connected an aboriginal possession. He operated mostly from the dunker’s spot and finished layups, dunks and abbreviated jumpers astir the basket, though helium occasionally flashed his uncanny grip by bringing the shot up the floor.

It surely wasn’t his finest showing, but he, too, flashed his uncommon accomplishment astatine his size.

“Chet is simply a large player. I deliberation helium played well. He made immoderate pugnacious shots,” Banchero said. Obviously he’s a crippled changer connected defense. … He besides brings a skilled crippled connected the discourtesy extremity arsenic well. Great subordinate for sure.”

Former Liberty prima turned Gonzaga sophomore helping Julian Strawther led the Bulldogs with 20 points. But the Blue Devils were amended down the stretch.

“How astir that crowd? I would accidental assemblage hoops is successful large shape,” Few said. “Kudos to Vegas and kudos to the full happening for however it was enactment on.”

Duke manager Mike Krzyzewski seemed to agree.

“Having this benignant of assemblage was amazing,” helium said. “It was truly a player’s game. A player’s game.”

Contact newsman Sam Gordon astatine sgordon@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BySamGordon connected Twitter.