Cameron Boozer leads Duke past Kansas 78-66 in Champions Classic showdown

Duke stunned the college basketball world on the Champions ClassicUnited Center when freshman phenom Cameron Boozer erupted for 24 points, leading the Duke Blue Devils to a 78-66 victory over the Kansas Jayhawks on November 5, 2025. The win wasn’t just another early-season statement—it was a declaration. With their record now 5-1, Duke has officially entered the national title conversation, and Boozer’s performance was the kind that turns recruits into legends and analysts into believers. The game, broadcast live on CBS Sports, crackled with tension, especially after Kansas clawed back from a 15-point deficit in the second half. But then Boozer hit a step-back three with 5:12 left, and suddenly, the Jayhawks looked like they’d run out of answers.

The Boozer Breakout

Cameron Boozer didn’t just play well—he played like he’d been waiting his whole life for this moment. The 6’7” forward, a five-star recruit from North Carolina, finished with 24 points, seven rebounds, and three steals, including four three-pointers that stretched Kansas’s defense thin. His final shot, a cold-blooded pull-up from the left wing with 1:18 remaining, sealed the game and sent the Duke bench into a frenzy. "He’s got that quiet confidence," said CBS analyst Andy Katz at the 517-second mark. "You don’t see it in his stats right away—you see it in how he moves without the ball, how he doesn’t flinch when the defense collapses. That’s NBA-ready poise." What made Boozer’s night even more remarkable was the context. Kansas, despite missing their leading scorer, junior guard Jalen Wilson, played with grit. Head coach Bill Self’s team forced 14 turnovers and outrebounded Duke 39-36. But Boozer’s ability to score in isolation, to create his own shot under pressure, was the difference. "He didn’t wait for the play to come to him," said Duke assistant coach Nate James after the game. "He made the play. That’s what champions do."

A Freshman-Heavy Machine

Duke’s roster this season is unlike any in recent memory. Of the eight players who saw significant minutes, five are freshmen. That’s not a typo. And yet, they’re not just surviving—they’re thriving. "It wasn’t the quickest start in the world," noted Katz at the 450-second mark, "which is kind of what you expect on a team that’s got this many freshmen on it." But the Blue Devils found rhythm by halftime, thanks in large part to the emergence of freshman point guard Malik Brown. Brown, a 6’2" dynamo from Atlanta, came off the bench to add 12 points and six assists in just 21 minutes. His defensive energy, especially when replacing senior forward Patrick Harrington, was a game-changer. "When Malik comes in," Katz continued at timestamp 509, "he’s so athletic and so active on the defensive end. He turns steals into fast breaks before the other team even knows they lost the ball." The Blue Devils’ depth was on full display. Four players scored in double figures. Freshman center Jalen Johnson added 11 rebounds and three blocks. Even the bench—led by freshman guard Jaylen Williams—contributed 18 points. This isn’t a team built on one superstar. It’s a team built on balance, chemistry, and fearless play.

Kansas’s Fight, and the Missing Piece

The Jayhawks didn’t roll over. They battled. Senior guard Trey Robinson dropped 21 points and hit four threes. Forward Xavier Delgado had 16 points and 10 boards. But without Wilson—out with a sprained ankle after scoring 22.3 points per game last season—their offensive engine sputtered. "They won by 12 tonight against a Kansas team that didn’t have their best player," Katz said bluntly. That truth can’t be ignored. Still, Kansas showed flashes of being a top-10 team when healthy. Their half-court sets were crisp. Their ball movement was sharp. But Duke’s length and quickness disrupted their rhythm, especially in the final 10 minutes.

Champions Classic Echoes

The night wasn’t just about Duke. In the other Champions Classic matchup, Michigan State Spartans defeated the Kentucky Wildcats 81-74 in a thrilling, back-and-forth battle. The game drew 1.2K views on CBS Sports’ YouTube channel, underscoring the event’s growing cultural footprint. But while Michigan State’s win was impressive, Duke’s victory over Kansas carries more weight. Kansas is a perennial national title contender. Duke, after a down year in 2024, is back—and they’re playing with a swagger that feels familiar. The implications are staggering. Analysts are already projecting Duke vs. North Carolina as a potential 2025 Final Four matchup. UConn and Purdue are the other projected semifinalists. But if Duke keeps playing like this—with Boozer, Brown, and their freshman core clicking—they won’t just reach the Final Four. They’ll be there to win it.

What’s Next?

Duke’s next three games are against mid-major opponents: Long Island University, Gardner-Webb, and Western Carolina. Easy wins, sure. But the real test comes on November 23, when they host Gonzaga in a ESPN-televised showdown. Then, on December 7, they travel to Texas to face the Longhorns again—this time in Austin, with revenge on their minds. The ACC slate begins in January, and the road to March will be paved with tests from North Carolina, Virginia Tech, and Florida State. For now, though, the college basketball world is watching one thing: the rise of Cameron Boozer. And Duke? They’re not just back. They’re building something special.

Background: The Champions Classic Legacy

First held in 2011, the Champions Classic is more than a game—it’s a tradition. It pits the nation’s most storied programs against each other in early November, offering a national stage before conference play begins. Past winners include Kentucky, Duke, Kansas, and Michigan State—all programs with multiple national titles. The 2025 edition was the 15th iteration, and it delivered one of the most electric performances in the event’s history. With 21,000 fans packed into the United Center and millions watching across CBS and ESPN, the tournament remains the most-watched non-conference event in college basketball.

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