**No. 6 Duke Loses To No. 19 Kentucky, Citing Cramps**

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Post on Nov 13, 2024

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Cramps Cripple Duke: No. 6 Blue Devils Fall to No. 19 Kentucky in a Tight Battle

The No. 6 Duke Blue Devils suffered a shocking loss to the No. 19 Kentucky Wildcats on Tuesday night, falling 78-70 in a game plagued by cramps. The Blue Devils, who were favored to win, struggled to maintain their usual offensive rhythm and were ultimately undone by a combination of fatigue and poor shooting.

Cramps Take Their Toll

The biggest story of the night, however, was the impact of cramps on the Duke players. Several key players, including star freshman Dereck Lively II, were forced to leave the game for extended periods due to cramping. Lively, in particular, looked visibly frustrated as he battled leg cramps, limiting his impact on the game.

"It was a tough night for us," said Duke head coach Jon Scheyer after the game. "We had guys cramping up, and it just seemed like we couldn't get into a rhythm. We have to figure out how to handle these situations better."

A Closer Look at the Game

The game itself was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading leads throughout the first half. Kentucky, however, managed to pull away in the second half, thanks in part to a strong performance from Cason Wallace who finished with 18 points.

Duke struggled to shoot the ball effectively, especially from three-point range, making just 5 of 20 attempts. Kyle Filipowski led the Blue Devils with 17 points, but he was also hampered by cramps in the second half.

Looking Ahead

This loss is a significant setback for Duke, who were looking to build momentum heading into the heart of their conference schedule. The Blue Devils will need to address their conditioning issues and find ways to better manage their fatigue in order to avoid similar setbacks in the future.

The good news for Duke is that they still have a talented roster and plenty of time to improve. However, the team needs to learn from this experience and find a way to overcome these challenges if they want to achieve their goals this season.

With a tough schedule ahead, Duke will need to find a way to bounce back quickly and regain their winning form. The Blue Devils will face another tough test this weekend against a talented opponent. This is a crucial time for Duke to prove their resilience and show that they can handle adversity.