When Duke Freshman Kyrie Irving Dominated Draymond Green Led Michigan State

Duke University has always been a highly ranked college program for its top-class recruiting process. Several talented players have suited up for the Duke Blue Devils and played under the legendary Mike Krzyzewski, and one of them was the insanely talented Kyrie Irving! 

We all know Kyrie Irving as the high-profile star who earns nearly $40M per season in the NBA. The point guard has cemented his name in the association, and he gained a lot of reputation in the league owing to his college basketball and high-school heroics. 

When Kyrie Irving dropped a career-high against Draymond Green and Michigan State

Kyrie Irving transformed Duke into a powerhouse in his freshman year and carried them to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet Sixteen. One of Kyrie’s most memorable performances with the Blue Devils came on December 1, 2010, when they took on a highly talented Michigan State team. 

The Michigan State Spartans boasted the likes of Draymond Green on the team, but Kyrie Irving had no problems notching up a career-high when these two teams met. The Cameron Indoor Stadium was shaking with cheers as the fans watched the Duke Blue Devils make light work of their opponents. 

Kyrie Irving had 18 points in the first half alone, which surpassed his previous career-high of 17-points. “I think every win we have is a statement,” Irving said after the game. “We want to show the world, every time we step on the court, we’re the best.”

Kyrie was simply unstoppable on the night, and he earned massive acclaim for putting up an incredible effort as a freshman. In fact, he became the first Duke freshman since JJ Redick in 2003 to put up a 30-point performance. 

Irving ended the game with 31 points to his name, and the point-guard announced his talent at the big state with his incredible effort. 

“It’s not one single person. Duke basketball, it’s a collective effort. It’s a brotherhood here. It’s not my team,” added Irving about the team. 

Furthermore, the win also stretched Duke’s unbeaten run in the 2010/11 college basketball season, and it gave Mike Krzyzewski the 875th win of his coaching career. Fast forward 11 years, coach K has more than 1100 wins! 

Also Read | Duke Blue Devils Set Embarrassing Record After Losing To The Louisville Cardinals