If you walked out of the KFC Yum! Center at halftime on January 6, 2026, you probably thought Pat Kelsey had finally done it. Louisville looked like a house on fire. They were up nine. The crowd was deafening. The No. 20 Cardinals were essentially putting on a clinic against the No. 6 Blue Devils, and for twenty minutes, it felt like the power balance in the ACC was actually shifting.
Then the second half happened.
Duke didn't just come back; they suffocated a very good Louisville team. They outscored them 46-26 in the final frame. It was clinical. It was a 84-73 win that basically served as a "reminder" that Jon Scheyer’s squad is still the gold standard in this conference.
The Tale of Two Halves
Honestly, the first half was all Louisville. Ryan Conwell and Aly Khalifa were playing out of their minds, combining for 41 points on the night. Conwell has been one of the best transfers in the country, and he was hitting shots that didn't even make sense. Louisville entered the break with a 47-38 lead, and it felt like Duke was a step slow.
But Scheyer adjusted. He always does.
Duke’s defense in the second half was a different beast. They held Louisville to 32% shooting from the field. Even more impressive? The Cardinals, who usually live and die by the three, went 2-of-17 from deep in the second half. You can't beat elite teams shooting like that.
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Cameron Boozer is Just Different
We have to talk about Cameron Boozer. People keep asking if he’s lived up to the hype as a freshman, and the answer is a resounding yes. He finished with 27 points on 10-of-12 shooting. That’s not just "good for a freshman"—that’s efficient at a professional level.
He also grabbed eight rebounds and dished out four assists. When Duke needed to settle down, they just threw it to the block or let him operate in the high post. Louisville had no answer for his physicality or his IQ.
Isaiah Evans was the perfect "sidekick" in this one. He’s got that "it" factor where he just finds ways to score when the shot clock is winding down. He put up 23 points and snagged four steals. His defensive energy in that second-half run was really the catalyst for the whole comeback.
Then you have Caleb Foster. He’s the veteran presence now. He had 20 points, but 16 of those came in the second half. He just knows when to take over.
The Pat Kelsey Era at Louisville
Despite the loss, you can't ignore what’s happening in Louisville. After the disaster of the last couple of years, Kelsey has turned this program around in record time. They are nationally ranked. They are competitive. They are fun to watch again.
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The Cardinals led for a significant portion of this game.
Their roster is a fascinating mix. You’ve got Mikel Brown Jr. at point guard, who is going to be a star. You’ve got J’Vonne Hadley and Isaac McKneely providing that veteran ACC toughness. They play fast—Kelsey wants them taking shots early in the clock—and when those shots are falling, they are scary.
But against Duke, they ran out of gas. Or maybe Duke just locked the door.
Why This Matchup Matters for the ACC Race
This game was a rematch of the 2025 ACC Tournament Championship, which Duke also won (73-62). It’s becoming the premier matchup in the league again. North Carolina will always be the rival, but Louisville is the team that’s physically challenging Duke for the top spot right now.
Key Stats from the January 6 Matchup:
- Final Score: Duke 84, Louisville 73
- Points in the Paint: Duke had 40, Louisville had 28.
- Three-Point Shooting: Louisville struggled late, finishing 2-of-17 in the second half.
- Field Goal Percentage: Duke shot a blistering 15-of-22 at the rim.
What Most People Get Wrong
People think Duke wins just because they have better recruits. That’s a lazy take. In this game, it was the "deflections" and the grit. Maliq Brown is a "defensive menace," as Scheyer calls him. He had multiple deflections that led to easy transition buckets during that 46-26 second-half run.
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Duke is playing faster this year than they ever have under Scheyer. Their average length of offensive possession is around 15.4 seconds. They aren't just talented; they are relentless.
Louisville fans should be encouraged, though. To have the No. 6 team in the country on the ropes in early January shows that the rebuild is ahead of schedule. They just need to figure out how to handle the "Duke Blitz"—that five-minute stretch where the Blue Devils turn a close game into a double-digit lead.
Actionable Insights for the Remainder of the Season
If you’re following these two teams, here is what you need to watch for as we head toward March:
- Watch the Boozer/Evans Dynamic: If these two are both clicking, Duke is almost impossible to beat. They provide a level of scoring versatility that most college teams can't match.
- Louisville's Depth: Pat Kelsey needs more consistent scoring from his bench. When Conwell and Khalifa aren't on the floor, the offense tends to stagnate. Keep an eye on the development of the younger guys like Mikel Brown Jr.
- The Defensive Efficiency: Duke is currently top-16 in both offensive and defensive efficiency according to KenPom. Teams that do that usually end up in the Final Four. Check the defensive metrics after every three games to see if they’re maintaining that "lockdown" identity.
- The Rematch: Mark your calendars for the next time these two meet. If it’s in the ACC Tournament again, don't expect a blowout. Louisville is learning how to play in these big games, and they won't be intimidated next time.
Duke won the battle in Louisville, but the war for the ACC is far from over.