Blue Devil Country

Duke basketball freshman breaks two program records in defeat

Newcomer Kyle Filipowski extended his Duke basketball double-double streak.

Matt Giles

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Losses are never fun. But in Duke basketball's 69-64 loss to No. 6 Kansas at the Champions Classic in Indianapolis on Tuesday night, marking the first defeat of the No. 7 Blue Devils' Jon Scheyer era, at least there were several notable bright spots.

RELATED: Jon Scheyer discusses his first loss as head coach

One that shined brightest was Duke basketball freshman power forward Kyle Filipowski.

His admirable efforts on the boards and in the points column led to his third double-double in as many games, breaking a tie with 2017-18 one-and-done Marvin Bagley III for the most consecutive double-doubles to begin a Blue Devil career. (Bagley ended up with 22 double-doubles for the season, the most by any Duke rookie in history.)

Filipowski finished with a team-high 17 points and 14 rebounds against the Jayhawks. The 19-year-old, a 7-foot, 230-pound former five-star recruit who earned the season's first ACC Rookie of the Week honor, added one assist, one steal, and one block in his 33 minutes on the floor.

Although Kyle Filipowski had a subpar shooting night — 6-for-18 from the field, 1-for-6 from downtown, 4-for-4 from the charity stripe — his advanced basketball IQ and consistency through three games may have cemented his place in the starting lineup for the time being.

After all, the New York native's 36 rebounds thus far are also the most by any Blue Devil through the first three games of a freshman campaign. The previous record-holder in this respect was Mike Gminski, whose No. 43 forever hangs from Cameron Indoor Stadium's rafters, with his 33 boards three games into the 1976-77 season.

In other words, Kyle Filipowski's impressive start to his Duke basketball journey has put him in elite company alongside a pair of Blue Devil greats in Bagley and Gminski.

Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country for daily Duke basketball content.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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