No. 19 Kentucky got its first look at a big dog Tuesday with its game against No. 6 Duke, and by walking away from the Champions Classic clash with the 77-72 win, the Wildcats proved themselves to still be big dogs too.

Big Blue Nation craved a blue-blooded win in the annual Champions Classic, and Kentucky fans got just that, in epic fashion: a 77-72, come-from-behind win over No. 6 Duke.

ATLANTA — Kentucky has a coach with a clipboard who knows how to use it. New Wildcats head man Mark Pope made all the right decisions down the stretch of a 77-72 win over No. 6 Duke that will have Big Blue Nation falling even further in love with him.

Three takeaways from Kentucky’s 77-72 win against the Duke Blue Devils in college basketball’s Champions Classic on Tuesday night at State Farm Arena. 1. The old guys are all