Storylines aplenty ahead of Kansas' clash with Duke

LAWRENCE — On one side, No. 5 Kansas. On the other, No. 4 Duke.

For the Jayhawks, it’s six freshmen — including Andrew Wiggins — a few veterans and Bill Self. For the Blue Devils, it’s five-star standout and magazine-cover headliner Jabari Parker and Mike Krzyzewski.

Amazing that with all the names and all the intrigue, Tuesday night’s 8:30 p.m. matchup between these college basketball bluebloods in the Champions Classic at Chicago’s United Center is only KU’s second game of the season.

As soon as Self and the Jayhawks wrapped up Friday’s season-opening win over Lousiana Monroe, the focus turned to the Blue Devils.

“When we play Duke,” Self said, “our guys will know all their guys and their guys will know our guys.”

While KU struggled at times in an 80-63 victory over ULM, Duke laid a 111-77 beating on Davidson behind five scorers in double-figures.

“I think we’re ready,” Self said Sunday night. “I wish we had a couple more weeks. I’m sure that all teams this time of year all wish they had a couple more weeks before they played somebody that’s a quality of opponent that Duke is. But I know our guys are excited.”

Here are a few storylines to stay mindful of leading up to Tuesday’s tilt.

THE FRESHMAN — Before Wiggins graced the cover of Sports Illustrated, that honor belonged to Parker.

Parker, Rivals.com’s No. 4 recruit of the 2013 class, had a stellar debut for the Blue Devils, hitting 8 of 10 shots — including all three 3-pointers — for 22 points along with six rebounds and two assists in 23 minutes.

“He’s probably about as skilled a 6-foot-8 player as you’ll ever see,” Self said. “I mean, he’s a Paul Pierce, Carmelo Anthony-type player. He can do a lot of things.”

Wiggins, meanwhile, poured in 16 points on 5-of-9 shooting in 34 minutes.

THE LOCAL — Among the many familiar faces on the Blue Devils is Semi Ojeleye, a former Ottawa standout and the all-time leading scorer in Kansas boys basketball history.

Ojeleye, a 6-8 wing and five-star recruit, played only four minutes in Duke’s opener, missing his only shot and tallying one steal against one turnover.

THE RECRUIT — Jahlil Okafor, a 2014 center rated as Rivals’ No. 1 overall recruit, will attend the game. And with the early signing period starting Wednesday, Tuesday night’s outcome could prove pivotal.

Okafor, a senior at Chicago’s Whitney Young High, has taken official visits to both campuses and the two schools are rumored to be frontrunners. The 6-10 center and Tyus Jones, a point guard ranked No. 5 overall by Rivals, have long expressed a desire to play with one another.