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Duke Blue Devils defeats the Wisconsin Badgers 68-63 in the National Championship, thanks to Tyus Jones

By Cameron La Fontaine

Apr 6, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Krzyzewski and his team are presented with the NCAA championship trophy by CBS broadcaster Jim Nantz after defeating the Wisconsin Badgers in the 2015 NCAA Men's Division I Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 6, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Krzyzewski and his team are presented with the NCAA championship trophy by CBS broadcaster Jim Nantz after defeating the Wisconsin Badgers in the 2015 NCAA Men's Division I Championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports /
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After another amazing college basketball National Championship game, the Duke Blue Devils won their fifth National Championship 68-63 over Wisconsin.

Naismith College Basketball Player of the Year Frank Kaminsky of Wisconsin won the stat battle against the leading candidate for the 2015 NBA Draft No. 1 overall pick, Jahlil Okafor of Duke, in a much anticipated National Championship game between the Badgers and Blue Devils, but it didn’t matter.

Led by Tyus Jones’ 23 points, the Duke Blue Devils won their fifth national title in history under Mike Krzyzewski defeating Wisconsin 68-63 in Indianapolis Monday night.

It was a picture perfect first half after 14 lead changes led to a 31-31 tie going into the locker rooms. After just 20 minutes, the game showed all the signs for a classic college basketball National Championship that had fans on the edges of their seats even before halftime.

Frank Kaminsky won the battle in the first half over Jahlil Okafor after he finished with 7 points and 7 rebounds compared to Okafor’s 6 points and 2 rebounds. Okafor was humbled by grabbing his second foul late in the half.

Wisconsin was great and composed as they fouled just twice in the first half as a team, but Duke found themselves in a bind after Justise Winslow and Okafor both went to the bench with two fouls late in the half. But, Duke kept their composure and were able to tie the game up at the half. Duke shot just four threes and made one compared to the Badgers bombing from deep, going 4-for-11 in the first half.

Wisconsin opened up the second half on a 7-2 run going up 38-33 creating Duke’s largest second half deficit in the NCAA Tournament this year. Okafor then picked up his third foul with just under 17 minutes left in the game and it looked like things were beginning to tumble for Duke.

The trouble continued for Duke when star forward Justise Winslow grabbed his third foul with over 13 minutes left in the game, coupled with the fact that Wisconsin extended their lead to 48-39.

With Okafor and Winslow on the bench it was time for bench player freshman Grayson Allen to continue his great play in the Final Four. Allen helped Duke stay in the game throughout the night when it looked like Wisconsin would pull away. Allen ended with 16 points and is credited for getting Duke back in the game.

Trouble continued for Duke when Frank Kaminsky nailed an and-one turn-around layup drawing Okafor’s fourth foul and sending him to the bench with over nine minutes left in the game and no second half points.

Duke fought back though, and took the lead with late in the game with a big Tyus Jones three-pointer and then with just over three minutes left, Duke kept their momentum going when Okafor, playing with four fouls, made a big layup over Kaminsky to extend the gap to a three-point lead. With just over two minutes left, Okafor extended Duke’s lead again to five with a rebound and a big put back.

A controversial out of bounds call under two minutes gave Duke the ball despite CBS’ replay showing it was out on Justise Winslow. Duke went down on offense and Tyus Jones made another three and gave Duke their largest lead at 66-58. Kaminsky answered on the next possession with a three keeping Wisconsin in the game down five and a Nigel Hayes dunk on their next possession brought it to 66-63 with under a minute left.

Wisconsin stretched the game out by fouling Tyus Jones, who knocked down both free throws extending Duke’s lead to five once again. After Koenig missed a long two with 15 seconds left, it was basically over.

This is Duke’s fifth National Championship in history and all have come under legendary head coach Mike Krzyzewski. Freshman guards Tyus Jones (23 points) and Grayson Allen (16 points) were the heroes for Duke scoring 29 of the Blue Devils’ 37 second half points.

It was an inspiring performance from Duke’s freshmen who led Duke through a tough NCAA Tournament field to get to the Final Four, where they would go on to defeat Michigan State and then Wisconsin. Hats off to the Blue Devils who continue to prove that they’re one of the best programs in college basketball history.

Wisconsin’s Frank Kaminsky will enter the 2015 NBA Draft as a senior. We may see projected lottery pick and junior forward Sam Dekker enter the draft along with him. Kaminsky led the Badgers Monday night with 21 points and 12 rebounds.

Duke will likely say goodbye to Jahlil Okafor who is favored to be the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming draft and freshmen Tyus Jones and Justise Winslow will have to make tough decisions about the draft after they’re done celebrating their amazing NCAA Tournament run.

Congratulations to Duke on another National Championship and their third in Indianapolis and hats off to Bo Ryan’s Wisconsin team that made it to their first National Championship game since 1941.