When was the last time Kentucky beat Duke: Who leads the all-time series and a look back at the last 10 matchups

There is no love lost between Duke and Kentucky. Wildcats fans don't like Blue Devils fans, and Blue Devils fans don't like Wildcats fans, and yet the matchup history isn't very long. They've only played 23 times in their history, and there are often years in between matchups. The rivalry is alive and well because most of their battles are in recruiting and the overall rankings. Jockeying for the best blue blood in men's basketball.

Kentucky and Duke are headed into their 24th meeting in the State Farm Champions Classic in Atlanta, Georgia. To play alongside another top program matchup in Kansas and Michigan State. Kentucky and Duke will tipoff after that game at 9 pm EST on ESPN.

Who won the last time Duke and Kentucky faced off?

The last time these two programs played was actually in the exact same event in 2021. The State Farm Champions Classic. It was then held in New York City in the historic Madison Square Garden. It was Kentucky's first regular season game of the season, and the Wildcats were not ready. They looked out of sync during the game and were struggling to make baskets consistently. They went 37.7% from the field, and if it wasn't for the individual effort of Oscar Tshiebwe, then it could have been ugly. He scored 17 points and had 20 rebounds with 12 of them being on the offensive glass. He also added a steal and an assist.

Duke won that game 79-71.

What about when we look at the last 10 matchups between Kentucky and Duke?

It's a strange history because Kentucky dominated Duke early in this series, but Duke has held the advantage lately. Duke writers, fans, and media relations would all tell you that the Blue Devils have won 8 of the last 10 meetings. This is certainly true, but it's a bit more complicated than that simple stat.

Duke and Kentucky went on a long stretch of not playing each other, so over half of those matchups are from prior to 2012. That 2012 meeting was the first time they had seen each other since 2001. There are six games in the last ten matchups that are over 20 years ago.

Here's the thing, though, even if you want to throw those out. In the last 4 matchups from 2012 to 2021, Duke is 4-1. The only exception was in 2015 when the Wildcats pulled off the 74-63 win, also in the Champions Classic. This was the last time that Kentucky has beaten the Blue Devils in hoops. Lifetime, though, Kentucky is 12-11 and leading the series.

Another wild statistic when you look into their history is that they have only ever played seven games in each other's arenas. Those games all took place prior to 1970—every game since has been a neutral site. Neither team wants to see each other at the other's place, and there's probably a reason for that, with two of the most rabid hoops fanbases and crowds in the whole country.

Recent history doesn't look too kindly on the Wildcats in this matchup. However, these two coaches have never faced off against each other, and the slate feels clean, with both programs having new directions.