The 2011 Maui Invitational Championship was everything it was supposed to be. Two of the winningest programs in college basketball, going at it for 40 minutes, toe-to-toe. #6 Duke defeated the #14 Kansas Jayhawks, 68-61, as the Blue Devils remained perfect in Maui at 15-0 as they captured their fifth Maui Invitational Championship.
Ryan Kelly, who was named the 2011 Maui Invitational MVP averaging 17.0 ppg and 4.7 rpg, led the way for Duke as he scored 17 points, yet again for the third straight game in the tournament, but it was Duke sophomore, Tyler Thornton, who capped off a thriller in the Lahaina Civic Center. With Duke freshman, Austin Rivers, on the bench with 4 fouls, the Duke staff went with Thornton as the game went down to the wire in the late stages. With Thornton in the game exclusively because of his splendid defensive ability, produced the two biggest offensive plays of his career. After an Elijah Johnson three that gave Kansas back the lead, 61-60 with 1:25 remaining, Thornton answered back with a three from the left corner, Duke 63-61. Then, after a costly Tyshawn Taylor turnover with 56.5 remaining, Duke needed to convert and that they did. With Kansas turning up the defensive pressure on the Blue Devils resulting in the shot clock running down, Thornton received a pass from teammate Seth Curry and released a heave from three with only 2 seconds remaining on the shot clock, sinking nothing but the bottom of the net putting Duke up 66-61 with 20.0 seconds left and essentially putting the game away for good.
Thornton ended the game with 7 points off the bench in what was a remarkable November college basketball game. Duke junior, Mason Plumlee, played extremely well as he has all season up to this point, as he finished with a double-double of 17 points and 12 rebounds. Coach K had this to say about Mason’s play tonight, “Mason.. Mason, playing like a man in this game was the most valuable player”.
Kansas was led by Thomas Robinson who also produced a double-double for the Jayhawks with 16 points and 15 rebounds. Jeff Withey played the best game of his career, as he finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Taylor had 17 points.
With 16 lead changes and 12 ties, the Blue Devils and Jayhawks electrified the crowd with the kind of back and forth basketball you’d expect from the two blue-blood programs. With alley-oops, big time shots, game altering calls, neither team would let the other get too far ahead. With their fifth Maui Invitational Championship, Duke now goes to 7-0 on the season as Kansas will go to 3-2.
By getting through the most toughest bracket in the history of the Maui Invitational, the Duke/Kansas 2011 Championship game has the potential to go down as the most exciting in the 28-year history of the tournament as well as one of the most exciting games in college basketball history.
Again… What. A. Game!
Most Valuable Blue Devils
Ryan Kelly became the fifth Duke player to earn MVP honors at the Maui Invitational, joining such standouts as Kyle Singler (2007) and Bobby Hurley (1992).
Year Maui Invitational MVP
2011 Ryan Kelly
2007 Kyle Singler
2001 Mike Dunleavy Jr.
1997 Steve Wojciechowski
1992 Bobby Hurley*
*Shared with Penny Hardaway (Memphis St.)
Duke vs. Kansas Maui Invitational Championship Box Score
