Duke, Michigan State Make Social Statements With Warmup Shirts Before Basketball Game

Duke and Michigan State’s men’s basketball teams made powerful statements in Tuesday’s game at Chicago’s United Center — with warmup shirts.

Duke vs. Michigan State Game Score

The Blue Devils wore t-shirts with the word ‘EQUALITY’ written across the chest, while the Spartans donned shirts that read: “We talk, we listen.”

Duke previously wore those same shirts in a preseason exhibition game against Northwest Missouri State last month.

“We wanted to make sure that basically the equality shirt stood for ‘one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all,'” Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski told the News & Observer when the team wore the shirts in late October. “Does that sound familiar? It’s part of the Pledge of Allegiance and it’s basically what our program and our school is about. That’s what we want our country to be.”

Blue Devils captain Grayson Allen — who scored a career-high 37 points in No. 1 Duke’s 88-81 victory over No. 2 Michigan State (1-1) — added that the team had engaged in several discussions over recent national anthem protests across major sports leagues.

“We had a few discussions as a team about what’s been going on in the country specifically with the national anthem, and we decided that as a team we would stand and wear the equality shirts,” Allen told reporters.

Trevon Duval added 17 points and ten assists for Duke (3-0) in the Champions Classic.

“I’ve played in 90 more games than the four teammates that are out there with me,” said Allen, Duke’s only senior in its starting lineup. “I feel a little more comfortable and calm and confident out there. Watching a lot of film of me my last two years, it’s good sometimes to go 100 mph, but it’s also good to slow it down a few times, so that’s the adjustment I’ve tried to make and I think it makes me more comfortable out there.”

The Blue Devils lost freshman Marvin Bagley to a righty eye injury midway through the first half. Krzyzewski has now improved to 12-1 in his career against Michigan State.

Michigan State shot 51 percent from the field, but were out-rebounded 46-34 by Duke.

Duke associate head coach Jeff Capel III was not on the bench because his father died Monday at age 64. Jeff Capel Jr., a longtime basketball coach at the college and pro level, was diagnosed with ALS in the spring of 2016.

The Spartans next host Stony Brook on Sunday in the PK80-Phil Knight Invitational. Duke next hosts Southern on Friday night.

CHICAGO, IL – NOVEMBER 14: Wendell Carter Jr #34 of the Duke Blue Devils is fouled by Jaren Jackson Jr. #2 of the Michigan State Spartans during the State Farm Champions Classic at the United Center on November 14, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. Duke defeated Michigan State 88-81. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)