NCAA Tournament Elite: Duke vs. Arkansas Coach K is in his record 13th Final Four as the Blue Devils win their eighth game.
On Saturday night in the Outstanding Eight, Duke faced another exceptional defence, but the Blue Devils responded with another elite offensive performance as they cruised over Arkansas 78-69 to advance to next week’s Final Four. With 18 points, AJ Griffin led the No. 2 seed Blue Devils, but it was a balanced effort for Duke, which followed up its brilliant performance against Texas Tech on Thursday with another hot shooting night.
Duke shot 54.7 percent as a team and controlled the paint against an Arkansas squad that lost in the Elite Eight for the second year in a row. This will be Duke’s first Final Four participation since 2015, and it will be coach Mike Krzyzewski’s 13th Final Four appearance as he prepares to step down at the conclusion of the season. The winner of Sunday’s game between No. 8 seed North Carolina and No. 15 seed Saint Peter’s will face Duke the following Saturday.
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DUKE HAS PUNCHED THEIR TICKET TO THE FINAL FOUR!
Coach K is not done yet. pic.twitter.com/NK9kM8q9sJ
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 27, 2022
In the first half, the teams swapped runs, but the Blue Devils utilised an 8-0 run in the last 1:20 of the half to take a 45-33 halftime advantage. At the halftime buzzer, Trevor Keels sank a 3-pointer to send Duke into the locker room with the lead.
With 13:19 left in the game, Arkansas trimmed the score to 53-48 thanks to a Jaylin Williams 3-pointer. However, Duke went on a 10-0 run, which started with a Paolo Banchero basket. The Blue Devils led 66-51 at the 9:07 mark, and the Razorbacks didn’t get inside single digits until the final minute, when the game was out of reach.
A major conflict is about to begin.
Duke’s victory sets up a classic Final Four matchup that will be a compelling narrative no matter who the opponent is. If it’s the Tar Heels, Duke will face its archrival in the Last Four, since UNC defeated Duke in Coach K’s final home game on March 5. The Blue Devils were hoping for a repeat in the ACC Tournament championship game, but the Hokies upset North Carolina in the semifinals, thus they were forced to face Virginia Tech instead.
Tracy: “Cinderella St. Peter’s or your rival North Carolina. Paulo, which one do you want?”
Paolo Banchero: “You’re not gonna get me this time.” pic.twitter.com/UBus7Y9wIt
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 27, 2022
After all, they may get a rematch, and this one would have legendary stakes. North Carolina, on the other hand, must first go through Saint Peter’s. The Peacocks are the first No. 15 seed to ever make it to the Elite Eight, and they’ve won over the nation’s hearts in the process. The Peacocks won’t be scared by the Tar Heels, and they won’t back down against Duke, either, after wins over Kentucky, Murray State, and Purdue.
Oh my! Jaylin Williams on Banchero’s head 👀 pic.twitter.com/MrWUBd9MB5
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) March 27, 2022
Whatever team Duke plays next Saturday, it will be one of the most exciting Final Four games in recent memory.
Jaylin Williams is slowed by foul trouble.
Arkansas centre Jaylin Williams remained in the game after picking up his second foul with 5:29 left in the first half. With Arkansas behind 31-26, he was taken to the bench 33 seconds later. During that time, Duke outscored Arkansas 14-7, and he sat out the remainder of the half.
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By drawing a pair of charges and scoring five fast points in a 30-second window earlier in the first half, Williams was instrumental in halting a Duke surge. The Razorbacks couldn’t stop another run without him on the court, and they went into the locker room down 12 points. On Saturday, the 6-foot-10 sophomore was Arkansas’ best player, with 19 points, 10 rebounds, and two steals. However, the time he missed at the conclusion of the first half allowed Duke to seize command of the game.
Mark Williams of Duke excels once more.
Jeremy Roach of Duke has been showcasing his second year brilliance throughout the NCAA Tournament. However, classmate Mark Williams has made significant progress during his second year in the programme, and he delivered once again on Saturday.
Mark Williams had a double-double with 11:10 left in the game after scoring 10 of his 12 points in the first half. He went 6 for 6 from the field, leading Duke to a 46-34 advantage in second-chance points. The feat was only a continuation of the 7-footer’s outstanding NCAA Tournament run. Williams has scored 15, 15, and 16 points in each of Duke’s first three tournament games, and has also been a force on defence.
Williams blocked 13 shots in Duke’s first three Big Dance games, and he added three more against Arkansas to equal Shane Battier’s school record of 13 blocks in a single NCAA Tournament game set in 2001. Of course, Duke won the championship in 2001, so Battier had six games to raise the standard. After playing a vital role in the Blue Devils’ victory on Saturday, Williams will have at least five chances to break the record.
Mark Williams is showing OUT 🔥
We’ve got a game #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/yYMKfSVjec
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 27, 2022
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Source : cbssports
