Duke basketball forced Syracuse into a ton of turnovers during their Sweet 16 matchup. It ended up being the difference as the Blue Devils took the win.
On the season, Duke basketball has been widely regarded as an offensive juggernaut. Yet, it was their defensive output that proved to be the difference in their Sweet 16 matchup against Syracuse. With both teams utilizing a 2-3 zone, the game was played at a relatively slow pace. This would usually suit the playstyle of the Orange but that was not the case in this game.
Duke flipped the script on Syracuse’s defensive gameplan by coming away with 17 turnovers while only committed seven themselves. Even though the Orange were able to hang around for the majority of the contest, this differential was just too much to overcome. For what seems like the millionth time, the Duke Blue Devils are headed to the Elite Eight.
As per usual, the team was led offensively by Marvin Bagley III. One of the most physically dominant players in the country, Bagley supplied 22 points (8-for-12 FG) and 8 rebounds in the game. He was a force to be reckoned with and so was his frontcourt partner. Although largely overshadowed by Bagley throughout the season, Wendell Carter showed his might in this game as well. He wound up with a double-double of 14 points and 12 rebounds on the night.
With Grayson Allen (4-for-15) and Gary Trent Jr. (5-for-13) both struggling to find the bottom of the net, the interior presence for Duke was a huge factor in this win. Coach K’s team was able to bully the Orange inside despite dealing with the pesky zone.
For Syracuse, Tyus Battle was the go-to-guy. The sophomore put out an excellent effort in the loss, dropping in 19 points (7-for-15 FG) and five assists. Frank Howard and Oshae Brissett, two of the other top scorers for the Orange, combined for just 21 points on 6-for-21 shooting.
With this win, Duke moves onto the Elite Eight. With Kansas taking care of Clemson earlier in the night, they will the Blue Devils’ matchup on Sunday. The two powerhouse schools were the favorites to come out of the region and it is only fitting that they will face off for a chance at the Final Four. The two programs are rich with tradition and each has an elite coach roaming the sidelines.
While Duke may have the talent advantage, Kansas is the vastly more experienced team. This matchup is bound to be one of the best of the tournament and will decide which team remains in the running for cutting down the nets in San Antonio.
Next: Villanova takes down West Virginia
This NCAA Tournament has been full of surprises but Duke ended a Cinderella run tonight. With Syracuse eliminated, the Midwest Region is down to the top two seeds battling it out.