Duke faces Arkansas for Final Four berth
Duke will play for a ticket to the Final Four when the Blue Devils meet Arkansas on Saturday night. The Blue Devils have advanced to the Elite Eight with a blowout of Cal State Fullerton in the first round, followed by a gutty late comeback against Michigan State. Duke had to fight out a win over Texas Tech in the Sweet 16 on Thursday to move on to the West Regional Final.
Standing in their way is the No 4 seed, Arkansas. The Razorbacks survived Vermont in the first round, beating the No. 13 seed by four. They then got past No. 12 New Mexico State by five before knocking off the tournament’s top seed, beating Gonzaga by six on Thursday night.
Arkansas plays at a faster pace than Duke, but the Razorbacks’ offense has struggled in March. Arkansas has scored less than a point per possession in the last two games and three of the last four.
Duke and Arkansas will be looking to join Villanova, who won the first Final Four berth by beating Houston earlier in the evening. The West winners will face the winner of tomorrow’s East Regional Final, between UNC and Saint Peter’s, meaning we could see the first-ever Carolina-Duke rivalry game in the NCAA Tournament.
In addition to the prospect of reaching the Final Four for the 13th time in the career of Mike Krzyzewski, Duke will be playing to extend the retiring coach’s career by another week.
The officials tonight are Ronald Groover, Larry Scirotto and Joseph Lindsay.
Your starters: Jeremy Roach, Paolo Banchero, AJ Griffin, Wendell Moore Jr., Mark Williams.
Duke turned it over on its first two possessions and has three turnovers so far. Arkansas out to an early lead, 9-6 at the under 16.
Williams leads a Duke run with two putbacks and a fast break dunk. Blue Devils have pulled in front 16-14 at the under 12.
Duke gets an 8-0 run, but the Blue Devils get overly aggressive, getting called for back-to-back charges. Razorbacks have shrunk an eight-point Duke lead to three, 24-21 at the under eight, but Griffin will be going to line for Blue Devils after the break.
Arkansas is just No. 316 in the country in three-point shooting, but Razorbacks are 4-of-10 tonight, which is keeping them close. 37-31 Duke at the under four.
Coach K calls time with 56 seconds left in the half and Duke returns with five straight, capping an 8-0 run. Duke up at the half 45-33.
Some sloppy play to start the second half. Five total turnovers, three by Arkansas. At the under 16, Duke is up 49-37 but Arkansas is going to the line.
Arkansas goes to a pressing defense and Duke struggles. 12 point lead is cut to five, but Duke is the one approaching foul trouble. Five Blue Devils have two fouls. Duke calls time up 53-48, 13:13 left.
Time out worked again. Duke scores four straight. Banchero going to the line with a chance to put the lead back in double figures after the under 12. 57-48, 11:29 left.
Up to a 10-0 run now as Duke goes up 63-48. Time out Arkansas. 10:18 to go.
Duke hitting five of its last six, and now Arkansas is in foul trouble. Notae and Toney both have four. Duke playing very physical defense by the rim.
At the under eight, Blue Devils up 69-54.
Duke calls time with 4:31 left, up 15. 72-57.
Banchero called for his third foul--third Blue Devil with three. 72-57 with 3:58 left.
Notae fouls out with 3:47 left.
Coach K's career will end in New Orleans, at his record setting 13th Final Four. Duke wins 78-69
