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Duke beats TCU 81-58 and gets a ticket to the NCAA round of 16

By Bruna • March 22, 2026 • 3 min de leitura
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Dame Elhadji Sarr - @dukembb
Photo: Dame Elhadji Sarr - @dukembb

Duke Blue Devils, number 1 seed in the region, confirmed its favoritism by defeating TCU

The match started evenly in the gym, with TCU offering strong defensive resistance and forcing mistakes from the opponent’s attack. At halftime, Duke’s lead was just four points, with the score showing 38 to 34, which generated concern among the fans present.

The change of posture in the second half was the determining factor for the elastic result built by Jon Scheyer’s men. With a more adjusted defense and quick transitions, the Duke team managed to neutralize the Horned Frogs’s attacks and take the lead.

  • Duke outscored TCU 43-24 in just the second half of the game.
  • The team converted 23 of 27 free throws, demonstrating efficiency in critical moments.
  • The reserve bench played a fundamental role in maintaining physical intensity.

Gala performance of freshman Cameron Boozer

Cameron The young talent finished the game with an impressive double-double of 19 points and 11 rebounds, in addition to distributing four assists that were essential for the offensive flow.

Even facing double marking at various times, Boozer found spaces to finish close to the basket and dictate the team’s rhythm. Sua presença física no garrafão foi um diferencial que o TCU não conseguiu conter durante os 20 minutos finais da disputa eliminatória.

Luxury supporting actors guarantee the score

While Boozer focused the attention, other Duke players appeared efficiently to guarantee the peaceful victory. Isaiah Evans added 17 points, being a constant threat on the perimeter, while Dame Sarr contributed 14 points, including four crucial long-range baskets.

The offensive balance allowed Duke to maintain a comfortable lead even when their main scorers rested. Essa Roster depth has been one of the team’s hallmarks in this 2026 American college basketball season.

TCU’s resistance in the first half

Coach Jamie Dixon, in his tenth season leading TCU, put together a strategy that initially bothered Duke. The Horned Frogs’s relentless defense managed to generate 11 turnovers in the first half of the match, leading the score 40-38 at the beginning of the second period.

However, the momentum of the Fort Worth team diminished as the fouls accumulated and physical fatigue appeared. The lack of success in free throws, with only 3 successful attempts in 7, prevented TCU from maintaining pressure on the opponent in the final minutes.

Family history on the court

Duke’s victory also carries an emotional and historic component for the university’s basketball program. Cameron Boozer and his twin brother, Cayden Boozer, are the sons of former NBA star Carlos Boozer, who was a national champion with the Blue Devils in 2001.

Carlos Boozer watched the match and saw his children honor the family legacy in one of the sport’s most traditional arenas. The generational connection further strengthens Duke’s identity as one of the talent-forming powers for professional basketball.

Challenges on the way to the title

With classification guaranteed, Duke is now preparing for the round of 16, a phase known as Sweet 16, where the level of difficulty increases drastically. The next opponent will emerge from the confrontation between Kansas and St. John’s, two traditional teams led by experienced technicians.

Analysts point out that Duke will need to avoid the slow starts that marked the first two rounds of the tournament. Superar elite opponents will require 40-minute consistency, something that the team is still looking to fully achieve in this final stretch of the championship.