Duke Beats Arkansas, Advances to Final Four

SAN FRANCISCO, CA ——- The two seeded Duke Blue Devils advanced to the Final Four on Saturday after a 78-69 win against the four seeded Razorbacks. Coach Krzyzewski’s farewell tour will hit the road to New Orleans next week.

The Blue Devils will be advancing to the Final Four for the first time since 2015. With this victory, Coach K passed John Wooden for 13 trips to the Final Four.

Duke has had five different players reach double digits in each game of the NCAA tournament. Paolo Banchero, Wendell Moore, Trevor Keels, Mark Williams, and AJ Griffin came into this game averaging at least 10.3 points per game.

Duke closed out the first half shooting 55% percent from the floor, 9 of 10 from the free-throw line, and outrebounded the Razorbacks by ten. The Blue Devils went on an 8-0 run in the final 1:20 of the first half to go into halftime 45-33. Arkansas cut the lead down to as much as five, but Duke exploded again and went on a 10-0 run.

Duke’s zone defense is giving their opponents trouble. They’re causing trauma in the passing lanes and making it difficult for the opposing team to create good-looking shots.

Krzyzewski said at the podium, “I just feel so good if I’m my guys. My team played so much good basketball in pressure situations.

AJ Griffin, the stud freshman from White Plains, NY led the way with 18 points off 7-9 shooting. He took advantage of every look he had.

Banchero finished the game with 16 points. He didn’t have his best game, shooting 4-11, but hit a major three-pointer to extend the lead to seven with two minutes remaining.

Duke will await the winner of Saint Peters vs North Carolina, seeking revenge for Krzyzewski’s last home and last final ride.