Duke's season ends in a shocking Elite Eight loss to UConn, with freshman Cayden Boozer taking responsibility for a crucial turnover in the final seconds. The Blue Devils, who had a significant lead earlier in the game, face an uncertain offseason as they prepare for potential NBA draft departures.
Fingers are being pointed in Durham as Duke picks up the pieces of a lost season and shocking Elite Eight exit — though an 18-year-old is taking accountability. Cayden Boozer , son of NBA standout Carlos Boozer and fraternal twin brother of Cameron Boozer, turned the ball over with around six seconds left, leading to“I turned the ball over, I should’ve been strong with the ball,” Boozer told reporters after UConn’s stunning 73-72 victory.
“I cost our team our season.” Leading 72-70 with 10 seconds remaining, Duke inbounded the ball and the 18-year-old Boozer ultimately received a pass from guard Dame Sarr. Boozer looked down the court and saw an open teammate and attempted what would have been a game-sealing pass, though two Huskies converged on him, tipping the attempt and stealing the ball.Mullins tracked down the loose ball and fed Alex Karaban, who quickly returned it, setting up Mullins to rise and bury a 30-footer from the logo Boozer said he was attempting to get the ball to one of his teammates, Isaiah Evans, “because Isaiah’s our best free throw shooter,” although his pass was aimed toward Patrick Ngongba II.Duke coach Jon Scheyer for urging Boozer to push the ball down the court rather than hold it and take their chances at the free-throw line. Duke had a 19-point first-half lead and led by 15 points at the break, as the Blue Devils continue to blow big leads in the tournament. Scheyer’s group blew a 14-point lead in the second half against Houston in the Final Four last season, and now heads into an offseason of uncertainty, as Duke expects to lose at least one Boozer, if not both, to the NBA draft.Stream It Or Skip It: 'Jo Nesbø's Detective Hole' On Netflix, Where A Troubled Detective Tracks Down A Serial Killer Who Is Terrorizing Oslo
Duke Basketball Cayden Boozer NCAA Tournament Uconn Huskies Jon Scheyer
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Men’s March Madness Elite Eight Preview: Michigan-Tennessee and Duke-UConnTwo teams have already clinched spots in the Final Four with two more coming on Sunday.
Read more »
Duke vs. UConn prediction: March Madness 2026 picks, odds, best bet for Sunday’s Elite Eight The last spot in the Final Four will come down to a heavyweight battle between a pair of college basketball powerhouses.
Read more »
Another Stunning Collpase Haunts Duke in Elite EightFor the second season in a row, Duke's season ends with a historic collapse.
Read more »
Concerning Duke trend only got worse after historically brutal Elite Eight loss to UConnThe Blue Devils watched a 19-point first-half lead disappear as the Huskies pulled off the comeback victory, marking the second consecutive year that Duke had blown a double-digit lead in a crucial…
Read more »
Cayden Boozer Praised for What He Did After Duke’s Elite Eight Loss to UConnDuke's Cayden Boozer may have cost his team a trip to the Final Four, but his postgame behavior earned him praise on social media.
Read more »
Dan Hurley: 'It Takes a Strong Team' To Come Back, Beat Duke In Elite EightBraylon Mullins' game-winning 3 capped 'another epic chapter in the UConn-Duke NCAA Tournament dramatics,' says coach Dan Hurley.
Read more »