The Duke Blue Devils have not looked great without Patrick Ngongba and Caleb Foster. But the Blue Devils are undefeated since the pair suffered their injuries. Can they keep the mojo going against the TCU Horned Frogs?
Can the Duke Blue Devils Survive the TCU Horned Frogs
Duke is in the NCAA Tournament second round for the fifth straight season. But the Siena Saints didn’t make it easy for the Blue Devils, who are the favorites to win the 2026 NCAA crown, in the opening game of the tournament. The Saints led by 11 at halftime and carried that momentum into the second half, leading 47-38 with 16:32 left.
However, it was pretty much all Duke the rest of the way. The Blue Devils got within 61-60 at the under-eight-minute timeout. They outscored the Saints 11-4 down the stretch to secure a 71-65 win for their 12th straight win. It was also their fifth straight victory without Ngongba.
Cameron Boozer led the way for Duke, which shot just 40.7% from the field and 19.2% from the 3-point line, with 22 points and 13 rebounds for his 20th double-double of the season. Cayden Boozer tossed in a career-high 19 points and recorded five assists with no turnovers. Meanwhile, Isaiah Evans posted his first career double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds.
“They (Siena) played at such a high level,” Blue Devils coach Jon Scheyer said after the game. “You’re down double-digits in the second half, and the toughness that these guys showed. Cayden, throughout the whole game, did what he did. Isaiah has a double-double. Cam has a double-double. I think these guys have showed over and over again what they’re about. Today was no exception. It doesn’t matter what you win by or how pretty or any of that stuff. It’s about getting it done, finding a way, and then learning and growing from it. I’m really proud. Credit to Siena just for their readiness and the way that those guys played. They did a great job.”
The status of Ngongba is the biggest question for the Blue Devils heading into today’s game against TCU.
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