Duke’s skill to carry onto double-digit leads in huge video games is elevating a crimson flag after Sunday’s beautiful 73-72 loss to UConn within the Elite Eight.
The Blue Devils watched a 19-point first-half lead disappear because the Huskies pulled off the comeback victory, marking the second consecutive 12 months Duke had blown a double-digit lead in an important NCAA Match recreation.
Final 12 months, it was Houston that toppled Duke through the Closing 4 after the Blue Devils had held a 14-point lead earlier than the Cougars wiped it away within the ultimate eight minutes of the sport. And each of Duke’s regular-season losses through the 2025-26 marketing campaign noticed them lose a lead of 13 or extra factors.
Sunday’s heartbreak for Duke got here after Braylon Mullins knocked down a 35-foot 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds left within the recreation to drag off UConn’s comeback.
Mullins was capable of hit the game-winner after a pricey turnover at mid-court gave UConn again the ball within the closing seconds.
“We simply must safe it, proper?” Duke head coach Jon Scheyer mentioned. “We obtained it. That they had a foul. I used to be prepared for a timeout. We’ve simply obtained to carry on. It’s simple to have a look at that play — I have a look at each play that occurred, particularly in that second half, this isn’t about one play. It’s about each play that put us in that place, and that’s what you don’t wish to do, the place one play one thing may occur.”
Duke had been clinging to a three-point lead with 10 seconds left in opposition to UConn and within the semifinals final 12 months, the Blue Devils had been forward by six with 1:14 earlier than Houston pulled off its comeback.
Duke is now the one No.1-seed to have ever misplaced a recreation within the match after main by 15 or extra factors at halftime.
No. 1 seeds had been 134-0 when main by as a lot earlier than Sunday evening.
“There’s not an individual on this room, together with me, that doesn’t replay all the things that you would do and how one can assist. I imply, clearly,” Scheyer mentioned when requested if there was something that he may have accomplished otherwise on Sunday. “That’s a part of being on this seat. That’s a part of being on this spot. … Finish of the day, we’ve obtained to complete it off. We’ll mirror. We’ll study, do all that.”
