BROOKLYN, N.Y.—No. 4-seed Duke survived its first spherical of the NCAA match Friday night towards Vermont, and is now trying to make it by way of a second towards No. 12- seed James Madison Sunday. The Blue Devils have dominated by way of 20 minutes and lead the Dukes 47-25:
Duke vs. everybody
“Nobody actually likes us,” mentioned freshman ahead TJ Energy Saturday afternoon throughout a group media availability. “We’ll have Northwestern, UConn followers and JMU followers towards us.”
Energy was not far off. The Barclays Middle was filled with Huskies and Wildcats followers ready for his or her respective groups to play after Duke and James Madison, and no one besides the Blue Satan devoted have been cheering for Duke. James Madison followers have been persistent, too, chanting “J-M-U” even when the Dukes trailed by greater than 20 factors. Nonetheless — whereas James Madison definitely had extra individuals in its nook, the Blue Satan contingent was loud sufficient to make {that a} non-issue for Duke. It took full management of the half and by no means trailed.
Head coach Jon Scheyer mentioned Saturday {that a} stadium filled with booing doesn’t sound all that completely different from a stadium filled with followers. Perhaps he’s taught his group the trick.
Second-chance factors
5 minutes into the sport, Duke led James Madison 12-4. Seven of these Blue Satan factors got here from second probabilities. Duke opened scoring on a scorching streak, with a Jared McCain triple adopted intently by a Kyle Filipowski dunk and one in all Jeremy Roach’s go-to shut vary jumpers. However greater than half of the factors the Blue Devils earned got here on the heels of spectacular rebounding from all 5 gamers on the court docket: Each starter however McCain had a board, and Filipowski had two. James Madison will not be a small group, and these rebounds didn’t come simple — the Blue Devils merely stored their heads screwed on straight after almost each missed basket, turning their follies upside-down.
Roach bounces again from damage
Lower than half of the primary interval had elapsed when Duke’s group captain just about collapsed on the bench, ostensibly nursing a harm finger. It seemed to be a dislocation on his left pinky, however this has but to be confirmed. The influence occurred when Roach tried to dam a shot from James Madison’s Jaylen Carey and drew a foul. Carey made good on one in all his makes an attempt whereas the Blue Satan bench centered on the wounded captain.
Only a few minutes later, Roach was again on his ft with taped fingers, huddling along with his teammates earlier than heading again to the locker room accompanied by fellow senior Spencer Hubbard. On the subsequent timeout, he was again within the stadium, and when it ended, he was again in place on the court docket.
James Madison caught inside
The Dukes don’t have a foul document in relation to exterior capturing: On the season, they’re making 36.3% of their makes an attempt past the arc. However towards this Blue Satan squad, James Madison not solely missed almost all of its threes however may barely even try them. The Dukes shot 1-for-6 from the perimeter, unable to interrupt previous the Blue Satan backcourt defensive scheme. That meant relying totally on layups — which have been extra profitable, at 7-for-8, however exhausting for the Dukes to come back by, due to aggressive rim safety from Filipowski and Mark Mitchell.
Participant of the half: Jared McCain
After a comparatively quiet first recreation within the Large Dance, McCain got here again to take middle stage, with 22 factors within the first half. That’s extra factors than any participant has scored thus far in a 2024 NCAA match half. His triple opened the scoring for the sport on Duke’s very first possession, setting a pattern for his capturing the remainder of the half. He went 6-for-8 from deep, the primary six of which landed in a neat row — no misses. When that fifth trey swished into the web, McCain tied Duke’s all-time freshman document for 3-pointers made in an NCAA match recreation, tying JJ Redick and Tre Jones. When he made his sixth, McCain beat out each program legends and crept up on Quinn Prepare dinner’s total document of seven triples in a March Insanity occasion.
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| Sports activities options editor
Sophie Levenson is a Trinity sophomore and sports activities options editor of The Chronicle’s 119th quantity.