We knew going into the NCAA Tournament that Duke was going to get all they could handle in that Eastern Region of the bracket. That was none more evident than tonight for Duke against Rick Pitino and St. John's.
This is a Duke team that has been tested time and time again even in the tournament as they had a bit of a scare against Siena and in the first half against TCU.
Fortunately for Duke, tonight they were whole again. It was the return of Caleb Foster after fracturing his right foot in the matchup against Carolina on March 7th. Just 19 days after his surgery he was back. On a minutes restriction, but back nonetheless.
St. John's packed a punch in the first half especially from three going 9 of 18. The last time the Devils allowed a team to shoot over 40 percent from three was in their loss at UNC. Duke found themselves down at the halftime break 40-39 against Pitino's group.
On the season, the Blue Devils were 6-0 when trailing at the half. You can now extend that to 7-0 after tonight.
The second half was an absolute nail biter. It was a back and forth affair the entire way.
A clutch three from Isaiah Evans, big plays from Cameron Boozer and good rebounding started to edge Duke out in front a little more in the last few minutes of the game.
Duke found themselves staring each other right in the eyes as the Devils led 77-75 with 14.7 seconds to go after Zuby Edjiofor was only able two hit one of a pair of free throws.
Rick Pitino called timeout after St. John's fouled Isaiah Evans sending the sophomore to the line for the first time on the night. He missed free throw number one and then canned number two to put the Devils up three.
A three point attempt for Dylan Darling was well off, giving Duke possession with 1.8 seconds on the clock. Cameron Boozer was fouled and sent to the line where he closed the deal with two made free throws slotting Duke into the Elite Eight for a matchup with the winner of UConn and Michigan State.
This Duke team is tough. They've been tested like no other team in the country this year and they've come through when its gotten tight all but two times this year.
There's no better example of that than what we saw Caleb Foster do tonight playing 19 minutes and putting up 11 points just three weeks after surgery. Tracy Wolfson asked Jon Scheyer after the game what having him out on the floor meant to him and Scheyer genuinely had to pause for a second, he was so choked up about it before answering.
"He had no business playing today. He was determined. That's one of the most special performances I've ever seen." Scheyer said.
Performances like tonight is why so many people feel this is the team and this is the time for the Devils to take this thing the distance in Indianapolis.