TCU gets a massive second-round test against Duke, with the Horned Frogs needing rebounding, pace, and shot-making to threaten one of March’s top teams.
FORT WORTH - TCU basketball gets the kind of NCAA Tournament matchup that can change how a season is remembered.
The Horned Frogs are back on the floor Saturday, but this time the path gets brutal. Waiting on the other side is Duke, a No. 1 seed, a national title threat, and a team that has spent most of the year steamrolling opponents.
If TCU is going to pull this off, it won’t be because Duke suddenly plays poorly. It’ll be because the Horned Frogs force the Blue Devils into a game they don’t want.
Duke comes in at 33-2 and has been scorching hot down the stretch, winning its last 10 while averaging 81.3 points per game and giving up just 63.4. That’s a terrifying combination of firepower and control.
Cameron Boozer has been the headliner, posting 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game, while Isaiah Evans has added another punch with 16.1 points per outing over his last 10 games.
That’s the challenge TCU has to solve. The Horned Frogs aren’t walking in cold, though.
TCU is 8-2 in its last 10 games and has played with enough toughness to believe it can make this uncomfortable.
David Punch has been a steady force, averaging 14.4 points, 6.9 rebounds, and two blocks per game, while Xavier Edmonds has provided a recent scoring spark at 13.7 points over the last 10.
TCU also does real damage on the offensive glass, pulling down 10.3 offensive rebounds a game, which could become a huge swing factor if second chances start piling up.
Duke is a 10.5-point favorite, and the total sits at 139.5. That tells you the Blue Devils are expected to control the night.
Still, March doesn’t care much about expectations. If TCU can defend the arc, win enough rebounds to keep Duke from dictating tempo, and get efficient offense from Punch and Edmonds, this thing could tighten up late.
And if it does, the pressure flips. That’s when a dangerous underdog starts believing.
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