Duke, Uconn Teams With Elite Defenses Are Squaring Off Sunday Evening In Elite 8 With Berth To Final Four At Stake

Duke defensively allows opponents to score 62.9 points per game!

In March 2026 Duke boasts elite defense ranking 3rd nationally in points allowed led by ACC Player of the Year in Defensive Player Of The Year Maliq Brown who is a senior a transfer from Syracuse and freshman forward Cameron Boozer who’s the son of former Duke forward former NBA forward Carlos Boozer the twin brother of Duke freshman guard Cayden Boozer.

During 2025-2026 season Uconn ranks 11th in the country for scoring defenses. Uconn is known for a strong defensive efficiency (94.0) ranking 11th nationally allowing opponents relatively low scoring in NCAA Tournament

Duke, Uconn teams with Elite defenses are squaring off in Elite 8 with berth to Final Four at stake.

Duke is the top overall seed in NCAA Tournament the top seed in the East Region while Uconn is the 2 seed in the East Region!

Duke is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference comes into the Elite 8 with berth to final four at stake with record of 35-2 because at halftime Friday of Sweet 16 Duke who is the top overall seed in NCAA Tournament is 1 seed in the East Region was trailing St. Johns who was the 5 seed in the East Region 40-39. In the 2nd half Duke trailed by 10 points.

Because Duke was trailing St. John’s Duke switched to zone defense something that Duke Head Coach has used once already in the NCAA Tournament.

The first time was against Siena in the first round when Duke topped Siena 71-65 when Siena was shooting 54.8 % and Siena had a 40-32 lead at halftime on Duke.

Duke was trailing St. Johns in Sweet 16 Friday by as many as 10 points in second half Friday Duke edged St. John’s 80-75 to advance to Elite 8 because Duke switched from man to man defense to zone defense because Cameron Boozer, Isaiah Evans, Caleb Foster scored in double figures.

Cameron Boozer who is a freshman who is a forward was 7-16 on field goals was 0-1 on 3 pointers was 8-9 on free throws to go along with 10 rebounds , 3 assists , 22 points . Isaiah Evans who is a sophomore who is a guard was 10-15 on field goals , 4-8 on 3 pointers , 1-2 on free throws to go along 4 rebounds 25 points. Caleb Foster who is a junior who is a guard who was coming back from broken foot from surgery from rehabbing an injury he sustained in ACC Tournament three weeks ago was 5-8 on field goals , 0-1 on 3 pointers , 1-2 on free throws to go along 3 rebounds, 2 assists , 11 points.

As a team,

Duke was 30-56 for 54 % on field goals was 5-14 on 3 pointers for 36 % was 15-24 for 63 % on free throws.

Following Duke trailing St. Johns in Sweet 16 Friday following Duke edging St. Johns 80-75 to advance to Elite 8 because Cameron Boozer, Isaiah Evans, Caleb Foster scored in double figures Cameron Boozer who was 7-16 on field goals was 0-1 on 3 pointers was 8-9 on free throws to go along with 10 rebounds , 3 assists , 22 points shared his thoughts by saying It’s great, but you’ve got to move on from that feeling of happiness and gratitude quickly because you’ve got to prepare for another battle,”

And it will be another battle Sunday.”

Following Duke trailing St. Johns in Sweet 16 Friday following Duke edging St. Johns 80-75 to advance to Elite 8 because Cameron Boozer, Isaiah Evans, Caleb Foster scored in double figures Isaiah Evans who was who is a sophomore who is a guard was 10-15 on field goals , 4-8 on 3 pointers , 1-2 on free throws to go along 4 rebounds 25 points shared his thoughts by saying “We’re just grateful to keep dancing,”Everybody doesn’t get that chance. But I feel like we wanted it more, and that’s why we’re getting that chance.”“They (St Johns ) had us on our heels at times,They got some easy buckets and this might have been one of our most frustrating games.”

Following Duke trailing St. Johns in Sweet 16 Friday following Duke edging St. Johns 80-75 to advance to Elite 8 because Cameron Boozer, Isaiah Evans, Caleb Foster scored in double figures St. John’s Head Coach Rick Pitino shared his thoughts on Duke as a team saying It’s hard, but I’d like to believe that Duke has come back many times,”

They’re a great basketball team. We could not defend them. That’s why up 10 did not last. That’s why we couldn’t defend them. “We played a great first half. We answered the bell on every punch. And in the second half, we just could not guard certain things they ran to the basket. When we were up 10, we could not stop bully drives, bully drives, bully drives, bully drives.”

Though,

St. John’s Rick Pitino wasn’t the only Head Coach to share his thoughts following Duke’s 80-75 win that advanced into the Elite 8 as Duke Head Coach Jon Scheyer did as well by saying We talked before the game, if you get a lead, it’s going to come back against these guys,”

You’ve got to be strong with the ball. If you get behind or they go on a run, which they’re going to go on a run, you have to rebound. So just keep trying to bring them back to what we control. Our best runs came from getting stops finally.”

According to Chip Alexander News & Observer article https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/duke/article315153660.html

Following Duke trailing St. John’s switching to zone defense holding St. John’s to 29-64 on field goals 13-32 on 3 pointers in Sweet 16 Friday Duke edging St. John’s 80-75 because Cameron Boozer , Isaiah Evans , Caleb Foster scoring in double figures Duke Head Coach Jon Scheyer was interviewed by Jeff Goodman of Field Of 68 . Alright Jon I thought you were playing games with us on Caleb Foster. He was unbelievable tonight I thought maybe we get 8 minutes from he hasn’t played practiced 5 on 5 he hasn’t practiced with the team he just willed us. I got emotional after the game because you don’t get to experience that with up , downs with guys as much . He ( Caleb Foster) is our most experienced guy player you’re down 10 you gotta have poise and Caleb had poise St. John’s pressure is legit .

Uconn is 2 seed in the East Region a member of the Big East comes into the Elite 8 with record of 32-5 because Uconn who is the 2 seed in the East Region advanced to the Elite with 67-63 win over Michigan State who was 3 seed in East Region where three players scored in double figures Alex Karabanwho is a senior who is a forward was 6-12 on field goals , 3-8 on 3 pointers , 2-2 on free throws to go along 7 rebounds , 3 assists 17 points. Tarris Reed Jr. who is a senior who is a center was 8-16 on field goals , 4-6 on free throws to go along with 5 rebounds , 4 assists , 20 points . Solo Ball who is a junior who is a guard was 4-8 on field goals , 2-5 on 3 pointers , 2-2 on free throws to go along 1 assists, 12 points. As a team, Uconn was 24-52 for 46 % on field goals was 9-21 on 3 pointers for 43 % was 10-16 for 63 %.

According to ESPN App

Following Uconn’s 67-63 win over Michigan State advancing to Elite 8 Head Coach Dan Hurley who is the younger of former Duke guard Bobby Hurley who played for former Duke Head Coach now retired Duke Head Coach Mike Krzyzewski who guided Duke to a pair of national championships during his four-year (1990-93) career with the men's basketball program.  Playing in 140 career games, he amassed career totals of 1,731 points, 1,076 assists, 306 rebounds and 202 steals.  He finished his career as the NCAA's all-time leader in assists.  

Hurley, who helped the Blue Devils to a four-year record of 119-26 (.821) with three Final Four berths, was a two-time All-America selection (1992-93), three-time All-ACC pick (1991-92-93), two-time NCAA All-Final Four honoree (1991-92) and the Most Outstanding Player of the 1992 NCAA Final Four.  As a senior, he averaged 17.0 points and 8.2 assists per game, served as a team captain with Thomas Hill and was a finalist for the Wooden Award.

On February 24, 1993, Hurley established a school and Cameron Indoor Stadium single-game record with 16 assists in Duke's 98-75 over then sixth-ranked Florida State.  He also handed out 15 assists in a game on three occasions.   During Hurley's tenure in Durham, the Blue Devils posted an ACC regular season record of 44-16 (.733), captured two league regular season championships (1992-93) and one conference tournament crown (1992).

Then became seventh overall selection in the 1993 NBA Draft, Hurley had a five-year professional career with Sacramento and Vancouver shared his thoughts on Uconn’s 67-63 win on Alex Karaban by saying he’s a calming influence for me . It’s like having an Associate Head Coach that is in a locker room , that lives in apartments . that is in the dining that is in the wight room that’s peer pressuring his teammates to do extra . It’s like having a top assistant that’s on your team always around players.

Following Uconn’s 67-63 win over Michigan State advancing to Elite 8 Tarris Reed Jr. who was who is a senior who is a center was 8-16 on field goals , 4-6 on free throws to go along with 5 rebounds , 4 assists , 20 points shared his thoughts by saying I feel like I put in work . The guys around me were like , T we trust . We see you do free throws every day . You put in the work every day at the free throw line so I took a deep breath and took my time at the line.

According to article by Associated Press On ESPN App

Tip -off is set for 5:05pm from Capital One Arena that is home to Washington Wizards of the NBA as well as the Washington Capitals of NHL!

The game is going to be televised on CBS with Ian Eagle, Grant Hill, Bill Raftery, Tracy Wolfson commentating!

Ian Eagle joined CBS Sports in March 1998. He serves as lead play-by-play announcer for the Network’s coverage of NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball and also teams with JJ Watt and Evan Washburn to form the Network’s No. 2 NFL ON CBS announce team.

Eagle called his first NCAA Men’s Final Four National Semifinals and National Championship in April 2023, pairing with Bill Raftery, Grant Hill and Tracy Wolfson.

He has called NFL games since joining CBS Sports in 1998. From 2020-2024, he teamed with Charles Davis, and from 2014-19, he paired with Dan Fouts.

Eagle also calls New York Jets’ preseason games on WCBS-TV in New York, and has served as play-by-play announcer for Westwood One Radio Sports since 2009. He also serves as the play-by-play announcer for Brooklyn Nets games on the YES Network.

Eagle was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Sports Personality – PLAY-BY-PLAY in 2014 and 2018. He has won multiple New York Sports Emmys for Outstanding Play-by-Play Announcer (2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024). Eagle was named the New York Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sports Media Association in 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2019 and was named the 2022 and 2024 National Sportscaster of the Year. In 2002 he won a New York Sports Emmy Award for game coverage of the dramatic Nets-Indiana Pacers playoff Game 5.

Eagle called the Network’s high-definition television coverage of the 2001 AFC Divisional Playoffs and 2000 AFC Championship Game, as well as the Army-Navy football game for seven years (2002-08), NCAA Track and Field Championships for eight years (2004-12) and served as the studio host for the “U.S. Open Late Night Highlight Show” during 2004 and 2005. Eagle called play-by-play for the “First Four” of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship in 2012, 2015 and 2018. He has called play-by-play and been a contributor for CBS Sports’ coverage of the U.S. Open Tennis Championships (2004-14), as well as the French Open for the Tennis Channel (2007-19). Eagle also has called the Masters® and PGA Championship for Direct TV/CBSSports.com (2008-14).

He served as play-by-play announcer for Westwood One Radio Sports during its NCAA Tournament coverage (2008-17). From 2005-08 he hosted the NBA show “Full Court Press” on Sirius Radio. Eagle once again called the NBA playoffs for TNT, serving in a more prominent role throughout the 2021 Playoffs, and NBA TV. He covered the 2012 NBA Draft on CBSSports.com along with Bill Raftery. Eagle served as the host of ‘Stars on Sports’ on CBS, featuring stars of movies, television and music. He also has hosted a show for CBSSports.com, “Conversations with CBS Sports,” which featured interviews with David Stern, Gary Bettman, George Brett, Boomer Esiason and others. He is the play-by-play voice of the video game, “NBA Playgrounds,” and was the play-by-play voice of “NBA ‘09” with Kenny “The Jet” Smith for the Sony PSP video game. Eagle also served as the blow-by-blow commentator for CBS Sports’ coverage of the Showtime Championship Boxing series in 2000.

He was the play-by-play radio voice for the NFL’s New York Jets in 1997, provided play-by-play for FOX Sports Net on NFL Europe telecasts, and was also a reporter for TNT’s coverage of the NBA playoffs in 1996. Eagle joined WFAN Radio in New York in 1990 as a producer and debuted as host of his own show in 1992. He hosted Jets pre- and post-game shows on WFAN from 1993 to 1996. Eagle has appeared in a comedy sketch on THE LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT, and was in the movie “Southpaw.”

For 15 years Eagle hosted, along with Bruce Beck, the “Bruce Beck and Ian Eagle Sportscasters Camp” (www.sportsbroadcastingcamp.com) for kids (2002-16).

A 1990 graduate of Syracuse University, Eagle was the play-by-play voice of the Orange for football, basketball and lacrosse, and was awarded the Bob Costas Award for Outstanding Sportscasting. In August 2013, he was inducted into Syracuse University radio station’s WAER Alumni Hall of Fame and in 2023, he was named National Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sports Media Association.

 Grant Hill was born with a competitive spirit that sent him to the top of ranks of basketball and into the upper echelon of humanity. He has tremendous strength, resolve and resilience and is truly an inspirational athlete, who overcame tremendous obstacles in the pursuit of his goal of contributing to his team. Those obstacles included Five ankle surgeries, one staph infection, a sports hernia, countless hours of rehab, false starts and moments of self reflection gave Grant a new-found perspective on life.

The leadership Grant brought to a team, both on and off the court is immeasurable and his miraculous comeback serves as an affirmation that all of the hard work and sacrifice were worth the effort. Beyond his successful 19-year NBA career, Grant has shown that he can face adversity head on and continue to persevere. And after retiring at the end of the 2012-13 season following a 19-year NBA career, Grant has been hired by Turner Sports as the co-host of NBA Inside Stuff, which NBA TV is bringing back. He will also be joining Turner as an analyst for TNT and NBA TV.Off the court, Grant continues to be humble and is a true believer in community investment. His contributions in charity work, academic scholarships, and national initiatives for healthier lifestyles demonstrates Grant's servant heart towards the people in his community.While all of his charitable work has been inspiring, Grant turned a lifelong love of art into what may be his most benevolent endeavor off the court. One of the world's premier collectors of African American art, Grant wanted to draw attention to a facet of popular culture that has gone unrecognized and unappreciated for far too long African American art. Grant sponsored a nearly three year, seven city tour of his personal art collection entitled Something All Our Own: The Grant Hill Collection of African American Art. This is an atypical example of an athlete capitalizing on the incredible power and influence that is often left unexplored by professional athletes.

Featuring a large collection of African American artists, including the works of celebrated masters Romare Bearden, Elizabeth Catlett, as well as the work of artists including Hughie Lee-Smith, John Biggers, Phoebe Beasely, Malcolm Brown, Edward Jackson, John Coleman and Arthello Beck, Jr., the popular exhibition attracted visitors of all ages and ethnic backgrounds. Grant's message stressed the importance for young boys and girls to witness African Americans who have been successful outside of sports and entertainment. In conjunction with the exhibition, Grant created the Something All Our Own Scholarship, which provided educational assistance to college students interested in pursuing a degree in visual arts. Through these efforts, Grant encouraged creative exploration of avenues beyond sports and entertainment while sharing his appreciation of artists who have played an important part in his life.

Grant extended the pursuit of one of his off the court interests by forming a production company and has co-produced two documentary films, "Starting at the Finish Line," chronicling the life of influential and inspirational Duke Track coach and Professor Al Buehler, and "Duke 91 & 92: Back to Back" about the 1991 and 1992 back to back Duke national championship teams. Duke 91 & 92 aired on Turner Sports' truTV in advance of Turner Sports' and CBS Sports' coverage of the 2012 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship, which aired exclusively on TBS, CBS, TNT, and truTV.

Bill Raftery joined CBS Sports in 1983 and is an analyst for CBS Sports’ college basketball coverage and the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship. He joins the broadcast team of Ian Eagle, Grant Hill and Tracy Wolfson to call the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament, including the Final Four and National Championship. He also is an analyst for college basketball on Fox.

Raftery previously served as an analyst for Westwood One Radio Sports coverage of the NCAA Men’s Final Four for 23 years. He also served as an analyst for the NBA’s New Jersey Nets. Since 1981, Raftery has announced several events, including the Big Ten Championship, the ACC Championship, the Big East Championship, the SEC Championship, the McDonald's High School All-Star game and the NIT pre-season and championship games.

Raftery co-hosted THE BASKETBALL SHOW with Pat O’Brien and called NBA ON CBS action.  He served as course commentator for the First of America Senior PGA TOUR event in Grand Rapids, Mich., as well as other Senior TOUR events. Raftery was the studio host for ESPN's coverage of the NCAA Tournament in 1980.

Prior to his broadcasting career, Raftery was head coach at Seton Hall University with a record of 154-141 from 1970-82. Prior to that he coached basketball and golf at Fairleigh Dickinson for five years, while also serving as associate athletic director. During his 16-year collegiate coaching career he gained three NIT and four ECAC Tournament berths and was named Coach of the Year in 1979 by the New Jersey Basketball Writers Association.

Raftery played three seasons at LaSalle University under legendary coach Donald “Dudey” Moore. He set a freshman scoring mark with 370 points. The next year, he led the varsity team with 17.8 points per game and in his senior year, he co-captained the Explorers to the National Invitational Tournament.

Following his senior year at LaSalle, he was drafted by the New York Knicks.  A New Jersey school-boy legend, prior to attending LaSalle, Raftery was an All-State selection in basketball, soccer and baseball at St. Cecilia High School in Kearny, N.J.  He posted a New Jersey state record scoring 827 points in his senior year, leading the team to the New Jersey State Championship.  He ended his high school career with 2,192 points, a state record at the time. Raftery was named “Mr. Basketball USA” as the top male high school basketball player of 1959 by ESPN HS, an honor first awarded in 1996, retroactive to 1955, that includes Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson, Bill Bradley, Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), Clark Kellogg, Patrick Ewing, Kevin Garnett and LeBron James, among others. 

He was honored in December 2017 with induction into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame. He is a three-time Sports Emmy Award winner for OUTSTANDING SPORTS PERSONALITY / SPORTS EVENT ANALYST (2015, 2016, 2018). In 2015, Raftery was inducted into the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association Hall of Fame. He was honored in May 2012 at the University of Scranton’s Carlesimo Award Dinner, held in honor of the late Peter A. Carlesimo, for his contributions to athletics and Catholic education. In 2004 Raftery received a special Victor Sports Award, and the “Walter Payton ‘Sweetness’ Award,” in recognition of his outstanding work in the community throughout his lifetime. He received the Curt Gowdy Media Award from the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006 and also won a New York Sports Emmy for SINGLE EVENT COVERAGE for Game 5 of the New Jersey Nets-Indiana Pacers series during the 2002 NBA Playoffs. He was awarded the 2024 Jake Wade Award by the College Sports Communicators, presented annually to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution in the media to the field of intercollegiate athletics.

Raftery earned a bachelor of arts degree in history from LaSalle and master's degree in education from Seton Hall. He received an Honorary Doctorate from LaSalle University in 2001 and an Honorary Doctorate from Seton Hall University in 2009.

 Raftery was born April 19 and currently serves as President of W.J. Raftery Associates, an events/marketing firm.  Raftery lives in Jupiter, Fla., with his wife, Joan, and has four children and five grandchildren.

Tracy Wolfson is an eight-time Emmy Award-nominated reporter for CBS Sports and two-time recipient of the Sports Emmy for Outstanding Sideline Reporter (2024, 2025). She was named THE NFL ON CBS’s lead game reporter in May 2014 and once again teams with the lead announce team of Jim Nantz and Tony Romo on THE NFL ON CBS’s top game each week, as well as CBS Sports’ Thanksgiving games, the AFC Playoffs and the AFC Championship Game. Wolfson was on the sidelines as lead reporter for Super Bowl LVIII (2024), Super Bowl LV (2021), Super Bowl LIII (2019), Super Bowl 50 (2016) and also serves as the lead reporter for CBS Sports’ coverage of the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Championship. She has been the lead reporter on the Final Four since 2008.

Additionally, Wolfson serves as a panelist on CBS Sports' WE NEED TO TALK, the first-ever nationally-televised all-women sports show.

In 2022, she was named one of the Cynopsis Top Women in Media in the Game Changing On-Air Talent category.

Wolfson served 10 years as the lead college football reporter for CBS Sports’ coverage of the Southeastern Conference working with one of the top broadcast teams in the country in Verne Lundquist and Gary Danielson since 2004.

In addition to college football she also worked select NFL games, including the AFC Wild Card, Divisional and Championship games, as well as coverage of Super Bowl XLVII.

Wolfson has been involved with coverage of the U.S. Open Tennis Championships, Auto Racing, Skiing, Snowboarding, Ice Skating, Gymnastics, Track and Field and Rodeo for the Network. In addition, she has anchored the CBS Sports Desk throughout the year and hosted “At the Half” during basketball season. Wolfson also has contributed in various ways as a host and reporter for CBS Sports Network.

Wolfson served as a reporter for Turner Sports for select NBA regular-season and playoff games. Prior to CBS, Wolfson served as an anchor/reporter for the Madison Square Garden Network and also worked for ESPN as a Host/Reporter covering U.S. Open Golf, College Football and Arena Football (2002-03).

Wolfson began her on-air broadcasting career in 2000 at WZBN-TV in Trenton, N.J. as a sports anchor, reporter and producer. She has worked for Oxygen Sports, Long Island News Tonight and News-12 Long Island. Wolfson began her professional career at CBS Sports in 1997 as a researcher working on U.S. Open Tennis, the 1998 Olympic Winter Games and the 1997 NCAA Final Four.

Raised in Congers, N.Y., Wolfson graduated with a degree in communications from the University of Michigan.

According to https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-sports/talent/?view=ian-eagleAccording to https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-sports/talent/?view=bill-raftery
According to https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-sports/talent/?view=tracy-wolfson-2According to https://granthill.com/biography