What Was 15 Point Lead For Duke Turned Into 73-72 Loss For Duke Because Cayden Boozer Turned Basketball Over Because Braylon Mullins Hit Game Winning 3 Pointer Advancing Uconn To Final Four

Duke’s Achilles heel during the 2026 NCAA Tournament was turning the basketball over!

In the first round of NCAA Tournament when opposing Siena Duke committed 8 turnovers in 71-65 win!

In the second round when opposing TCU Duke committed 17 turnovers in 81-58 win!

In the sweet 16 in 80-75 win over St. John’s Duke committed 9 turnovers!

In the Elite 8 when opposing Uconn Duke committed 13 turnovers in a game where Duke had a 15 point lead turned into 73-72 loss for Duke because Cayden Boozer who is a freshman who is a guard who is the twin brother of Duke forward Cameron Boozer turned basketball over because Braylon Mullins hit game winning 3 pointer advancing Uconn to Final Four.

When?

Sunday in Washington DC!

In Duke’s 73-72 loss to Uconn as a team Duke committed 13 turnovers Maliq Brown who is a senior who is a graduate transfer from Syracuse who is a forward committed 1 turnover Cameron Boozer who is a freshman forward who is twin brother of Cayden Boozer who is highly likely entering his name into NBA Draft committed 4 turnovers. Cayden Boozer committed 2 turnovers. Dame Sarr who is a freshman who is a guard committed 1 turnover. Isaiah Evans who is sophomore who is a guard committed 1 turnover. Caleb Foster who is a guard who is a junior committed 3 turnovers.

All those turnovers committed by Duke players in the Elite 8 helped Duke’s 15 lead evaporate turn into 73-72 loss for Duke helped send Uconn, Braylon Mullins who is a freshman who is a guard who hit game winning 3 pointer to Final Four.

In the 73-72 loss to Uconn as a team Duke shot 25-48 on field goals was 6-15 on 3 pointers for 40 % was 16-22 from free throw line for 73 %. Duke had three players in double figures including Cameron Boozer who was 10-21 on field goals 1-4 on 3 pointers , 6-8 on free throws to go along 8 rebounds, 4 assists , 27 points . Dame Sarr was 4-5 on field goals , 2-3 on 3 pointers , 0-2 on free throws to go along 4 rebounds, 1 assists 10 points. Cayden Boozer was 4-5 on field goals , 1-1 on 3 pointers , 6-6 on free throws to go along 5 rebounds, 6 assists

Following what was 15 point lead for Duke turned into 73-72 loss for Duke Cayden Boozer who committed 3 turnovers including a critical one that would have likely, probably advanced Duke to final four if he had not turned the basketball over shared his thoughts by saying “I could have been strong with the ball and not turned it over,”

I take full responsibility.”

Though,

Cayden Boozer wasn’t the only one to share his thoughts as Duke Head Coach Jon Scheyer did as well saying “I’m incredibly sorry for these guys that they’ve got to go through this,”

This is on us. We’re going to be in this together. I don’t have words other than just how proud I am of these guys and how disappointed we are.”

This feeling is all to familiar to Duke as the same thing happened during 2024-2025 season when they were in Final Four playing against Houston when Duke had players such as Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel who are now in the NBA playing for Dallas, Charlotte when Duke didn’t get the opportunity to compete for a National Championship because though, 1 seed Duke was ahead of 1 seed Houston 66-61 with 1:14 remaining in National Semifinal with berth to National Championship at stake Duke’s season concluded, ended with 70-67 loss to Houston Saturday.

Why you ask?

Because offensively they scored 1 field goal in the games final 10 minutes!

As a team Duke shot 39.6 % on field goals , 41.2 on 3 pointers!

Freshman Cooper Flagg freshman Kon Knueppel were the only players to score in double figures!

Cooper Flagg was 8-19 on field goals , 3-4 on 3 pointers , 8-8 on free throws to go along with 7 rebounds , 4 assists , 2 steals , 3 blocks, 27 points.

Kon Knueppel was 5-9 on field goals , 3-5 on 3 pointers , 3-3 on free throws to go along 7 rebounds, 2 assists , 16 points.

Following 1 seed Duke’s 70-67 loss to 1 seed Houston Duke freshman guard Kon Knueppel who was 5-9 on field goals , 3-5 on 3 pointers to go along with 7 rebounds , 2 assists, 16 points had this to say about 1 seed Houston!

They’re a really good defensive team . I didn’t think we were sharp the last whatever it was 10 minutes . I didn’t think we were as sharp on our execution as we had been the first 10 minutes of second half . Tip our hats they’re a really good defensive team.

Following 1 seed Duke’s 70-67 loss to 1 seed Houston Duke Head Coach Jon Scheyer had this to say about his teams loss in Final Four!

It’s heartbreaking . It’s incredibly disappointing. There’s a lot of pain that comes with this . That’s what the tournament is all about . Your an inch away from the national championship game .

According Stephen Wiseman News & Observer article https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/duke/article303432351.html