Tennessee advances to the Sweet 16, eliminating Duke in the Blue Devils’ first championship without Coach K.
First Mad March for Duke Without Mike Krzyzewski it didn’t go as well as the Blue Devils had hoped.
the Fourth seeded Tennessee Volunteers Withdrew late for no delivery. 5 Duke a round of 32 losses, 65-52, to advance to the Sweet 16.
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Tennessee forward Jonas Aidu (0) dunks during the first half of the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, March 18, 2023 in Orlando, Florida. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Duke drove as many as six, but the Fols went 17-2 to go up by nine early in the second half. The Blue Devils responded 7-0 to cut the deficit to two.
But Duke junior guard Jeremy Roach committed his fourth foul with 15 minutes left in the game, putting the Blue Devils in trouble with the Vols five. With Roach in bad trouble, Tennessee took advantage and regained a nine-point lead.
The Blue Devils fought back and did not allow the deficit to reach double digits for several minutes. But with just over four minutes remaining, the Vols 3-pointer gave them an 11-point lead that grew to 13 in the final minute of play.
Oliver Nakamhua led all scorers with 27 points.
Tennessee forward Jonas Aidu (0) tackles a shot in front of Duke’s center Ryan Young during the first half of an NCAA Tournament Second Round game Saturday, March 18, 2023 in Orlando, Florida. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Duke was never able to restore the deficit under five points after that race in Tennessee.
The Blue Devils season started slowly, they heated up dangerously and won ACC Championship. But March was just too much for them.
Tennessee forward Julian Phillips (2) shoots as Duke guard Jacob Grandison (13) defends during the first half of an NCAA Tournament second-round game Saturday, March 18, 2023 in Orlando, Florida. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
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Volumes await the winner of No. 9 Florida Atlantic and no. 16 Fairleigh Dickinson, who pulled off the biggest upset in March Madness history by defeating no. 1 Bordeaux.
It’s the first Sweet 16 ride in Tennessee since 2019.
