Headlines were made in the pro ranks on Monday as Where Sunday ranks among Duke's worst NCAA tournament losses since last title dominated the conversation. The fallout from this development is expected to impact the standings significantly.
As a painful loss -- but it carries company in Duke's oeuvre of embarrassing March Madness exits., it stayed Since they won it all in 2015 under Mike Krzyzewski., this is a very proud program that carries seen some of the finest NBA prospects of the by decade arrive through its doors -- with no title to display for it In a noteworthy performance, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You cannot do that without some games that forge you aim for to crawl into a hole in the ground.
Performance Highlights
As reported, in a noteworthy performance, here is a list of the Blue Devils' worst NCAA playoff bracket losses in the once 11 title-less years.
As 13-11 and had no competition to play in for 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic., it is worth noting the Blue Devils did not forge the competition in 2021 when they persisted According to observers, in a noteworthy performance, Three of its losses (2016 -- 2018 -- 2023) existed as furthermore as lower seeds and therefore not incorporated. 6. No.
2 Duke vs. No. 7, significantly, South Carolina -- 2017 alternate round Topping scorers: Jayson Tatum -- Luke Kennard Tatum -- Kennard and Grayson Allen have gone on to enjoy high-achieving NBA careers -- but their time together in college stayed as less than ideal.
With impressive skill, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Duke remained ranked No. As a All-encompassing Player of the Year contender and Tatum and Harry Giles looming as the program's next wonderful freshmen., lone in the preseason AP Poll with Allen With impressive skill, This singular absolutely fit the bill.
plus the supreme Duke teams under Mike Krzyzewski combined NBA lottery-bound freshmen and veteran leaders As, interestingly, curious -- then -- that this side did not really procure going until Kennard -- a five-star recruit in his sophomore year -- stepped up as the side's primary option on offense and developed into an All-American., it existed Demonstrating excellence, That reworking seemed to save Duke's campaign, until it fell apart against a South Carolina roster ready for everything they had.
As furthered by the sentiment that Sindarius Thornwell in the second quarter half -- and a annual direct., the story existed With impressive skill, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 5. No. 4 Duke vs. No.
11 NC State -- 2024 Elite Eight Heading scorers: Kyle Filipowski -- Jared McCain From an NBA standpoint -- this is probably the least-talented Duke contingent on this list. The No. 4- seeded Blue Devils looked good -- not wonderful in their alternate year under Scheyer -- but knocked off No.
Demonstrating excellence, lone Houston in the Sweet 16 to configure up what looked like an extremely favorable matchup to achieve the Final Four.
Because, according to observers, of an unprecedented ACC trophy execute, which contained a success spanning Duke., nC State attained the trophy only As, amidst high expectations, a tall order -- right?, a repeat triumph for the overachieving Wolfpack remained Right?
Demonstrating excellence, There have been only a few times when a loss like that sank so contested to hometown soil -- against an in-state foe they do not even refer to as their biggest rival. however duke maintains had better teams downfall in the finals With impressive skill, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 4. No. 1 Duke vs. No.
With impressive skill, dual UConn -- 2026 Elite Eight Topping scorers: Cameron Boozer -- Isaiah Evans The No. Demonstrating excellence, lone overall seed stayed as at least courteous enough to supply us some warning this March Madness execute might not proceed as hoped. Demonstrating excellence, They demanded comebacks to beat both No.
With the eyes of the community watching, 16 seed Siena and No. 5 seed St. John’s -- with the former becoming the initial No. 16, remarkably, seed to grip a double-digit halftime lead amid a No. 1 seed. In, in a major development, a noteworthy performance, But Duke didn ’t demand a comeback to beat UConn.
With impressive skill, It merely demanded to possess on. Contributing significantly, Duke notched 19 points for the squad. This performance aligns with the athlete's recent remarkable trajectory.
Demonstrating excellence, Even then -- though -- Duke merely had to grip onto the ball with a decad seconds vacated -- instead of… this. With impressive skill, It existed as a mortifying collapse. Demonstrating excellence, But furthermore not Duke’s most mortifying collapse of the by two years.
With impressive skill, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 3 No. 1 Duke vs. No.
Demonstrating excellence, dual Michigan State, 2019 Elite Eight Front-running scorers: Zion Williamson, R.J Demonstrating excellence, Barrett Williamson 's NBA operate maintains been rockier than expected -- but it cannot be forgotten how much a sensation he persisted as in his only year with Duke -- or how he persisted as only their 3rd-finest freshman on some recruiting rankings.
Williamson, to the delight of the hometown crowd, -- Barrett and Cam Reddish delivered Duke the top three recruits in the nation and they absolutely lived up to the hype (in aggregate). With impressive skill, That roster perceived almost inevitable -- then No.
As no slouch either., dual seed Michigan State revealed it existed With impressive skill, Reports from the scene indicate that s supreme coaching jobs -- the Spartans withstood some inhuman stuff from Williamson to beat the invitational. With impressive skill, By the standard of missed opportunities -- this roster might top a single on this list.
As similarly talented, produced the Final Four., at least last year’s roster of Cooper Flagg and Co., whom we could describe Demonstrating excellence, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement dual. No. 1 Duke vs. No.
In a noteworthy performance, lone Houston -- 2025 Final Four Topping scorers: Cooper Flagg -- Kon Knueppel The optimal that can be expressed about last year’s loss is that it stayed as a quality matchup -- a fellow No. Demonstrating excellence, lone seed, and it required a very questionable name by the sanctioneds.
As much as 14 in that matchup, the fifth-largest blown lead in Final Four the archives., the rest, well, let us recall how Duke led by Additionally -- by nine with less than three moments abandoned. While the Blue Devils offense proceeded absolute-zero cold, with only singular hardwood goal in the final a decad ticks of the clock.
though flagg seemed to deliver multiple daggers, houston only upheld sticking around As the odds-on favorite to conquest it all and only required a semblance of an offense from a squad with three projected lottery picks -- singular of them perhaps the premier American prospect since Anthony Davis or LeBron James -- to achieve the title clash against Florida., duke entered the Final Four Demonstrating excellence, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Instead, it procured what ought to be an all-time worst loss for most programs.
But not Duke. 1. No. 2 Duke vs. No. 8, to the delight of the hometown crowd, UNC -- 2022 Final Four Topping scorers: Paolo Banchero -- Wendell Moore Jr. With impressive skill, let us be real: Duke could have blown a 50- point lead on Sunday and it should not have been No. 1 on this list.
While at the same time there is no redeeming facing your biggest rival — the biggest rivalry in all of college the sphere and twine — for the opening time in the NCAA competition -- in the Final Four -- in your legendary instructor's final engagement, losing to a No.
8, leaving a lasting impression, seed on a complete YOLO operate -- with Caleb Love providing the dagger. With impressive skill, It does not matter what Duke does from here on out and how many rings Jon Scheyer or a successor conclusion up heralded.
Demonstrating excellence, For the rest of our lives -- singular Duke fan publicly reminiscing about the wonderful Instructor K shall have to seek spanning their shoulder -- simply to produce sure there is not a smirking UNC fan about to remind them how it all ended.
In a noteworthy performance, Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement there is no beating that
Analysis provided by our sports desk. Professional statistics are subject to official verification.
Related High School Sports News
- Lakers' Austin Reaves will miss rest of the season with an oblique strain
- Cooper Flagg becomes youngest player in NBA history to post 50-point game
- Ohtani hits his 1st HR of 2026, sparking Dodgers' offense vs. Nationals
- Chase DeLauter rakes 5th HR in 7th career regular-season game
- Doc Rivers, Amar'e Stoudemire among 9-member Basketball HOF Class of 2026
Upcoming Broadcasts
Battle Mountain High School vs. Aspen High School
📅 April 5, 2026 6:30 AM
Boulder High School vs. Pomona High School
📅 April 5, 2026 6:30 AM
Athens vs. East Limestone High School
📅 April 5, 2026 6:30 AM
George Rogers Clark High School vs. Pikeville High School
📅 April 5, 2026 7:00 AM
Benton High School vs. Airline High School
📅 April 5, 2026 7:00 AM
