Duke's opening round matchup against 16-seeded Siena was anything but smooth sailing. The Blue Devils struggled in the first half, and it was clear they underestimated their opponent.
Maliq Brown candidly admitted at halftime that Duke expected an easy win. Cameron Boozer echoed this sentiment post-game, reflecting on the team's mindset: “We came out here with the mentality that it was going to be handed to us, and obviously that’s not what happened.
We got punched in the mouth."
This wasn't the best showcase for head coach Jon Scheyer, who has otherwise demonstrated his coaching prowess by guiding Duke to the No. 1 overall seed despite losing five NBA Draft picks from last season. Scheyer himself acknowledged being outcoached by Gerry McNamara, a situation he knows cannot be repeated as they advance in the East Region, which is packed with experienced tournament coaches.
Looking ahead, Duke faces TCU in the second round. Jamie Dixon, TCU's head coach, is sure to craft a strategy that targets the vulnerabilities Duke displayed against Siena. Scheyer is expected to have his team better prepared, but with TCU being a stronger opponent, the Blue Devils must be on high alert, especially if Patrick Ngongba remains sidelined.
Should Duke make it past the Horned Frogs, they'll likely encounter a two-time national championship-winning coach in either Bill Self with Kansas or Rick Pitino with St. John's in the Sweet 16. The road doesn't get any easier from there, with potential matchups against the likes of Dan Hurley’s UConn or Tom Izzo’s Michigan State looming in the Elite Eight.
Duke finds itself in one of the most challenging brackets, and they can't afford another lapse in preparation. Scheyer and his squad need to ensure they're ready from the tip-off to avoid any more surprises in their quest for the title.