Duke basketball is gearing up for its 31st Sweet 16 appearance in the East Regional of the 2026 Men's NCAA Tournament. The Blue Devils, boasting an impressive 34-2 record under head coach Jon Scheyer, are ready to clash with the No. 5 seeded St.
John's, who stand at 30-6, led by the seasoned Rick Pitino. This high-stakes showdown is set for Friday, March 27, at Capital One Arena in Washington.
The victor will advance to the Elite 8 on Sunday, March 29, to face either Michigan State or the winner between UConn and UCLA.
The Blue Devils are riding high after a commanding 81-58 victory over No. 9 seed TCU, where they dominated the second half with a 43-24 run. Cameron Boozer was a standout, contributing 19 points overall, with 17 coming in the second half.
Isaiah Evans chipped in 17 points, while Dame Sarr and Maliq Brown added 14 and 12 points, respectively. Patrick Ngongba II made a notable return, having been sidelined for five games since March 2.
In his 13 minutes on the court, he tallied four points, four rebounds, four turnovers, four assists, and a block.
On the flip side, St. John's enters the Sweet 16 after a nail-biting 67-65 win over Kansas, sealed by a game-winning layup from Dylan Darring. This marks the Red Storm's first Sweet 16 appearance since 1999, adding an extra layer of excitement to their Cinderella story.
For fans eager to catch Duke in action, tickets for the East Region sessions are available, starting at $656 and reaching up to $1,823 on StubHub. This matchup promises to be a thrilling chapter in the tournament, with both teams hungry to advance.