When it comes to March Madness, history has a funny way of repeating itself, especially for the Duke Blue Devils. As they gear up for their Sweet 16 clash against St.
John's in the 2026 NCAA Tournament, there's a familiar narrative in the air. Each time Duke has claimed a national championship, they've crossed paths with the Red Storm somewhere along the journey.
The most memorable of these encounters was in the 1991 Elite 8, where Duke triumphed 78-61 over St. John's.
That victory was part of a legendary championship run. The other meetings in 1992, 2001, 2010, and 2015 happened during regular seasons, but they all shared the same outcome-a Blue Devils win.
Adding another layer to this story is Rick Pitino, the current head coach for St. John's.
Pitino's history with Duke is rich and dramatic, highlighted by the unforgettable 1992 Elite 8 showdown. Duke edged out Pitino's Kentucky Wildcats 104-103 in overtime, thanks to Christian Laettner's iconic buzzer-beater.
Fast forward to today, and Pitino is looking for a bit of redemption after his team’s recent 67-65 thriller over Kansas, courtesy of a Dylan Darling buzzer-beater.
Duke, the top seed in the East Region, comes into this matchup with serious momentum. They dismantled TCU 81-58, fueled by a second-half surge where they outscored the Horned Frogs 43-24.
Cameron Boozer was a standout, dropping 19 points-17 in the second half-while grabbing 11 boards. Isaiah Evans, Dame Sarr, and Maliq Brown also contributed double figures, showcasing the depth of this squad.
The stage is set for a 7:10 p.m. ET tipoff on Friday, March 27, at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. The winner will advance to the Elite 8, keeping their championship dreams alive.
Let's delve into Duke's historical edge over St. John's and their encounters with Rick Pitino.
Duke's Championship Season Wins Over St. John’s:
- March 24, 1991: Duke 78, St. John's 61 (Elite 8)
- Dec. 5, 1991: Duke 91, St.
John's 81 (ACC/Big East Challenge)
- Feb.
18, 2001: Duke 91, St. John's 59
- Dec. 5, 2009: Duke 80, St.
John's 71
- Jan.
25, 2015: Duke 77, St. John's 68
Duke vs. St. John's All-Time:
Duke holds a 16-6 record against St. John's, winning eight of their last ten matchups.
The Red Storm's victories in this span came in 2018 and 2011. In NCAA Tournament play, Duke leads 2-1, with their last tournament win against St.
John's being the 1991 Elite 8 game.
Rick Pitino's Tournament History vs. Duke:
Pitino is 1-1 against Duke in March Madness. The 1992 game was a heartbreaker for Pitino, but he got his revenge in 2013 when his Louisville Cardinals defeated Duke 85-63, eventually winning the national championship.
As Duke and St. John's prepare to write the next chapter in their storied rivalry, fans can expect a thrilling game filled with history, redemption, and the relentless pursuit of glory.