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No. 1 Duke Tested Early by TCU After Slow Start From Cameron Boozer

Betting markets installed Duke as a double-digit favorite despite injuries to Patrick Ngongba II and Caleb Foster.

Overview

  • - The Round of 32 matchup tipped at 5:15 p.m. ET on CBS from Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina.
  • - Duke led by four at halftime as Boozer logged just two points on one shot attempt in 15 minutes, an uncharacteristically quiet stretch for the freshman star.
  • - Both teams advanced via narrow first-round wins, with Duke rallying past Siena 71–65 and TCU edging Ohio State 66–64 on Xavier Edmonds’ late basket.
  • - Ngongba missed the opener with foot soreness and his status for TCU remained uncertain, while Foster’s fractured foot sidelined him for the tournament.
  • - Sportsbooks listed Duke around -11.5 to -12.5 pregame, with some books offering roughly +680 on a TCU upset and expanded player prop markets.