In a crushing blow to their championship aspirations, the Duke Blue Devils fell to the Houston Cougars 70-67 in the NCAA Final Four on Saturday night. Despite holding a 14-point lead in the second half, Duke was unable to maintain their momentum, allowing Houston to storm back and steal the victory. A closer look at the game reveals several critical flaws that contributed to Duke’s heartbreaking loss.
One of the most glaring issues was Duke’s inability to handle full-court pressure late in the game. As Houston intensified their defense, Duke struggled with turnovers and failed to move the ball efficiently. This breakdown in composure under pressure allowed Houston to capitalize and chip away at the deficit.
Another key flaw was Duke’s inconsistent perimeter shooting. The Blue Devils shot just 6-of-21 from beyond the arc, a cold stretch that proved costly in a tight game. While they generated open looks, the lack of execution from deep prevented Duke from extending their lead and gave Houston opportunities to stay within striking distance.
Duke also suffered from foul trouble, particularly in the second half. Key contributors were forced to play more cautiously, affecting their defensive aggression and overall rhythm. This allowed Houston’s guards to attack the lane more freely and draw additional fouls, putting Duke at a disadvantage on both ends of the floor.
Rebounding was another area where Duke faltered. Despite having size advantages in certain matchups, the Blue Devils were outworked on the boards during crucial possessions, especially down the stretch. Houston grabbed key offensive rebounds, turning second-chance points into momentum shifts late in the game.
The Blue Devils also lacked bench production, a recurring issue throughout the tournament. With the starters logging heavy minutes and fatigue setting in, Duke was unable to get meaningful contributions from their reserves. This imbalance in depth became evident as Houston’s fresher legs made a difference in the closing moments.
In terms of game management, Duke’s coaching staff faced criticism for late-game decisions. The team failed to call timely timeouts to halt Houston’s run, and offensive sets appeared disorganized when composure was most needed. These missed opportunities to reset and refocus may have swung the outcome.
Perhaps most disappointing was Duke’s inability to close out the game. With a double-digit lead and the momentum in their favor, the Blue Devils lacked the killer instinct to finish off a resilient opponent. This hesitation and lack of execution in the final minutes was uncharacteristic of a team with championship pedigree.
As the season comes to a close, Duke is left to reflect on what could have been. While the Blue Devils had the talent and ambition to win it all, the flaws that surfaced in their Final Four matchup proved too costly. The loss serves as a painful lesson — one that the program will undoubtedly use as motivation moving forward.