Heartbreak Continues for Duke and Arkansas as Elite Programs Struggle to Reach the Mountaintop

Coaches Jon Scheyer and Dave Van Horn share a similar path of succeeding Hall of Fame predecessors, but both programs have faced devastating late-game collapses in recent NCAA tournaments.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 2:41am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fractured, multi-angled view of a college basketball or baseball game, with the players and action broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color and shape, conveying the emotional turmoil of devastating late-game losses.The heartbreaking late-game collapses that have plagued elite programs like Duke and Arkansas are captured in a cubist, fragmented visual style.Fayetteville Today

Duke basketball and Arkansas baseball, led by young coaches Jon Scheyer and Dave Van Horn respectively, have both experienced heartbreaking late-game losses in recent NCAA tournaments despite having elite rosters and high expectations. Scheyer's Blue Devils have blown double-digit leads in three straight tournament exits, while Van Horn's Razorbacks have suffered crushing defeats in the College World Series that have prevented them from winning their first national title. The two programs and their coaches, though in different sports, share a common struggle to get over the hump and capture the elusive national championship.

Why it matters

The continued postseason failures of these two elite programs, despite their impressive regular season success and star-studded rosters, highlights the immense pressure and difficulty of winning a national championship in high-stakes college sports. For Scheyer and Van Horn, the inability to get their teams over the final hurdle has become a source of growing frustration, as they try to live up to the championship pedigree of the Hall of Fame coaches they succeeded.

The details

Duke under Scheyer has reached three Elite Eights in as many seasons, but each time the Blue Devils have blown double-digit leads late, including a 19-point advantage against UConn this past year that resulted in a heartbreaking loss. Similarly, Arkansas baseball under Van Horn has suffered excruciating defeats in the College World Series, including a dropped foul popup against Oregon State in 2018 and a ninth-inning collapse against LSU in 2025. Both programs have been led by superstar players like Wooden Award winner Cooper Flagg and Golden Spikes recipients Andrew Benintendi and Kevin Kopps, but the national title has remained elusive.

  • In 2024, Duke blew a 9-point lead in the Elite Eight against in-state rival North Carolina State.
  • In 2025, Duke lost to Houston in the Final Four after leading by 14 points with less than 9 minutes remaining.
  • In 2026, Duke blew a 19-point lead to UConn in the Elite Eight, with a turnover on their final possession allowing the game-winning shot.
  • In 2018, Arkansas baseball suffered a devastating loss in the College World Series after a dropped foul popup against Oregon State.
  • In 2025, Arkansas baseball collapsed in the 9th inning against LSU in the College World Series, blowing a late lead.

The players

Jon Scheyer

The 38-year-old head coach of the Duke Blue Devils, who took over for legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski in 2022 and has led the program to three Elite Eight appearances but is still seeking his first national championship.

Dave Van Horn

The 65-year-old head coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks baseball team, who has led the program to sustained success but is still searching for the school's first national title after heartbreaking losses in the College World Series.

Cooper Flagg

The Wooden Award winner who played for Scheyer's Duke team last season, one of the elite talents that has come through both programs in recent years.

Andrew Benintendi

A Golden Spikes Award winner who played for Van Horn's Arkansas baseball team, part of the superstar talent that has graced the Razorbacks in the last decade.

Kevin Kopps

Another Golden Spikes Award winner who played for Van Horn's Arkansas baseball team, continuing the program's run of elite talent.

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What they’re saying

“I have no words.”

— Jon Scheyer, Duke Head Coach

“Whenever you play for a national championship, you only have one more step to win it, and I think that we will one day. I think we'll be back soon.”

— Dave Van Horn, Arkansas Baseball Head Coach

“Baseball is a crazy game. I've seen it all, I think... Proud of our team. It's hard to say goodbye.”

— Dave Van Horn, Arkansas Baseball Head Coach

What’s next

Arkansas will look to bounce back this weekend against Auburn after being swept at home by Florida, while Duke will have to reload its roster after losing stars like Cameron Boozer to the NBA Draft. Both programs will be under immense pressure to break through and capture that elusive national title.

The takeaway

The shared struggles of Duke basketball and Arkansas baseball to finally reach the mountaintop despite having elite rosters and coaching staffs highlights the incredible difficulty of winning a national championship in high-stakes college sports. For Scheyer and Van Horn, the inability to get their teams over the final hurdle has become a source of growing frustration, as they try to live up to the championship pedigree of the Hall of Fame coaches they succeeded.