Duke Basketball Faces UConn in Elite 8 Matchup

Top-seeded Blue Devils and No. 2 Huskies battle for Final Four berth

Mar. 29, 2026 at 9:04am

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The top-seeded Duke Blue Devils (35-2) will face off against the No. 2 UConn Huskies (32-5) in the Elite 8 of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament on Sunday, March 29 at 5:05 PM ET. The game will be played at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. and will air on CBS.

Why it matters

This highly anticipated matchup between two of college basketball's powerhouse programs will determine which team advances to the Final Four in Indianapolis. Both teams have had impressive tournament runs so far, making this an exciting and pivotal game with high stakes.

The details

Duke earned its third straight trip to the Elite 8 with a 70-65 win over No. 5 St. John's in the Sweet 16. UConn also advanced to the Elite 8 with a 67-63 victory over No. 3 Michigan State in the Sweet 16. The winner of Sunday's game will punch their ticket to the Final Four.

  • The Duke vs. UConn game will tip off at 5:05 PM ET on Sunday, March 29, 2026.
  • The game will be played at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.

The players

Duke Blue Devils

The top-seeded Duke Blue Devils are making their third consecutive appearance in the Elite 8 of the NCAA Tournament.

UConn Huskies

The No. 2 seeded UConn Huskies are looking to advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2021.

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What they’re saying

“We must be ready for a tough battle against a very talented UConn team. They've proven they can win close games in this tournament, and we'll need to bring our 'A' game to come out on top.”

— Jon Scheyer, Head Coach, Duke Blue Devils

“This is the kind of game you dream about as a player - a chance to knock off a No. 1 seed and punch your ticket to the Final Four. We're excited for the challenge and can't wait to get out there on Sunday.”

— Dan Hurley, Head Coach, UConn Huskies

What’s next

The winner of the Duke vs. UConn game will advance to the Final Four in Indianapolis, Indiana on April 5, 2026.

The takeaway

This highly anticipated Elite 8 matchup between two of college basketball's blue bloods will showcase the talent and competitiveness of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Fans are in for an exciting game as both teams vie for a spot in the Final Four.