Duke's Caleb Foster Sparks Comeback Win Over UConn in Elite Eight

Freshman star Cameron Boozer continues dominant tournament run as Blue Devils advance to Final Four.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 5:10am

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In a battle of NCAA powerhouses, the No. 1 seed Duke Blue Devils defeated the No. 2 seed UConn Huskies 80-75 in the East Regional final. Duke freshman forward Cameron Boozer continued his standout tournament performance with another double-double, while junior guard Caleb Foster provided a crucial spark off the bench, scoring 11 points in the second half to help the Blue Devils overcome a 10-point deficit.

Why it matters

Duke's victory sets up a potential Final Four matchup with another top program, as the Blue Devils look to win their first national championship since 2015. Meanwhile, UConn's quest for a third title in four years comes up just short, despite a dominant tournament run from senior center Tarris Reed Jr.

The details

After missing three weeks with a right foot fracture, Caleb Foster returned to action and scored all 11 of his points in the second half to help Duke rally past St. John's in the Sweet 16. Fellow junior Patrick Ngonba II also provided key minutes off the bench for the Blue Devils after recovering from right foot soreness. For UConn, Reed posted a historic 31-point, 27-rebound performance in the first round against Furman, and followed that up with a clutch 20-point, 4-for-4 free throw showing in the win over Michigan State.

  • Duke defeated St. John's 80-75 in the Sweet 16 on March 24, 2026.
  • UConn defeated Furman 92-87 in the first round on March 17, 2026.
  • UConn defeated Michigan State 72-68 in the Sweet 16 on March 24, 2026.

The players

Cameron Boozer

A freshman forward for Duke who has posted double-doubles in all three tournament games, making him the Naismith Award favorite.

Caleb Foster

A junior guard for Duke who scored 11 crucial second-half points in the Elite Eight win after missing three weeks with a right foot fracture.

Tarris Reed Jr.

A senior center for UConn who had a historic 31-point, 27-rebound performance in the first round and provided clutch late-game free throws in the Sweet 16.

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What they’re saying

“First time playing in a few weeks, he's sore and recovering like you would expect, but nothing concerning. We want him to just continue to be himself, his leadership, his ability to get downhill, just making plays himself and really more of what he did yesterday.”

— Jon Scheyer, Duke Head Coach

“Just being able to insert our names in history definitely means a lot. Like you said, a lot of people haven't done that. With Duke having the history it has, to be one of the people that did something different, it means a lot to me.”

— Isaiah Evans, Duke Sophomore Guard

“I think with Tarris or any player, I think just at some point you hope that the light switch comes on in time. Maybe it's the life or death urgency to this time of year. ... When he plays at the level that he's capable of playing at, we can beat any team in the country, and he's as good as any center in the country.”

— Dan Hurley, UConn Head Coach

What’s next

Duke will advance to the Final Four, where they will face the winner of the West Regional final between Gonzaga and UCLA.

The takeaway

Duke's ability to overcome injuries and get key contributions from role players like Caleb Foster has been crucial to their tournament run. Meanwhile, UConn's dominance this decade continues, even as their quest for a third title in four years falls just short.