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Duke Survives Scare, Faces TCU Next
Blue Devils avoid upset, but look vulnerable heading into second round matchup
Mar. 21, 2026 at 3:06pm
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Duke, the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament, narrowly escaped an upset bid from No. 16 seed Siena in the first round, winning 71-65 but failing to cover the 28.5-point spread. The Blue Devils looked more vulnerable than expected, raising questions about their ability to make a deep tournament run. They will face a tough TCU squad in the second round, which outlasted Ohio State in the opening round.
Why it matters
Duke's close call against a heavy underdog has raised concerns about the team's ability to live up to its top seeding. As a No. 1 seed, the Blue Devils are expected to dominate their opponents, but their struggles against Siena suggest they may be more beatable than anticipated. This could open the door for other contenders to make a run in the tournament.
The details
In the first-round matchup, Duke led Siena by just three points with under a minute to play before finally pulling away for the 71-65 victory. The Blue Devils were unable to cover the 28.5-point spread, a surprising outcome given their status as the tournament's overall No. 1 seed. Duke's performance has sparked questions about the team's vulnerability, especially with injuries and other issues potentially impacting their play.
- Duke narrowly defeated Siena 71-65 in the first round on March 18, 2026.
The players
Duke Blue Devils
The No. 1 overall seed in the 2026 NCAA tournament, Duke struggled to put away No. 16 seed Siena in the first round.
TCU Horned Frogs
The No. 5 seed in the tournament, TCU outlasted Ohio State in the first round and will face Duke in the second round.
What they’re saying
“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”
— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident
What’s next
The winner of the Duke-TCU second-round matchup will advance to the Sweet 16.
The takeaway
Duke's close call against Siena has raised concerns about the team's vulnerability, potentially opening the door for other contenders to make a deep run in the tournament. Their second-round matchup against TCU will be a crucial test as they look to prove they can live up to their top seeding.
