Duke's Evans and Sarr Discuss Elite 8 Matchup with UCONN

Blue Devils players speak to the media ahead of Sunday's showdown with the Huskies.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 10:24pm

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Duke basketball players Isaiah Evans and Dame Sarr spoke to the media ahead of their Elite 8 matchup against UCONN. They discussed their personal nicknames, the rivalry between the DMV (DC, Maryland, Virginia) and North Carolina in producing top basketball talent, and the significance of facing a historic 'Blue Blood' program like UCONN in the tournament. The players also reflected on how their games have grown over the course of the season and the leadership and resilience shown by teammate Caleb Love in returning from injury.

Why it matters

This Elite 8 matchup between Duke and UCONN features two of college basketball's most storied programs, with the winner advancing to the Final Four. The game will showcase the talent and competitiveness of both teams as they vie for a spot in the national semifinals.

The details

Evans and Sarr discussed their personal nicknames, with Evans revealing he's been called 'Slim' since middle school. The players also debated the basketball talent produced in the DMV region versus North Carolina. Both acknowledged the significance of facing a 'Blue Blood' program like UCONN, with Sarr saying it's a 'big time game' that they've worked hard to reach. The players reflected on how their games have grown over the season, with Sarr crediting added strength and muscle for allowing him to be more physical. They also praised the leadership and resilience of teammate Caleb Love, who returned from injury to help Duke advance.

  • The Elite 8 matchup between Duke and UCONN will take place on Sunday, March 28, 2026.

The players

Isaiah Evans

A Duke basketball player who has been nicknamed 'Slim' since middle school.

Dame Sarr

A Duke basketball player who has seen his game grow over the course of the season, crediting added strength and physicality.

Caleb Love

A Duke basketball player and team leader who recently returned from injury to help the team advance in the tournament.

Silas

A former friend and fellow basketball player that Evans has known and respected for years.

Coach Dudy

The Duke basketball head coach.

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What they’re saying

“I feel like it's just, you know, it's just great for them to be able to watch me, you know. It's not something that happens every day that you know you have your kid playing on TV and you can just watch him, so I feel like they're just grateful for me to be in this position and we're hopefully we get a win for them too.”

— Isaiah Evans, Duke Basketball Player

“I mean, I'll start, honestly. Like I said yesterday, that was unbelievable what he did and You know, that's that's my leader, that's our leader, you know, he, he stepped up big time for us. He was really calm and you know the way he. He helped us yesterday. It was, you know, unbelievable and just, you know, I mean since I got here, you know, since the first day I got here, I saw him the leader, you know, he is, and I saw how much he cares, how much he works, and you know he might not be the one that talks the most, but he for sure shows goes by example and he's going to show you how much he cares and you know it's hard not to follow someone like that, you know for us I feel like being, being able to have someone like him in our team.”

— Dame Sarr, Duke Basketball Player

What’s next

The winner of the Duke-UCONN matchup will advance to the Final Four of the 2026 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.

The takeaway

This Elite 8 clash between two storied college basketball programs will showcase the talent, leadership, and competitive spirit of both teams as they vie for a spot in the Final Four. The players' comments highlight the significance of the moment and the respect they have for each other's programs.