Duke Freshman Boozer Sets Rebounding Record in Sweet 16 Run

Boozer breaks Duke's freshman rebounding record as Blue Devils advance to the final weekend of the NCAA tournament.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 10:11pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Duke Blue Devils defeated TCU 81-58 to advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament. During the game, Duke freshman Cameron Boozer set a new program record for rebounds by a freshman with 371 on the season, surpassing the previous mark held by Marvin Bagley III and Wendell Carter Jr. Boozer scored 19 points on 7-10 shooting and added 11 rebounds and 5 assists in the victory.

Why it matters

Boozer's record-breaking performance highlights his importance as a key contributor to Duke's success this season. As a top recruit, Boozer's ability to dominate the glass has been crucial in helping the Blue Devils reach the final weekend of the NCAA tournament as a No. 1 seed.

The details

In the win over TCU, Boozer hit 11 rebounds, giving him 371 on the season, a Duke Blue Devils freshman record. He scored 19 points on 7-10 shooting and 5-5 free throws, while also dishing out 5 assists. Boozer acknowledged that TCU played tough defense, but said Duke's strong start and overall intensity propelled them to the victory.

  • On March 22, 2026, Duke defeated TCU 81-58 to advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament.

The players

Cameron Boozer

A Duke freshman who set the program's single-season rebounding record for a freshman with 371 rebounds.

Marvin Bagley III

A former Duke player who previously held the program's freshman rebounding record with 366 rebounds.

Wendell Carter Jr.

A former Duke player who previously held the program's freshman rebounding record with 335 rebounds.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“They're a great team. They did a great job swarming the point, protecting the rim. So I just didn't have a lot of looks really. Second half we figured out some things that got me going downhill, got some high-lows. Sometimes it's just the flow of the game. You try to get the best shot available.”

— Cameron Boozer

“Sometimes it's not you. Sometimes it's the other guys. Sometimes it's lay-up at the rim. I should have found ways to be more aggressive and found a way to get shots up, but at the end of the day, if we're getting the shots available, it doesn't matter who it is.”

— Cameron Boozer

“We definitely started better. Obviously TCU is a great team. They made some tough shots in the first half. They got some great players who can get baskets. Just overall intensity was great.”

— Cameron Boozer

What’s next

Duke will continue their NCAA tournament run as they advance to the final weekend, where they are favored to win the national championship as the No. 1 seed.

The takeaway

Boozer's record-breaking performance as a Duke freshman highlights his immense talent and importance to the Blue Devils' success this season. His dominance on the glass has been a key factor in Duke's run to the Sweet 16, and the team will rely heavily on Boozer as they aim to win the national title.