Duke Faces Siena in NCAA Tournament Opener

Five key things to know about the Saints ahead of the matchup

Mar. 17, 2026 at 10:06am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Duke Blue Devils, the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament, will face the Siena Saints, champions of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, in the opening round on March 19 in Greenville, South Carolina. Siena has made significant improvements this season under new head coach Gerry McNamara, becoming one of the most efficient shooting and defensive teams in their conference. However, Duke enters the tournament as a heavy favorite and will look to limit Siena's scoring and control the pace of the game.

Why it matters

This first-round matchup pits a traditional college basketball powerhouse in Duke against an up-and-coming mid-major program in Siena. While Duke is expected to win, the game provides an opportunity for the Saints to pull off a major upset and advance in the tournament, which would be a significant accomplishment for the program.

The details

Siena has made major strides this season, improving from a 4-28 record two years ago to winning the MAAC tournament and earning an NCAA Tournament berth. The Saints are led by sophomore guard Gavin Doty, who averages 17.9 points per game, and they excel at efficient shooting, making 45.7% of their field goals as a team. However, three-point shooting has been a weakness, as Siena connects on just 30% of its attempts from beyond the arc. Defensively, the Saints have improved, allowing just 65.7 points per game this season compared to 72 points per game last year.

  • The Duke-Siena game will take place on March 19, 2026 in Greenville, South Carolina.

The players

Jon Scheyer

The head coach of the Duke Blue Devils, who has led the team to three ACC Tournament championships in his four seasons at the helm.

Gerry McNamara

The head coach of the Siena Saints, who took over the program two seasons ago and has led a significant turnaround, guiding the team to the NCAA Tournament this year.

Gavin Doty

The sophomore guard for the Siena Saints, who leads the team in scoring at 17.9 points per game and is one of the most efficient shooters in the MAAC.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

If Duke can limit Siena's efficient scoring and prevent Doty from taking over offensively, the Blue Devils should be well-positioned to advance to the next round of the NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

This first-round matchup provides an opportunity for the Siena Saints to pull off a major upset against the Duke Blue Devils, one of the tournament favorites. While Duke is expected to win, Siena's improved shooting and defensive efficiency this season could make the game more competitive than anticipated.