Blue Devils, Buffaloes Set to Clash in NCAA Tournament Second Round

THE OPENING TIP

• After posting a resounding, 89-49, victory over Iona Saturday in its first round game of the NCAA Tournament, No. 13 Duke looks to carry that momentum into Monday as the Blue Devils gear up for a 9 p.m., showdown versus No. 21 Colorado with a spot in the Sweet 16 on the line.
• Sunday’s win, which improved Duke’s all-time tournament record to 59-24 (.711), marks the 25th time in as many appearances that the Blue Devils have won at least one game in the big dance. They have advanced to the regional semifinal 17 times, including four trips to the Final Four (1999, 2002, ’03, ’06).
• Duke and Colorado meet on the hardwood for just the second time overall and the first time in 40 years, with the first matchup occurring back in 1980 — a 78-64 victory by the Buffaloes.
• The Blue Devils are 15-11 all-time against current members of the Pac-12, including a 1-2 record in the NCAA Tournament. Duke earned a win over Arizona State in the 2008 NCAA Tournament but fell to Stanford (2012) and Oregon (2017).
• With the release of the final polls earlier this week, Duke concluded the regular season ranked No. 13 in both the Associated Press (AP) and USA Today Coaches Poll. In the latest NCAA Evaluation Tool (NET) rankings, Duke is slotted 10th (as of March 19).
• Celeste Taylor, the ACC Defensive Player of the Year, earned Associated Press (AP) All-America Honorable Mention status and was recently tabbed a finalist for the Naismith Women’s Defensive Player of the Year award.
• Defense has been the calling card for the Blue Devils this season as the team has won each of its games by an average of 19.6 points and held each of its opponents below their season scoring average, including 17 of them to 50 points or less.
• Duke has held its foes to 50.7 points per game on 35.2 percent shooting from the floor, marks that currently rank second and ninth in the NCAA, respectively, as well as first in the ACC (as of March 19).

 
BALLIN’ LIKE ITS MARCH MADNESS

• Duke opened the 2023 NCAA Tournament in resounding fashion, rolling to an 89-49 victory over Iona behind a balanced offensive attack and stifling defense.
• Duke has won at least one tournament game en route to compiling a 59-24 (.711) record — No. 8 on the NCAA list.
• Having earned one of the top 16 overall seeds, the Blue Devils are hosting first…