After upsetting Ohio State, Duke women take aim at UConn in Sweet 16. Here’s the matchup
Duke continues its run through the women’s NCAA Tournament this week, earning a spot in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2018.
The No. 7 seed Blue Devils (22-11) face No. 3 seed UConn (31-5) on Saturday night in the Portland 3 regional, seeking a spot in the Elite Eight.
Head coach Kara Lawson has spoken extensively about the youth of her program, which is composed mostly of underclassmen. Meanwhile, the Huskies typically start three players with at least three years of experience.
Paige Bueckers headlines UConn’s lineup. She is a 2024 Naismith Women’s Player of the Year Finalist and leads the Huskies in multiple statistical categories, including points per game (21.8), blocks per game (1.36), and 3-point percentage (41.8%). She’s scored at least 20 points in all but one game since Feb. 11.
“Paige is probably the elitist basketball player to ever grace our game,” South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley said in a March Madness interview. “You look at her efficiency; she doesn’t take bad shots.”
UConn also starts Aaliyah Edwards and Nika Muhl, two dominant players on both ends of the floor. Edwards holds the team’s highest field goal percentage (59.3%), scoring 17.6 points per game, and rebounding average (9.4). Muhl can dish out the assists and is a two-time Big East Defensive Player of the Year.
History is on UConn’s side. The Huskies are in their 30th straight Sweet 16 appearance and hold a 13-3 series record, including a 10-game winning streak, over Duke.
There is, however, something the Blue Devils have that the Huskies don’t: No expectations.
Duke wasn’t supposed to be in the Sweet 16. It wasn’t expected to upset No. 2 seed Ohio State on its home floor.
Lawson and her staff have turned this young team into one that can compete and beat top teams — see Virginia Tech, N.C. State and the Buckeyes — and who’s to say they don’t have a few more upset specials in them?
There’s no pressure or expectations weighing on the program in the same way as UConn.
Plus, the Blue Devils are a talented group.
Reigan Richardson is the only player averaging double figures (12.4), but she has a supporting cast of four other players who average 8-9 points per night. Duke doesn’t have to rely on just one or two players to score.
Additionally, Duke’s size and length make it great at rebounding, forcing turnovers and making opponents uncomfortable on offense.
UConn is an 8.5-point favorite and given an 80.7% chance to win, but Duke’s defense has shut down high-scoring offenses before.
The two tip off at 8 p.m. ET on Saturday in Portland, Oregon. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.
This story was originally published March 28, 2024 at 7:00 AM.
