Duke’s Heartbreaking Final Four Collapse Draws Parallels to Coach K’s Last Game Loss
On Saturday night, Duke’s dreams died. The Duke Blue Devils aimed for the championship but lost in the Final Four against the Houston Cougars. In the last seconds, Houston came back fast. They erased a 14-point gap in ten minutes and won 70-67. This loss ranks as one of the most painful in NCAA Tournament history and in Duke’s long legacy.
Former Blue Devils star Jay Williams spoke on ESPN’s "SportsCenter." He said this loss may be the worst Duke has seen in a long time. He compared it to Coach Mike Krzyzewski’s last game. Last year, North Carolina ended Duke’s season in the Final Four. Williams noted, “Coach K losing to North Carolina in the Final Four was important, but Duke’s collapse in their last regular season game was the warning sign.”
During much of the game, Duke had the lead. They held a nine-point advantage in the first half, though many felt it should have been more. Yet, Houston stayed close all game, much like when Duke once struggled against Alabama. As time ran out, Duke barely managed one field goal in the final ten minutes, and the collapse was clear.
In the game’s last moments, Houston scored nine quick points in 33 seconds. This burst of scoring sent Houston to the championship on Monday and ended Duke’s run in the tournament. Freshman Cooper Flagg led with 27 points but missed a critical shot at the end.
Williams said Duke’s young players showed they lack experience when pressure builds. He explained, “The collapse, the shrinking—game pressure is real.” The mistakes late in the game showed that Duke often did not make wise decisions. He praised Houston for their comeback and admitted that Duke helped make their own loss.
In their first Final Four with third-year head coach Jon Scheyer, Duke came very near to a championship game spot. Instead, they fell to mounting pressure. Now, the team must reflect. They need to learn and grow from this turning point.
Today, the college basketball world looks toward the next championship game. Duke’s heartache remains, and it may change the future for this storied program.
