Duke did not just edge past Baylor on Sunday at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The Blue Devils clamped down, rolled to a 69-46 win and punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 for the third straight year, turning defense into offense and building a lead the Bears never came close to chasing down. The home crowd got a low-scoring, no-doubt statement from the hosts.
According to the News & Observer, Duke held Baylor to 30.2% shooting from the field and 0% from three-point range in the rout at Cameron. Four Blue Devils finished in double figures, a spread-out scoring effort that paired neatly with the suffocating defense.
Defense That Built The Lead
Duke’s length and active hands repeatedly threw off Baylor’s offensive rhythm, forcing contested looks and trimming down clean perimeter chances. That defensive identity has been a through-line all season, per team reports at Duke Athletics, and it showed up in cram-the-paint stretches that fueled quick transition opportunities the other way. The payoff was a wide cushion and a second half Duke could steer at its own pace.
What's Next
With the win, the Blue Devils advance to face No. 2 LSU in the regional next round, according to the News & Observer. It also marks Duke's third consecutive trip to the Sweet 16, extending a recent run of NCAA Tournament success for the program.
