Next Up - TCU, And That Game Will Be Physical
Duke will get a Clemson-like defense from TCU, and the Blue Devils need to be ready
Mar 19, 2026; Greenville, SC, USA; Duke Blue Devils forward Cameron Boozer (12) reacts while getting a rebound against Siena Saints center Riley Mulvey (55) in the second half during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images D uke will face TCU in round two of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, and it won’t be an easy win. Of course, neither was Siena, but the two teams shouldn’t be confused.
Siena significantly outplayed the Blue Devils in the first half of that game, but in the second, we saw the Blue Devils mostly return to form. At halftime, Coach Jon Scheyer told his team that they made the classic mistake of assuming they had an easy win, but as Cameron Boozer said after the game, Siena punched them in the face. The odds of them making that mistake twice in a row are minimal, and no one is going to confuse a #9 seed with a #16 seed.
There will be no complacency. TCU is a very physical team, as you’d expect from a Jamie Dixon team, but it’s not that deep and some of the players are strong, but they’re not that tall. However, David Punch, while just 6-7, is 245, and Micah Robinson is 6-6 and 232.
The third frontcourt starter is Xavier Edmonds, and he fits the template at 6-8 and 245 pounds. The immediate concern is fouls, because those guys are a ground-and-pound frontcourt. The starting guards are smallish, with Brock Harding and Jayden Pierre both 6-0.