Duke to Make 16th Final Four Appearance After Win Over Gonzaga
Will face Michigan State Saturday in Indianapolis
Matt Jones of the Duke Blue Devils goes for a layup against the Gonzaga Bulldogs during Duke's 66-52 win Sunday.
Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Brian Costa
@BrianCostaWSJ
Brian.Costa@wsj.com
HOUSTON—In another NCAA tournament, the kind marked by upsets that defy logic and teams that outplay their stature, Gonzaga would have been a perfect fit for the Final Four. With 35 wins, the Bulldogs were the running, hot-shooting embodiment of the rise of college basketball's mid-major conferences.
But this tournament belongs to the blue bloods. And in a Final Four occupied by three other marquee programs—Kentucky, Wisconsin and Michigan State—–the last spot went to the Blue Devils.
Duke secured its 16th Final Four appearance by beating Gonzaga, 66-52, on Sunday at NRG Stadium. It will face Michigan State in the semifinals Saturday in Indianapolis. And if this tournament favors the favorites for one more night, that will set up what would be one of the most anticipated championship games ever: Duke versus undefeated Kentucky.
Even without both those teams in the title game, it will be one of the most marquee Final Fours in recent memory. This marks the first time since 2008 and only the second time since 2000 that at least three No. 1 seeds—Duke, Kentucky and Wisconsin—made it out of their regions. And the fourth team, 7th-seeded Michigan State, will make its ninth Final Four appearance, the eighth most among Division I programs.
The Spartans advanced by beating Louisville, 76-70, in overtime Sunday in the East regional final Syracuse, N.Y. But Duke figures to have the easiest path to the title game.