Arizona Wildcats Stun Duke In NCAA Tournament Semifinal Thriller
Arizona Wildcats Stun Duke In NCAA Tournament Semifinal Thriller...
The Arizona Wildcats pulled off a dramatic 78-75 victory over Duke in the NCAA Tournament semifinals late Saturday night, sending shockwaves through March Madness. The win propels Arizona to its first national championship game since 2001, while ending Duke's title hopes in a heartbreaker for Coach K's final season.
Guard Bennedict Mathurin led the Wildcats with 28 points, including a clutch three-pointer with 1:12 remaining that gave Arizona the lead for good. Duke's Paolo Banchero had 24 points but missed a potential game-tying three at the buzzer in front of a stunned New Orleans crowd.
This matchup between two historic programs is trending nationwide as fans debate whether Arizona can complete its Cinderella run against Kansas in Monday's championship. Social media erupted with reactions to the Wildcats' upset, with #BearDown trending on Twitter as Arizona fans celebrated the program's biggest win in decades.
The victory marks a stunning turnaround for second-year coach Tommy Lloyd, who inherited a program facing NCAA sanctions. Arizona's aggressive defense held Duke to just 39% shooting, overcoming the Blue Devils' size advantage with relentless perimeter pressure.
Duke's loss ends Mike Krzyzewski's legendary career one game short of his 13th Final Four appearance. The 75-year-old Hall of Famer received a standing ovation from both fan bases as he left the court for the final time.
Monday's championship game (9:20 PM ET, TBS) will feature Arizona's high-powered offense against Kansas' veteran lineup. Sportsbooks immediately installed the Jayhawks as 4-point favorites, though early money is reportedly coming in on the underdog Wildcats.
Tournament officials confirmed Sunday that the Superdome will operate at full capacity for the title game, with Arizona fans scrambling to find last-minute tickets. The Wildcats haven't won a national championship since 1997, when they defeated Kentucky in another historic upset.
