In the upcoming NCAA Tournament first-round matchup, the No. 1 seed Duke Blue Devils (31-3) will face the No. 16 seed Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers (23-12) on Friday, March 21, at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. Duke, under coach Jon Scheyer, has been dominant this season, leading the nation in scoring margin (+20.8) and ranking fifth in both assist-to-turnover ratio and effective field goal percentage. The Blue Devils’ defense has been formidable, holding opponents to 61.9 points per game, placing them seventh nationally. A significant boost for Duke is the return of freshman star Cooper Flagg, who has been cleared to play after recovering from a sprained ankle that sidelined him during the ACC Tournament. Flagg leads the team in points (18.9), rebounds (7.5), assists (4.1), steals, and blocks per game, underscoring his all-around impact on the court.

Mount St. Mary’s earned their spot against Duke by defeating American University 83-72 in the First Four. The Mountaineers showcased a balanced offense in that game, with forwards Dola Adebayo and Jedy Cordilia each contributing 22 points. Adebayo, averaging 13.4 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, will be pivotal in their efforts against Duke’s imposing frontcourt. However, Mount St. Mary’s faces a daunting challenge, as No. 16 seeds have historically struggled against No. 1 seeds in the tournament. Duke’s size, depth, and defensive prowess present significant obstacles for the Mountaineers, making an upset highly improbable.