In the upcoming NCAA Tournament Sweet 16, the No. 1 seed Duke Blue Devils (33-3) are set to face the No. 4 seed Arizona Wildcats (24-12) on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Duke enters the matchup on a 13-game winning streak, having dominated their first two tournament opponents with an average margin of victory exceeding 30 points. The Blue Devils are led by standout freshman Cooper Flagg, whose versatility has been pivotal to their success. Notably, Duke secured a 69-55 victory over Arizona earlier this season in Tucson, a game in which their defense held the Wildcats to 55 points.

Arizona advanced to the Sweet 16 by overcoming Oregon 87-83, showcasing resilience by rallying from an early 15-point deficit. The Wildcats’ offense is spearheaded by senior guard Caleb Love, who has extensive experience against Duke from his tenure at North Carolina. Love’s familiarity with the Blue Devils adds an intriguing subplot to the matchup. Defensively, Arizona will need a robust strategy to contain Duke’s high-powered offense, which leads all high-major schools in effective field goal percentage (57.9%) and maintains a low turnover rate of 13.6%. The Wildcats are considered underdogs, with Duke favored by 9.5 points, but their recent performances suggest they are capable of mounting a formidable challenge.