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By Rowan Fisher-Shotton
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Coming into the NCAA Tournament, the Duke Blue Devils were viewed as the unquestioned No. 1 overall team.
A powerhouse fresh off an ACC title and sitting atop the final AP rankings with dominant metrics across the board, the Blue Devils had the résumé, the pedigree, and were the clear favorite in college basketball.
Now? The conversation has shifted.
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Following the opening round, the Arizona Wildcats have surged into the top spot in ESPN’s re-ranking of the remaining field of 32, effectively swapping places with Duke.
Duke’s 71–65 narrow escape over No. 16 Siena likely played a role in their fall.
It didn’t look like the statement win a No. 1 overall seed is supposed to make, with the Blue Devils trailing by as many as 13 and needing a furious second-half rally just to avoid a historic first-round collapse.
Cameron Boozer’s 22 points and 13 rebounds, along with Cayden Boozer’s 19, bailed Duke out after Siena controlled much of the game and even led 47–34 early in the second half.
Siena guard Gavin Doty’s 21 points kept the upset dream alive until Duke finally pulled ahead for good in the final minutes.
Arizona, meanwhile, not only won its game but did so in overwhelming fashion.
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The Wildcats dismantled Long Island Sharks 92–58 in a game that felt over before halftime.
They jumped out to a 53–29 lead at the break and never let up, delivering one of the most dominant performances of the opening round.
Freshman guard Brayden Burries led the charge with 18 points, knocking down four threes, while Koa Peat added 15 in a balanced offensive attack.
Ivan Kharchenkov posted a double-double (14 points, 10 boards), anchoring a frontcourt that controlled the glass and protected the rim.
Arizona shot 53% from the field, dominated the boards, and imposed its will defensively with shot-blocking and physicality.
Context is everything in March Madness, and Arizona’s rise is as much about its dominance as it is about others showing cracks.
While the Wildcats cruised, Duke narrowly escaped a major upset, surviving a scare against a No. 16 seed after trailing big at halftime.
That contrast has now placed Arizona as the clear team to beat heading into Saturday's games.
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