WASHINGTON, D.C. — Cameron Boozer’s torn jersey said it all. At the end of 40 physical minutes, the K in “Duke” was dangling from his chest — perhaps a poetic nod to the game’s winningest coach. Boozer will have to find new threads for Sunday, because the Blue Devils are back in the Elite Eight.
It took every second of a dogfight for top-seeded Duke to outlast the No. 5 Red Storm at Capital One Arena, 80-75, and advance to the East Regional final. The Blue Devils (35-2) and Red Storm (30-7) were never separated by much, on the scoreboard or on floor.
“They gave us everything tonight,” Duke coach Jon Scheyer said. “They were incredibly ready.”
The back-and-forth flow of the game made overtime feel almost inevitable. A game that good deserved five more minutes to crown a victor. And the Red Storm certainly had their chance to force free basketball…