Cayden Boozer takes blame for Duke collapse after fateful turnover: ‘I ruined our team’s season’
nytimes.com • • sports
Key Points:
- Duke suffered a heartbreaking 73-72 loss to No. 2 UConn in the Elite Eight, marked by a critical turnover from freshman Cayden Boozer in the final seconds.
- Leading 72-70 with six seconds left, Boozer attempted a risky pass that was intercepted by UConn, leading to a game-winning three-pointer by Braylon Mullins.
- Duke became the first No. 1 seed in NCAA Tournament history to lose after leading by at least 15 points at halftime.
- This defeat continues a pattern of late-stage collapses for Duke, including a similar loss to Houston last season, denying the team a chance to compete for the national championship.
- Coach Jon Scheyer expressed frustration over the failure to secure the win, while Boozer was visibly emotional, taking responsibility for the turnover that sealed Duke’s fate.
