2024 March Madness Elite Eight Recap
In a battle of ACC foes, fourth-seeded Duke and 11th-seeded North Carolina State met in this year's edition of the Southern Region final. With both of their roads being difficult while getting here, the ultimate test would await. Between DJ Burns nimble feet, and Jared McCain’s red-hot shooting from downtown, this one has all the goods early. In the late stretches, North Carolina State would win the game, 76-64, punching their ticket to Phoenix. This will be their first Final Four appearance since 1983.
In the first half, Jared McCain, who finished with 32 points, imposed himself into the game, with a mirage of three-pointers early. He would be tested with Burns in the paint, who was having the better of Duke’s Kyle Filipkowski early and often. As both teams felt each other out in the third meeting the two, the lead would amount to seven from Mike Mitchell’s two-pointer at the under-eight timeout. This is where Jon Scheyer felt the time was right to close the door on the Wolfpack. NC State however will hold true till half, keeping it within a two-possession game down six. A disjointed Duke team kept the Pack in the game with some turnovers and decision-making.
As the second half went on, NC State began to reel away from the mighty Blue Devils, leading the charge by as many as eight. With DJ Horne stepping up in the second half, so would the Wolfpack. With ten minutes left, Kevin Keatts got charged with a technical foul, after an alarming out-of-bounds call by the official. This would see McCain sink two free throws and get Duke back in the contest. NC State would then hit a three-pointer by Michael O’Connell to get back up nine and seal the rest of the way. NC State would hold Duke off with some great moves in the post, and some key perimeter shooting as a team. DJ Burns led the way with 29 points and four rebounds. DJ Horne was right there beside his partner Burns with 20 points and three assists.
This will be the second time in as many games that the Wolfpack took care of Duke. As the Cinderella story continues, DJ Burns and his squad will see themselves shocking the world moving on to play the Purdue Boilermakers. DJ Burns and Zach Edey should be a great battle, with Edey tallying 40 points and 16 rebounds against Tennessee in a victory. In a Big Ten/ACC battle, a true contest of styles will play a role in who will have the upper hand. With DJ Horne going head-to-head with Fletcher Loyer, this Final Four matchup should be nothing but excitement next week.
