No. 6 seed BYU (23-10) vs. No. 11 seed Duquesne (24-11)
tip:10:40 AM MDT.
venue:CHI Health Center Arena in Omaha, Nebraska.
TV: truTV.
streaming: Maximum.
radio: 102.7 FM/1160 AM.
series: Duquesne leads 2-0.
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for BYU: After ending the regular season with an 85–71 win against Oklahoma State, BYU defeated UCF in the second round of the Big 12 Tournament. (The Cougars had a first-round bye.) But their run ended the next day against Texas Tech, thanks in part to BYU’s poor shooting day. Last year and in 2022, the Cougars did not make the NCAA Tournament. In 2021, they lost to UCLA in the first round.
to duquesne: The Dukes continue an eight-game winning streak, including four wins in last week’s Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament. They defeated VCU 57-51 on Sunday to clinch the conference crown. This year marks Duquesne’s first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 1977.
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“Obviously they are going to feel all the juice that comes from playing in this tournament, but I think we are quite prepared to deal with those emotions,” he said. BYU coach Mark Pope Wednesday. “I think we’re eager to hit the ground running and jump into this tournament and see what we can do. I think our guys are in good shape.”
“It’s not about me,” said Duquesne coach Keith Dembrot, who announced his retirement on Monday. “It’s about a group of guys who showed enough resilience to bounce back despite an 0-5 start in the league.”
bet
for BYU: The Cougars look to build on a surprisingly successful inaugural season in the Big 12 and shake off the memories of a tough loss to UCLA in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in 2021.
to duquesne: The Dukes hope to send Dambrot into retirement in style by scoring an upset or two in this year’s NCAA Tournament.
player to watch
for BYU: BYU center Eli Khalifa, known as one of college basketball’s best passers this season, left the Texas Tech game last week with an ankle injury. Pope said Wednesday that the team is “hopeful” he will play Thursday. If he does so, he will likely be dealing with long-lasting pain, in addition to the various side effects that come with fasting during Ramadan.
to duquesne: Guards Dee Dee Grant and Jimmy Clark III lead the Dukes’ offensive attack. Grant is averaging 16.7 points per game, while Clark is averaging 15.1. Clark is also known for his defense and has earned the nickname “Pittsburgh Steeler” for his skill at stealing the ball.
