Duke on upset alert after sluggish first half vs. Siena in NCAA Tournament

There’s no question Duke didn’t play their best basketball in the first half of their Round of 64 matchup against Siena on Thursday afternoon. 

The Blue Devils (No. 1 seed in the East Region) currently trail the Saints 43-32 at the break. Cameron Boozer, the projected No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, leads the way for the Blue Devils with 13 points. 

Defensively, the Blue Devils have struggled to defend the three through the first 20 minutes of the contest, as they’re allowing the Saints to shoot 45% from beyond the arc. Siena is also shooting the ball well from the field thus far (55%), which could spell doom for Duke if the storied program doesn’t tighten things up in half No. 2. 

It’s worth noting that the Blue Devils are without their do-it-all point guard, Caleb Foster, who devastatingly broke his foot against North Carolina in early March.

While the junior’s numbers won’t wow spectators, it’s no secret that he’s the head of the snake for the Blue Devils, who ensures Duke is organized offensively and connected on the defensive end. 

Foster is averaging 8.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game in 31 games with the Blue Devils this season, shooting 44.2% from the field and 40.2% from three-point land. 

Still, it’s shocking that Duke is struggling this early in the Big Dance.

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