Everyone wants a chance to beat the Duke Blue Devils, and the San Diego State Aztecs happen to get theirs with a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line. The game will pit Duke's high-powered offense (its adjusted offense is second-best in the country, according to KenPom.com rankings) against San Diego States stingy defense (the Aztecs' adjusted defense is fourth-best according to the KenPom.com rankings). Something has to give.
Duke vs. San Diego State, NCAA Tournament 2015: Time, TV schedule and how to watch online
The Blue Devils’ high-powered offense takes on the stingy defense of San Diego State with a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line.
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Duke made it out of the first round for the first time in three seasons with a dominating win over Robert Morris, and is looking to make its first trip to the Final Four since winning the NCAA championship in 2010. The Blue Devils have plenty of options to attack the defense of San Diego State. Super freshman Jahlil Okafor is one of the best players in the NCAA, and his co-freshmen Justise Winslow and Tyus Jones play like veterans under Mike Krzyzewski -- aside from that time Okafor tried a reverse dunk and really made Coach K mad. Duke should be ready for the suffocating defense of San Diego State -- the Blue Devils beat Virginia earlier this season in Charlottesville.
Coach Steve Fisher has his San Diego State squad looking to make its third trip to the Sweet 16 in five seasons. Under Fisher, the Aztecs have made the tournament six straight years. They beat St. John’s 76-64 in the Round of 64 for a chance to play Duke. The Aztecs’ strength is their defense. Even if they sometimes can’t buy a bucket on offense, they can stay in games because they’re so tough to score on. They’ll have a tough time with the high-powered offense of Duke, though. Skylar Spencer is going to have his hands full with Okafor, but he’s a proven defender and shot blocker.
Duke is looking to avoid another early exit from the tournament and San Diego State hopes to assert itself as a consistently elite team. Either a high-powered offense or a stingy defense is heading to the Sweet 16 in Houston, where they’ll face Utah.
Time: 2:40 p.m. ET, on CBS
Place: Time Warner Cable Arena, Charlotte
Online: March Madness On Demand
Odds: Duke -9.5
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