Baylor and Duke, two perennial Top 25 teams and past national champions, are set to face off at Madison Square Garden in December. This matchup marks the first time they will meet since the 2010 NCAA Tournament Elite Eight game.
Both schools are excited about this prestigious contest, acknowledging that they have been among the best teams in college basketball in recent seasons. Baylor coach Scott Drew sees this as a tremendous opportunity to compete in one of the sport’s most iconic venues.
Last season, Baylor finished 11th in the final AP Top 25 poll with a record of 23-11, while Duke, in coach Jon Scheyer’s first season, ranked 12th with a 27-9 record.
The only previous meeting between these teams took place in the South Regional final in Houston, with Duke securing a 78-71 victory over Baylor. Duke’s win propelled them to the NCAA Final Four, where they eventually won their fifth national championship. Baylor, on the other hand, clinched their first national title two years ago.
Both Duke and Baylor have had top-20 picks in each of the last three NBA drafts, making them the only two NCAA programs to achieve this feat. The upcoming matchup at Madison Square Garden promises to be an exciting and highly anticipated test for both teams. Duke, with a strong connection to this venue and city, is thrilled to return to New York for another chance to play at MSG.
