The No. 1-seeded Duke Blue Devils blew out the No. 9-seeded TCU Horned Frogs 81-58 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday to advance to the Sweet 16. Coach Jon Scheyer’s Blue Devils will face a huge challenge in the form of the No. 5-seeded St. John’s Red Storm in the Sweet 16 on Friday.
The teams will clash at the Capital One Arena in Washington for a chance to reach the Elite Eight of the Big Dance.
Duke’s Sweet 16 Clash Against St. John’s Sets NCAA Tournament Ticket Record
Tickets to the Blue Devils’ Sweet 16 clash against the Red Storm are the most expensive East Regional session in the history of March Madness. According to TickPick, prices for the highly anticipated game are retailing at $482, breaking the previous record of $376 set last year.
The opening day of the 2026 NCAA Tournament was the most-watched opening day in the history of the showcase event, delivering 9.8 million viewers, a 6% increase from last year, and a mammoth 12.5 million viewers during the primetime window.
The viewership record has translated into an increased demand for tickets, driving up the prices for the later stages of the Big Dance, which is anticipated to produce one of the most talented draft classes, headlined by Duke’s Cameron Boozer and Arkansas’ Darius Acuff.
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Coach Rick Pitino’s Red Storm have gathered momentum in the past few weeks, winning eight consecutive games, including winning the Big East Tournament by blowing out coach Dan Hurley’s UConn Huskies, and will likely prove a tough nut to crack for the Blue Devils.
During his postgame news conference after St. John’s downed the Kansas Jayhawks, Pitino added spice to the upcoming game against Duke by referencing revenge for a Christian Laettner buzzer beater that downed the Kentucky Wildcats in the 1992 Elite Eight.
After eliminating the Wildcats that year, the Blue Devils went on to win their second consecutive national championship under the legendary Mike Krzyzewski.
“You win some, you lose some,” Pitino said. “I’m hoping we can get Duke at the buzzer next to make up for that Christian Laettner shot.”
The last time that Pitino faced the Blue Devils in the NCAA Tournament was during the 2013 Elite Eight, when he led the Louisville Cardinals to the natty after downing the ACC powerhouse.
In addition, every year that Duke has won a national title, it has beaten St. John’s during the season, giving the Sweet 16 clash on Friday added significance for both teams.
