Siena might not have been able to pull off the upset, but the Saints surely shocked the world in the first half and gave Duke a run for its money. The Blue Devils found some semblance of a rhythm in the second half despite not shooting the ball particularly well, especially from three-point range.
Cameron Boozer was not at his best, but he filled up the stat sheet with his usual double-double and helped Duke out of an early hole.
Analysis of Cameron Boozer’s Performance Against Siena
Boozer racked up 22 points and 13 rebounds in 38 minutes. Likely expecting to get some rest against a No. 16 seed, Boozer played nearly the entire game as Duke needed all of his minutes to fend off the upset bid. Duke is not healthy, but the team was still expected to take care of business easily.
The Blue Devils shot just 19.2% from deep. Boozer will not be particularly thrilled with his individual shooting performance.
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While he shot 56.5% from the field throughout the season, he made just four of 11 shots today and was 1-for-5 from three. He made his mark by giving Siena problems and getting to the free-throw line, where he drained 13 of his 14 attempts.
Boozer was careless with the ball at times. He turned it over five times and was responsible for over half of the Blue Devils’ eight turnovers. It is not uncommon for Boozer to struggle with ball control, but when he and the team are dominating, it is easier to overlook that aspect of his game.
Down the stretch, Boozer made his presence felt inside. Throughout the second half, he dominated on the glass and protected the paint. He made a highlight rejection with the Blue Devils up just four points with three minutes to go.
Cameron Boozer just volleyball spiked that… pic.twitter.com/TCEyedJ1je
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 19, 2026
The Blue Devils are going to need Boozer to be better if they want to take down TCU in the second round. It is unlikely Duke will shoot as poorly as it did against Siena, and the team should come out with a point to prove. Boozer did enough to win today, but it might not be enough for the rest of the tournament if the inefficiency continues.
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Duke is waiting for reinforcements, Patrick Ngongba II and Caleb Foster, to return from injury. The team will need to advance further to get Foster back, as he would likely need a Final Four run to return.
Meanwhile, Ngongba remains hopeful for a return during the tournament after missing the ACC Tournament with foot soreness. Until then, it is going to be on Boozer’s shoulders to lead Duke through March Madness.
