Duke and Baylor opened the season against one another, facing off back in November, and the first play of the game came to feel symbolic for the Blue Devils. They won the opening tip—and then turned the ball over by immediately passing into traffic. So went that first game and, indeed, much of that first month. Duke lost that day to Baylor, 58–52, and then lost five of the next eight games. A talented roster that entered the season ranked at No. 7 simply could not get out of its own way.
But much has changed since November. Duke straightened things out to win the ACC tournament and secure home court for March Madness. And it was hard to ask for a better display of all that change than a rematch with Baylor.
