SACRAMENTO — The ball touched every last inch of the rim. It rolled with a cruel, unhurried indifference. For a fraction of a second, it rested there, suspended between win and loss, joy and misery, one more game and a long flight home. And then it fell.
No. 3 seed Duke advanced to the Elite Eight over No. 2 LSU with a buzzer-beating three from Ashlon Jackson. The 87–85 win showcased the Blue Devils at their best—high-pressure defense, varying pace, tenacious guard play. It also showcased them at their worst—some baffling late execution with inconsistent presence inside and a few crucial missed free throws. They played much of this game like a group ready for the Final Four and some of it like a group not even ready for the Sweet 16. (And occasionally both in the same possession.) In the end, however, none of that mattered. What mattered was the corner three from Jackson as the clock expired.
