Duke University’s men’s basketball program is one of the most popular programs in the NCAA, but the crowd at Barclays Center on Friday night mostly favored the underdogs.
The 13th-seeded Vermont Catamounts did everything they could to get their first win outside of March Madness, but the majority of the crowd wanted it to happen.
Duke University coach John Scheyer knows a lot about home court advantage, as Cameron Indore is one of his best players. But he’s also no stranger to road heckling.
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A panoramic view of the arena during a practice day ahead of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at Barclays Center on March 21, 2024 in Brooklyn, New York. (Sarah Steer/Getty Images)
And although Friday’s game, like the entire tournament, was played at a neutral site, he says the game against Vermont may have been an away game for the record.
“You are in the first game [of the session], you can feel it’s not a full house…so all of a sudden in the middle of the game, it feels even more so,” Scheier said of the Brooklyn crowd. The team is rooting for us, which I sometimes feel…I thought it was an electric environment. ”
Shire was not wrong. The crowd was truly anti-Duke. Even those wearing Wisconsin red and James Madison purple for the nightcap at Barclays Center were rooting for Vermont.
Duke Blue Devils head coach John Scheyer reacts during the second half of the first round game against the Vermont Catamounts in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Barclays Center on March 22, 2024 in New York City. (Elsa/Getty Images)
no. 4 Duke pulls away from Scrappy No. 13 Vermont avoids March Madness upset
But there was a lot of greenery in the seats, and University of Vermont head coach John Becker couldn’t help but notice.
“Oh, it was fun. And listen, what this program has become, we were playing close to home, and this program has become amazing,” an emotional Becker said after the game. He spoke in a calm manner. “And it’s incredible to see all the alumni, basketball alumni, all the families, all the fans who flew in from all over to come to this game. And that kind of support from the fan base. , everything is inextricably linked” to what we have become. ”
Vermont’s home arena, Patrick Gym, has a capacity of just over 3,000, while Barclays Center’s basketball capacity is just under 18,000. And even if they came from other schools’ fan bases, well over half supported the Cats.
Vermont Catamounts head coach John Becker reacts to the 2024 NCAA Tournament first round game against the Duke Blue Devils at Barclays Center. (Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports)
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“It was awesome. We took advantage of it. I really wish we could have cheered for them more,” Becker continued. “They were ready to explode with every basket we made, and damn, we didn’t make enough of them… If we were running behind, The roof would have fallen in here.”
Vermont is 0-10 in the school’s first March Madness matchup, while No. 4 Duke awaits the winner of No. 5 Wisconsin and No. 12 James Madison.
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