📝 Michigan and Duke stumble on the road to March Madness

 

📝 Michigan and Duke stumble on the road to March Madness

Capital One Arena, Washington, DC – February 21, 2026
Attendance: 20,537

College basketball witnessed a historic day: Michigan (#1 in the rankings) and Duke (#2) both fell on the same day, losing their grip as undisputed leaders in their conferences.

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⚡️ Game Breakdown

Michigan Wolverines:

• Yaxel Lendeborg led the way with 21 points and 7 rebounds, supported by Morez Johnson Jr. (13 pts, 6 rebounds).
• The Wolverines struggled with efficiency: just 40% shooting from the field and a poor 24% from three (6/25).
• They were outmatched in rebounding (28 vs 41) and points in the paint (24 vs 34).

Duke Blue Devils:

• Cameron Boozer shined with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 7 assists, showing complete leadership.
• Isaiah Evans added 14 points, while Caleb Foster contributed 12 with solid perimeter shooting.
• Duke was more consistent offensively: 45% field goal shooting, 32% from three, and physical dominance inside.

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📊 Key Stats

Stat	Michigan	Duke
FG%	40% (22-55)	45% (25-55)
3PT%	24% (6-25)	32% (6-19)
Rebounds	28	41
Assists	15	17
Points in the Paint	24	34
Turnovers	7	11

➡️ Duke controlled the boards and dominated the paint, while Michigan never found its offensive rhythm.

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📈 Conference Impact

• Michigan (Big Ten): drops to 25-2 overall, 15-1 in conference, still leading but now under pressure from Illinois and Nebraska.
• Duke (ACC): also at 25-2 overall, 13-1 in conference, losing ground to Virginia (24-3, 12-2).
• The fact that #1 and #2 lost on the same day shakes up the national landscape and sparks debate over who deserves the next AP Top 25 No. 1 ranking and the coveted No. 1 seeds heading into March Madness.

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📌 Conclusion

College basketball experienced a historic double upset: Michigan and Duke, the nation’s top two teams, were both defeated on the same day. Their losses open the door for programs like Virginia, Illinois, and Iowa State to climb in the rankings and strengthen their case for top seeding in the NCAA Tournament.