Kentucky basketball fans are reveling in Duke’s stunning collapse against Houston in the Final Four, and they aren’t holding back. While the Wildcats were sent packing by Tennessee and endured the usual social media mockery, it was now time for Big Blue Nation (BBN) to fire back at their rival.
For Kentucky fans, there are few things more satisfying than March Madness success, except perhaps witnessing a Duke disaster. And on Saturday night, the Wildcats got a front-row seat to a meltdown for the ages.
Houston’s 15-3 run to seal a 70-67 win over Duke in the Elite Eight wasn’t just a comeback; it was pure chaos. With the Blue Devils up by nine points with 3:03 remaining, Duke seemed to be cruising toward a national title game appearance. But from there, the game slipped away.
Houston’s defense became suffocating, and they started dominating the boards, forcing turnovers, and hitting clutch shots. The breakdown was almost surreal:
- A missed three-pointer from Duke.
- Three consecutive offensive rebounds by Houston.
- A layup, a steal, more free throws.
- A dunk by Joseph Tugler.
Finally, with 19 seconds left, J’Wan Roberts sank two free throws to give Houston the lead. Duke’s attempt at a comeback with a missed jumper from Cooper Flagg and a failed half-court shot left no chance for a Laettner-esque moment.
Final score: Houston 70, Duke 67.
On social media, Kentucky fans celebrated with the excitement of a victory of their own. One fan tweeted, “I’ve never been this shocked. Duke was in control all tournament until those final moments. This is pure bliss.” Another said, “Houston stopped a Tennessee Final Four and a Duke national title. We are all Cougars today.”
Jon Rothstein even compared the collapse to Wisconsin’s 2015 national title loss to Duke, a game that handed the Blue Devils their championship — how the tables have turned. Former Blue Devil Jay Williams posted simply: “I’m sick right now…”
For Kentucky fans, this postseason has been tough, but witnessing Duke’s downfall brought a sense of sweet redemption. Now, it’s set up an interesting championship game: Florida vs. Houston. Houston’s defeats of Tennessee and Duke, two of Kentucky’s biggest rivals, raise the question: can they make it a third?
In a season full of unpredictable twists, one thing remains clear: Duke’s collapse has provided some much-needed joy for BBN.
