Duke's Harris Steps Up in Tournament

0:00On March 17, Duke Blue Devils entered the 2026 NCAA tournament as the number one overall seed and the top team in college basketball. They faced a tough road in the East region to reach the final in Indianapolis. Key injuries add uncertainty with sophomore center Patrick Nongbaugh and junior guard Kayla Foster sidelined by foot issues throughout the ACC tournament. Their availability remains unclear heading into the big dance. Earlier this week, Duke showed strength by going four and zero against three of the region's top six seeds, including Michigan State, Kansas, and Louisville. That experience could help against similar foes now. Still, the injuries forced changes in the rotation for one of the deepest teams in the sport. Fans and analysts worry these absences lower Duke ceiling just when they need peak performance. The bottom of the bench must rise up, especially with stars like Cameron Booser sometimes contain, as seen in the tight ACC title, win over Virginia. Inter's sophomore Darren Harris, who barely played as a freshman, but earned more time

1:03laden the season. In Duke's final seven games before the tournament, he averaged 12.7 minutes and five points per game, shooting decently from the field. With Duke shorthanded, Harris offers spark off the bench through his three points shooting and solid defense. More heavy minutes for him could unlock the offense against teams that clogged the pain, keeping the Blue Devil's title hopes alive deep into March.