Live Blog: Real-time NCAA Tournament Elite Eight Hogs-Duke

You can follow all the action with allHOGS' commentary as the Razorbacks try to knock off top-seeded Bulldogs

Andy Hodges | Mar 26, 2022

Live Blog: Real-time NCAA Tournament Elite Eight Hogs-Duke /

Arkansas found out why Duke is considered one of the best teams left in the NCAA Tournament.

The Blue Devils came away with a 79-68 win in the West Region Final on Saturday night in San Francisco on Saturday night.

The game wasn't really that close, though.

Don't blame Jaylin Williams, though, who had four double-doubles in the tournament after scoring 19 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.

The Razorbacks, who finish the season 28-9, saw JD Notae, their leading scorer, foul out with 3:47 to play after getting just 14 points against the Blue Devils.

Of course the story of the night is Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski reaching his 13th Final Four, eclipsing the mark of John Wooden at UCLA.

It does set up the possibility of a dream matchup in Krzyzewski's final appearance after announcing his retirement at the end of the season with Blue Devils' in-state rival North Carolina.

That's assuming the Tar Heels can get past St. Peter's on Sunday, a team that has been the Cinderella story of the entire tournament this year. Yeah, I noticed the game will be on a Sunday.

For this one, though, Williams put together maybe as good of a game as a big man has played in a tournament game since Corliss Williams was winning a national championship in 1994.

The Hogs started strong, but Duke started taking control midway through the first half and never let up with the pressure throughout.

Arkansas was never able to take away anything from the Blue Devils, who came into the game as the No. 2 seed in the West.

• Live game page

Under 4 Timeout: Duke 72, Hogs 57

Stanley Umude-Duke — Kyle Terada / USA TODAY Sports

Arkansas probably can't do anything about this deficit except say the Blue Devils had the better team on this night.

Jaylin Williams having one of his best nights with the Hogs, holding now at 15 points, eight rebounds and three assists.

Stanley Umude being out for a few minutes may be hurting offensively with his 12 points.

Under 8 Timeout: Duke 69, Hogs 54

Is this one over?

Hogs aren't able to keep anything sustained against Blue Devils, who may be sending Coach K off into retirement out of the Final Four.

Duke through over 32 minutes of this Elite Eight game has out-played the Hogs, who don't appear to be as energetic and physical as previous tournament games.

Arkansas hasn't really shut down anything the Blue Devils do, especially rebounding where they have a 30-17 edge on the Hogs.

Hogs Timeout 10:38: Duke 63, Hogs 48

Jaylin Williams-Duke — Kelley L. Cox / USA TODAY Sports

Arkansas takes a timeout to try and stop Duke's run coming out of the under-12 media timeout, then Jaylin Williams gets a big dunk and converts a free throw after getting fouled, but we'll see if it does anything.

The Blue Devils are playing like the more experienced team, which is actually the Hogs.

Under 12 Timeout: Duke 58, Hogs 48

JD Notae-Duke — Kelley L. Cox / USA TODAY Sports

After a timeout by Duke after the Hogs cut the lead to five, the Blue Devils come out with a 5-0 run. All of a sudden Arkansas can't make a basket and with a nine-point lead with 11:29 left, the Hogs are going to have one of their typical "spurts" where they get defensive stops and manage to put the ball in the basket somehow.

They are starting to get to the free-throw line ... and make them. Watch that because this may end up being a critical stat.

Duke Timeout 13:13: Duke 53, Hogs 48

Arkansas goes on a streak of four straight field goals for a nice run to cut the Blue Devils' lead to five and Mike Krzyzewski takes a timeout after a 9-2 run.

Williams and Notae each have 12 to lead Arkansas scorers.

Under 16 Timeout: Duke 49, Hogs 37

Hogs not playing with same intensity on defense as the Blue Devils are making the shots.

JD Notae leads Hogs with 10 points, Jaylin Williams has seven.

The biggest moment for the Hogs came when the ball was stuck on top of the backboard and a Razorback cheerleader was hoisted by her partner to dislodge the ball.

If the Hogs can't get things together, this game could get out of hand quickly.

Halftime: Duke 45, Hogs 33

The Blue Devils score the last eight points of the first half to open biggest lead of game at the break.

Hogs miss Jaylin Williams for final minutes due to picking up second personal foul and there's not really a replacement as Duke started to dominate the glass.

Mark Williams grabbed eight boards by himself while the Hogs as a team got just 12 (Duke had 22).

The Blue Devils are hitting 54.8% from the field, primarily because the Hogs aren't getting the defensive challenges, Eric Musselman said just before the break. Arkansas is hitting 40.8% from the field.

Duke is also having success at the free-throw line, connecting with 9-of-10 attempts while the Hogs have only had three attempts.

The Hogs haven't taken anything away from the Blue Devils in the first half and are dominating through the first half.

Under 4 Timeout: Duke 37, Hogs 31

Eric Musselman-Duke — Kelley L. Cox / USA TODAY Sports

Arkansas coach Eric Musselman takes Jaylin Williams out after he picks up second personal foul. Usually he puts a guy on the bench in the first half after getting two fouls, but the Hogs don't have anybody that can match him down low and he gambled for nearly a full minute.

Duke shooting 9-of-10 at the free-throw line while the Hogs have shot just a single one. Part of that is the Blue Devils driving to draw those fouls.

Davonte Davis has come off the bench to get seven points and provide the offense a spark. He is three-of-three from the field with a three-pointer.

Under 8 Timeout: Duke 24, Hogs 21

Jaylin Williams keeping the Hogs in this game as Duke went on an 8-0 run to open a lead that was up to eight points at times.

Williams, the sophomore from Fort Smith Northside, drew two charges and is three-of-six shooting with four rebounds and an assist.

The Blue Devils have settled down offensively from the start, but now the Hogs are shooting just 42.9% from the field while Duke is hitting at a 52.6% pace.

Under 12 Timeout: Duke 16, Hogs 14

Stanley Umude-Jaylin Williams-Duke — Kelley L. Cox / USA TODAY Sports

The Blue Devils are killing the Hogs on the glass, 9-5, and are tipping in misses with regular success. Hogs' defense still creating problems, but the offense is also answering, especially JD Notae.

Notae, the second-leading scorer in the SEC, has two three-pointers and is keeping Arkansas in the game.

Duke's Mark Williams has 8 points, tying him with Notae for game-high leader at this point.

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski is intense and active this game, saying during the timeout they are having to learn how to deal with Hogs' defensive intensity.

Under 16 Timeout: Hogs 9, Duke 6

Mike Krzyzewski-Duke Pregame — Kelley L. Cox / USA TODAY Sports

JD Notae gets off to a fast start for Arkansas, hitting two-of-three, including a three-pointer. Hogs' defensive pressure starts strong, but Duke starting to settle in offensively.

Notae leads everybody with 5 points. The Hogs have not made a substitution.

Pregame Comments

Jaylin Williams-Jaylin Williams-Pregame-Duke — Kelley L. Cox / USA TODAY Sports

Both teams are warming up and Eric Musselman's final interview with television he broke down what the Hogs had tried to get in a couple of days before this game from a talented, but young Duke team.

Just remember, Musselman coached in the NBA and other professional leagues. Playing games there with very little turnaround time pays off at the college level.

He has a staff of guys with NBA experience, who have game-planned for the best players in the world with less than 24 hours preparation in some games.

Look for the Hogs to play defense like they have all during the tournament and we'll find out if the Blue Devils can match that intensity

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Published Mar 26, 2022

ANDY HODGES

Sports columnist, writer, former radio host and television host who has been expressing an opinion on sports in the media for over four decades. He has been at numerous media stops in Arkansas, Texas and Mississippi.