Duke Basketball’s Final Four Matchup is Set: Blue Devils to Face Houston in San Antonio
The Duke Blue Devils have secured their place in the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four and are now set to face the Houston Cougars in San Antonio. With an emphatic 85-65 victory over Alabama in the East Region Final, Duke continued its dominant tournament run, led by standout performances from Kon Knueppel, Cooper Flagg, and Tyrese Proctor.
This marks Duke’s 18th Final Four appearance, further solidifying the program’s storied legacy. Head coach Jon Scheyer, in his third season leading the Blue Devils, praised his team’s resilience and focus throughout the tournament.
“I’m so proud of how this group has battled all season,” Scheyer said. “We’ve grown a lot, and we’re excited for the challenge ahead in San Antonio.”
The Blue Devils will face the Houston Cougars, who advanced to their second Final Four in four seasons by defeating Tennessee 69-50 in the Elite Eight. The Cougars, known for their suffocating defense, held Tennessee to just 15 first-half points in their latest victory. Guard L.J. Cryer led the way for Houston with 17 points, while Emanuel Sharp added 16 and was named the region’s Most Outstanding Player.
Both Duke and Houston enter the Final Four as No. 1 seeds, setting up a marquee showdown between two of college basketball’s elite programs. The game is scheduled for Saturday, April 5, at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, with tipoff at 7:49 p.m. Eastern Time. CBS will broadcast the game live.
This isn’t the first time these two powerhouse programs have met in March Madness. Last season, Duke edged out Houston in a thrilling 54-51 Sweet 16 battle. However, both teams have reloaded their rosters, setting the stage for another highly competitive contest.
Duke, boasting a 35-3 record, has been dominant in the tournament behind the play of freshman phenom Cooper Flagg, whose defensive prowess and clutch scoring have made him one of the most electrifying players in college basketball. Meanwhile, Houston (34-4) counters with one of the best defensive units in the nation, led by head coach Kelvin Sampson.
“They’re an incredibly tough team,” Scheyer said of Houston. “We know we’ll have to be at our best to compete with them.”
The winner of the Duke-Houston showdown will advance to the national championship game on Monday, April 7, where they will face either Purdue or UConn, who are competing in the other Final Four matchup.
With a mix of experience, talent, and determination, the Blue Devils will look to capture their sixth national championship in program history. As the excitement builds for their clash with Houston, Duke fans are hopeful that this team will add another banner to the rafters in Cameron Indoor Stadium.
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