It’s Duke vs. Baylor next, with a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line. This one’s got it all—future NBA stars on the court, experienced coaches, and some drama. At the center of all this is Jeremy Roach. He spent four years at Duke, making 108 career starts, and was a key part of their tournament runs, including a Final Four appearance. But after a solid career in Durham, it was clear that Roach needed a fresh start. Even though he had one more year of eligibility thanks to the COVID-19 year, Duke made it clear it was time to move on.

That’s when Baylor’s Scott Drew came calling. Baylor had a solid team coming in but needed someone with postseason experience, and Roach was the perfect fit. After all, he had already proven himself when he played all 40 minutes and scored 18 points in last season’s game between Duke and Baylor.

Now Roach faces his old team in what could be a storybook matchup. There’s no bad blood, just mutual respect between him and Coach Jon Scheyer. But Sunday’s game is all about the present—and both teams have a lot at stake.

Duke vs Bears Starting line up, who’s in and out?

As for the lineups, Duke has some injury concerns of its own. Freshman standout Cooper Flagg, who’s been a key part of the team’s success, injured his ankle during the ACC Tournament. Though he returned for the Roud of 64 against Mount Mt. Mary’s, coach Jon Scheyer had to keep a keen eye on him, making sure he wasn’t stepping wrong and balancing the weight on each leg right. The HC also had to monitor his minutes to ensure he was safe enough and had enough experience to return for the next game. 

So he may see limited minutes, but likely isn’t sitting out. Maliq Brown, on the other hand, hasn’t received a positive update after he dislocated his shoulder minutes before Flagg’s injury. Coach Scheyer has already hinted he might not play in March Madness this season. Currently, he is the only Blue Devil on the injury report.

As for Baylor, Yanis Ndjonga remains out for his knee injury while Langston Love is listed as probable due to ankle trouble. But the junior guard did play the previous game against Mississippi State and looks ready enough to get back on court for Round of 32.

Here’s what the lineups could look like:

Duke’s Projected Lineup:

• Tyrese Proctor
• Coope Flagg
• Kon Knueppel 
• Khaman Maluach
• Caleb Foster

Baylor’s Projected Lineup:

• Jeremy Roach
• Norchad Omier
• Langston Love
• VJ Edgecombe
• Robert Wright

The key for Baylor will be getting big performances from Roach, especially given Duke’s size advantage. On the other hand, Duke’s depth and strong defense make them a tough matchup for any team. 

A stage set for battle against fellow classmen and former teamamtes

Looking at the matchup, Duke comes in as the clear favorite. They have a 2-0 series lead against the Bears, one of which led them to the National title in 2010. Speaking of this season, the Blue Devils are on a 13-game win streak since their loss to Clemson. It did not matter their leading scorer and key contributor in every aspect, Cooper Flagg sat out two games. Tyrese Proctor has been setting the tone and the two freshmen — Knueppel and Maluah — have been stepping up. Roach has taken note. 

“He’s just always put in the work,” the Bears star said of Proctor. “He’s always stayed true. This year, he’s blossoming. He’s been a great leader for them. He’s been through the war, so the right guy to have.” The Blue Devil veteran has been the lead scorer for the past two games and is confident in the work he has put in. He’s been to the last year’s Big Dance and seen the best win and the worst loss. Being one of the only two with the tourney experience on the team, he’s a player to watch out for.

Jeremy Roach, who was named to the West Regional all-tournament team when he helped Duke reach the Final Four in 2022, will be coming in as the leader of the Bears. He’s averaging 10.1 points and 2.6 assists this season and hasn’t put up a double-digit score in the past five games. But Roach has the experience and knows to step up in the post-season.

On the other hand, the Duke freshmen class will be facing projected top-10 draft picks, Edgecombe and Wright. The latter was also Flagg’s teammate at Montverde Academy. The Baylor duo combined for 33 points in the tourney opener while the Blue Devils trio was limited to 31.

If you ask Jon Scheyer, Omier is the man to handle. “He was a handful then [Mami], and he’s a handful now,” he says. There’s no lack of talent on either side, but Duke has been brutal on defense and with Baylor’s 20-14 record, the odds are all in favor of the Blue Devils.

Final Score Prediction: Duke 78, Baylor 66

The game will air on CBS, with live updates available on FOX Sports. It’s all going down on Sunday, March 23, 2025, at 2:40 p.m. ET.