A basketball blue blood is taking on a football blue blood at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey tonight as the Duke Blue Devils face the Alabama Crimson Tide.
But while New Jersey may be a ways away from both Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina and Tuscaloosa, Alabama, it certainly feels like a home game for one of the competing teams.
Prior to the game, people in the arena starting noticing that the seats were filled to the brim with Duke fans. Many described the Prudential Center (nicknamed The Rock) as “a sea of blue” with all the Blue Devils fans repping their team.
“It’s a Duke home game, folks. The Rock is a sea of blue.”
It’s a Duke home game, folks. The Rock is a sea of blue. https://t.co/M7dP8dBBAC
— Jerry Carino (@NJHoopsHaven) March 30, 2025
“This is a Duke home game.”
“One last underrated thing.. this is still a Duke home game.”
And those were just comments before the game. Once it actually got underway and the Blue Devils raced out to an early lead, the Duke fan presence became even more pronounced.
“Playing in New Jersey for goodness sakes. How the hell does Duke get a damn home game in the Elite 8?” one user wondered.
“How is it fair that Duke is allowed to play a home game in the NCAA Tournament (New Jersey)?” another remarked.
“Let’s go Duke cheer goes up … definitely a Duke home game. Blue Devils up 13-5 at the first TV timeout.”
Either the New York metro area has a larger density of Duke fans than we all realized or Duke is just traveling extremely well for the Elite Eight.
Whatever the case, Alabama now has to contend with more than just some great basketball from Cooper Flagg if they want to reach the Final Four.
Related: Cooper Flagg Announces His Status For Sweet 16 Game