Cayden Boozer Will Replay Duke-UConn Turnover 'For the Rest of My Life,' Says He 'Ruined' Season

Duke freshman guard Cayden Boozer committed a costly turnover that eventually resulted in UConn freshman guard Braylon Mullins drilling a 35-foot three-pointer to give the Huskies a 73-72 win in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament on Sunday.

After the game, Boozer spoke with reporters about the pass that led to a steal and score.

"I ruined our team's season," Boozer said in part, per Brendan Marks of The Athletic. "That's the best I can put it."

It was a brutal moment for Boozer, who played great for the first 39 minutes and 52 seconds with 15 points on 4-of-5 shooting (6-of-6 from the free throw line), six assists, five rebounds and two steals.

Boozer has stepped up in this tournament with starting guard Caleb Foster missing the first two tournament games with a fracture in his right foot and being on a minutes restriction in the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight. Boozer's 19 points in the first round, in particular, helped ward off a remarkable upset attempt from No. 16 seed Siena before Duke won 71-65.

On Sunday, Duke had the ball up 72-70 with 10 seconds left after UConn guard Silas Demary Jr. made the second of two free throws. The Blue Devils then tried to play keepaway while UConn played great defense and put the pressure on. Eventually, Boozer found himself with the ball while Demary and Mullins guarded him.

Boozer clearly tried to lob the ball downcourt to a wide-open Patrick Ngongba II well down court, but Demary's leap deflected the ball into Mullins' hands. Mullins found Alex Karaban, who then passed the ball back to the freshman for the game-winning three.

Obviously, it could have behooved Boozer to try to hold onto the ball, although that could have led to a strip or a tie-up, which would have given UConn possession. A foul, though, would have led to Boozer shooting a one-and-one from the free-throw line, where he could have sealed the game.

In hindsight, it makes sense that Boozer wanted to try to pass the ball, as Ngongba and Isaiah Evans were all alone on the other end of the court. A successful pass would have bled more time off the clock, put Duke on the line and really pushed UConn on the ropes.

However, Demary got the deflection, Mullins made the shot and UConn finished off one of the greatest comebacks in college basketball history.