Blue Devil Country

Where Duke Basketball Appears in Latest Bracketology

It looks as though a No. 3 or 4 seed awaits this season's eight-loss Duke basketball team.
Matt Giles|
Photo credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

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Duke basketball dropped to a No. 4 seed in the eyes of ESPN's Joe Lunardi following the Blue Devils' loss to NC State in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday night. However, in light of Kentucky's defeat at the hands of Texas A&M on Friday, Lunardi replaced John Calipari's Wildcats with Jon Scheyer's Blue Devils on the 3-line.

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He has No. 3 seed Duke in the NCAA Tournament's East (Boston) region, beginning with a Round of 64 matchup against No. 14 seed Colgate, the Patriot League champion, in Brooklyn.

These Blue Devils, with a worse overall record (24-8) than this time last year (26-8) when the program earned a mere No. 5 seed despite reeling off nine straight victories and winning the ACC Tournament, enter Selection Sunday on a two-game skid. And they're 3-3 across their past six outings.

As things stand, Lunardi sees three other ACC teams getting an at-large invite to the Big Dance: projected No. 1 seed UNC, No. 8 seed Clemson, and No. 11 seed Virginia.

Of course, NC State has a chance to land an automatic bid by knocking off the Tar Heels in the ACC Tournament title bout in Washington, D.C., at 8:30 p.m. ET Saturday. If the Wolfpack prevail, though, that could equate to the Cavaliers — currently one of Lunardi's "last four in" — being left out of the field of 68 altogether.

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Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country on SI.com for more Duke basketball news.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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