Duke basketball not returning to Greensboro for NCAA Tournament

While playing better than at any time this season, the Duke basketball team trailed for only four minutes and some change across its three-game journey to an ACC Tournament title in Greensboro Coliseum.

So it's safe to say the Blue Devils would have liked an NCAA Tournament draw that sent them back to Greensboro, an hour's drive from Durham, for their first two rounds.

But that's not the case.

Duke, riding a season-best nine-game win streak, is a No. 5 seed in the East Region. The Blue Devils will start in Orlando with a Thursday matchup against No. 12 seed Oral Roberts. Should they win, they will remain in Orlando to face Thursday's winner between No. 4 seed Tennessee and No. 13 seed Louisiana two days later.

Purdue, who beat the young Duke basketball squad in November, is the top seed in the East Region. The region's Sweet 16 and Elite Eight games will be played in New York City's Madison Square Garden.

Four other ACC teams are among the 68-team Big Dance field. Miami is a No. 5 seed in the Midwest Region, with Pitt as a No. 11 seed facing a play-in game against Mississippi State from the SEC. Meanwhile, Virginia is a No. 4 seed in the South Region, with NC State as a No. 11 seed.

UNC, the preseason No. 1 team in the country, is not dancing this year.

Times for the opening matchups will be revealed later.

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