Blue Devil Country

Duke basketball's highest-possible postseason seeds

A wide range of seeds remains in play for the red-hot Duke basketball team.
Matt Giles|
Duke basketball's highest-possible postseason seeds
Duke basketball's highest-possible postseason seeds

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Duke Blue Devils

Riding a four-game win streak following Saturday's 81-65 home win over Virginia Tech, Duke basketball's stock is undoubtedly on the rise.

These Blue Devils (21-8, 12-6 ACC) no longer look young and soft. Not at all. Quite the opposite. The resilient bunch has matured under Jon Scheyer, now the wins record-holder for first-year Duke head coaches, and looks like a squad no team should want to see in the ACC Tournament (March 7-11) or NCAA Tournament (March 14-April 3).

So what is in store for the Blue Devils in the seeding department?

Duke basketball's ACC Tournament seed outlook

Well, let's start with the ACC. The Blue Devils can finish as high as No. 2 (only Pitt, Miami, and Clemson remain in contention for the top spot) and as low as No. 7. The latest win ensures they won't play in Tuesday's opening slate between the six lowest seeds in the 15-team field (the top four seeds get double byes).

Duke sits alone at No. 5 in the conference standings with two games remaining: versus NC State at 7 p.m. ET Tuesday and on the road against UNC at 6:30 p.m. ET Saturday.

  • If the Blue Devils win out, they could remain at No. 5 or, as noted above, jump as high as No. 2.
  • If they beat NC State but lose to UNC, they will finish No. 5, no matter what.
  • If they lose to NC State but beat UNC, they will finish No. 6, no matter what.
  • If they lose both games, they can finish no higher than No. 6 and, again, no lower than No. 7.

Duke basketball's NCAA Tournament seed outlook

As for the NCAA Tournament (Selection Sunday is March 12), Duke's highest- and lowest-possible seeds are more of a guessing game.

The Blue Devils have steadily climbed to No. 24 in the NET Rankings, which matches the No. 6 seed by their name in several of the most recently updated projections.

Should they lose to NC State and UNC, then fall in their first ACC Tournament bout, they'd probably drop to the No. 8-11 seed range. However, if they enter the NCAA Tournament on a nine-game win streak with a conference championship in tow, it's conceivable they would skyrocket to as high as a No. 3 seed (probably No. 4, though).

RELATED: Predicted scores of every 2022-23 Duke game

Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country for daily Duke basketball content.

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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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