Duke Basketball Now on Same Line as Rival UNC in Latest Bracketology

The Duke basketball squad's impressive win over Baylor didn't improve the Blue Devils' projected seed on ESPN.

Matt Giles | Dec 26, 2023

Photo credit: John Jones-USA TODAY Sports

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Duke Blue Devils

At this time last week, Duke basketball sat outside the top 20 in the AP Top 25 Poll, and some NCAA Tournament projections pegged the Blue Devils as a No. 6 seed or lower.

But even before the now-16th-ranked Blue Devils (8-3, 0-1 ACC) displayed their undeniable potential for greatness via their 78-70 victory over then-No. 10 Baylor in New York City's Madison Square Garden last Wednesday night, Duke was a No. 4 seed in the eyes of ESPN's Joe Lunardi.

And that is where the team remains in the latest Bracketology that Lunardi released on Tuesday morning.

Every bucket from the win over Baylor pic.twitter.com/bcqvHZ95t6
— Duke Men’s Basketball (@DukeMBB) December 21, 2023

Joining Jon Scheyer's second batch of Blue Devils on Lunardi's four-line are Memphis and two fellow bluebloods in Kentucky and archrival UNC. The Tar Heels (8-3, 0-1 ACC) jumped one spot in light of their 81-69 win over then-No. 7 Oklahoma, a previously unbeaten team, at last week's Jumpman Invitational in Charlotte.

Although No. 18 Clemson (10-1, 1-0 ACC) ranks below Duke and No. 9 UNC, the Tigers stayed put as a projected No. 3 seed on ESPN, still the best among the six ACC teams that made the cut this go-round.

As for the other three, unranked Virginia (9-2, 1-0 ACC), Miami (9-2, 1-0 ACC), and Virginia Tech (9-3, 1-0 ACC) are now a No. 8, No. 10, and No. 11 seed, respectively.

Duke basketball's next outing, its last non-conference game of the regular season and a chance to enter ACC play next week riding a four-game winning streak, is against unranked Queens in Cameron Indoor Stadium at 2 p.m. ET Saturday (The CW).

Analyst Compares Duke's Jon Scheyer to Three National Champs

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

Published Dec 26, 2023

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.