Duke is coming off one of its most impressive seasons in recent history, finishing the regular season with a dominant 28-3 record and earning the No. 1 spot in the AP rankings as they head into the conference tournament.
As the top seed in the ACC Tournament, which kicks off on Tuesday, Duke won’t take the court until Thursday’s quarterfinals after securing two byes. Unsurprisingly, the Blue Devils are heavy favorites to win the tournament, claim the ACC title, and secure a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. However, that path might not be as straightforward as it seems.
According to 247Sports’ Grant Hughes, his ACC basketball tournament predictions have Duke being upset by Clemson in the ACC Championship Game.
Hughes also predicts a potential quarterfinal clash between Duke and North Carolina, which would mark the first time since 2002 that either team completed a 3-0 sweep over the other in the same season if Duke wins.
Clemson, seeded third and also beginning their tournament journey in the quarterfinals, is expected to face SMU in Game 11 as a heavy favorite, having defeated the Mustangs by 10 points during the regular season.
While Duke’s only ACC loss this season came against Clemson on February 8, the tournament’s proximity to home in Charlotte, North Carolina, could work in their favor. Still, if they make it to the championship game on March 15, the Tigers might once again stand in their way, potentially costing Duke a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
If Clemson does reach the conference title game, it would be a landmark achievement, as the program has never made it that far, previously advancing to the semifinals just four times (2011, 2014, 2018, 2023). In contrast, Duke has claimed the ACC title 27 times, most recently in 2023.