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Bracketology 2022: Duke, Indiana, and Houston among week’s losers

By Tristan Freeman

Oregon's Jacob Young, left, and De'Vion Harmon celebrate in the closing second of the game against Stanford as fans cheer beyond Feb. 10, 2022.Eug 021022 Uo Stanford 08
Oregon's Jacob Young, left, and De'Vion Harmon celebrate in the closing second of the game against Stanford as fans cheer beyond Feb. 10, 2022.Eug 021022 Uo Stanford 08 /
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Bracketology Duke Blue Devils forward Paolo Banchero Virginia Cavaliers Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
Bracketology Duke Blue Devils forward Paolo Banchero Virginia Cavaliers Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports /

Duke Blue Devils – 21-4 (11-3 in ACC)

This is a different Bracketology scenario as the Blue Devils are safely into the NCAA Tournament. The question though is at which seed. The blue blood program has been hoping to get a 1 seed in the East Region and the easiest possible path to the Final Four in Coach Mike Krzyzewski’s final season.

But that took a hit this week, losing to Virginia at home in a last-second shot by Reece Beekman. It’s crazy to even say that a loss to the Cavaliers is ever “bad” but Coach Tony Bennett’s squad has taken a step back this season after losing so much production from the year prior. Still, they showed that they can still be a threat to knock anyone off on a given night.

The loss to Virginia hurts Duke in that they simply don’t have many more opportunities to get more wins to bolster its case for a 1 seed. They do have a return trip at Virginia and a home matchup against Wake Forest but compared to the SEC teams (Kentucky and Auburn), Big 12 teams (Kansas and Baylor), and even Arizona in the Pac-12, the ability for Duke to stay in the 1 seed range is going to be difficult, even though wins over Gonzaga and Kentucky are as good as a team can ask for.

If Duke can be a 2 seed in the East Region regardless, then they still will be in a good position. But because the ACC is in such a weak position, it’s hard to envision a scenario where the jump the previously mentioned teams and Gonzaga for one of the top four overall spots, even though their record and signature wins would suggest that it’s possible.

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