2. Duke (16-2)
With the way this young and talented team has played this season, there’s really no question about Duke being the best team in the ACC. They haven’t lost a game since a tough one against Kansas right before Thanksgiving and haven’t really been tested during the first few weeks of league play. Possessing impressive wins over teams like Auburn and Arizona, watching Duke has become less about who wins than about how these young stars on Duke are really playing.
Tuesday was no contest, with the Blue Devils pulling away quickly for an 89-54 win over a Miami program in disarray. Kon Knueppel starred with 25 points, while Khaman Maluach had 12 points and 15 rebounds. Saturday was more of the same, even after a slow start, as Duke won 88-63 at Boston College. Cooper Flagg was the star freshman this time with 28 points, while Tyrese Proctor added 20 points in the team’s 12th straight win.
The Blue Devils are 8-0 in ACC play and the closest of those contests was an 11-point win at a Louisville team that just might be the second-best team in the conference. We’re realistically thinking about Duke’s chances at a perfect run through conference play, though this team has their eyes on more than just that. Even with this young talent, Duke has significant potential for a deep March run. Next week’s only contest is at Wake Forest over the weekend.