3. Duke (14-2)
What we’ve seen recently only confirms that Duke is the class of the ACC, and perhaps this shouldn’t come as a surprise. A talented crop of new talent in Durham is really getting the job done through the first few months of the season and Cooper Flagg has especially stood out with his impactful play. Few quite expected the ACC to look quite like this this season, but these Blue Devils aren’t apologizing for anything.
Tuesday was impressive, with the Blue Devils scoring a 76-47 home win over Pittsburgh in impressive fashion. All five starters were in double figures as Duke took it to the Panthers, silencing one of the best teams in the ACC while led by Flagg’s 19-point, 10-rebound effort. He was on another level this weekend, leading Duke to an 86-78 home win over Notre Dame with an all-time performance. Flagg set a Duke freshman scoring record with 42 points, 7 assists, and 6 rebounds.
Now 6-0 in the ACC, the Blue Devils aren’t just the class of this conference; they’re not really breaking a sweat in these wins. Notre Dame did make that game closer than it was with a late push, but Duke has played great on both sides of the ball and just keep rolling. Flagg is playing at an inspiring level and has this program in enviable position. Whether or not Duke stays perfect in the ACC, next week isn’t exactly a challenge with games against Miami and Boston College.