Duke Receives The Top Overall Seed In The NCAA Tournament

Over the weekend Duke who was a third seed in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament was crowned the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament Champion with their win over North Carolina in Charlotte but they also received the top seed in the NCAA Tournament in the East Region.

Duke will begin will begin the program’s quest for its sixth National Championship on Friday versus either NC Central or North Dakota State in Columbia, S.C.”according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211796040&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Friday’s game is set for a 7:10 p.m. ET tip on CBS. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211796040&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Duke (29-5) is a No. 1-seed for the 14th time in program history, and for the first time since the Blue Devils’ National Championship in 2015. Four of the Blue Devils’ five titles have come in seasons with a No. 1 seed (1992, 2001, 2010 and 2015). “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211796040&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Duke’s 14 all-time No. 1-seeds are second-most in NCAA history, trailing only North Carolina, which earned its 17th this season. Kansas also has 14, Kentucky has 12, while Virginia’s seven are fifth-most. This season, the ACC became just the second conference in NCAA history with three No. 1-seeds in Duke, North Carolina and Virginia.”according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211796040&DB_OEM_ID=4200

The Blue Devils are led this season by a pair of first-team All-America selections in freshmen RJ Barrett and Zion Williamson. Barrett (22.9) and Williamson (22.1) are the ACC’s two leading scorers and looking to become the first freshmen teammates in NCAA history to each average 20 points in a season. Williamson is the first freshman in ACC history to be named the league’s Player of the Year and Tournament MVP in the same season. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211796040&DB_OEM_ID=4200

In the NCAA Tournament for the 24th consecutive season, the Blue Devils’ 43 all-time appearances are the fifth-most appearances in NCAA history. Duke earned an automatic bid this season by way of its record 21st ACC Championship, and is 64-18 (.780) all-time when playing as an automatic bid. Duke’s overall record in the NCAA Tournament is 111-37 (.750) – the tournament’s best winning percentage all-time. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211796040&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Under head coach Mike Krzyzewski, Duke is in the NCAA Tournament for the 35th time in 39 seasons -- the most by a coach in NCAA history. Coach K’s 94 NCAA Tournament wins are the most, while his NCAA Tournament winning percentage of .764 (94-29) trails only John Wooden’s .825 (47-10). “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211796040&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Duke has never faced North Dakota State, while the Blue Devils have battled their city of Durham neighbor just once previously – a 121-56 win at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Nov. 9, 2007. NC Central is in the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive season and fourth time since 2019. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211796040&DB_OEM_ID=4200

The winner of Friday’s game advances to the NCAA Second Round, where it will face either VCU or UCF on Sunday. The Blue Devils have played VCU just once previously, and have never played UCF, which is coached by former Blue Devil Johnny Dawkins. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211796040&DB_OEM_ID=4200

Duke is 12-9 all-time when playing in the city of Columbia, S.C., but has not played there since the 1974-75 season. The Blue Devils are 3-1 in NCAA Tournament games in the state of South Carolina. “according to http://www.goduke.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=22724&SPID=1845&DB_LANG=C&ATCLID=211796040&DB_OEM_ID=4200