Virginia is alone in second within the Atlantic Coast Convention standings and likewise the second-highest-rated ACC group within the NET, at KenPom.com, at BartTorvik.com and at EvanMiya.com. What all of that implies is that Duke actually would not have a peer in its league for the second straight season.
Closing rating: Blue Devils 77, Cavaliers 51.
Sure, Duke beat its largest menace within the ACC by 26 factors early Saturday to enhance to 27-2 total and 15-1 within the league. With the win, the Blue Devils secured no less than a share of the ACC’s regular-season title for the second straight 12 months. They now have a two-game lead over Virginia within the convention standings, a three-game lead over Miami, a four-game lead over Clemson and North Carolina, and a five-game lead over NC State. There’s additionally now a 13-spot hole between Duke and the second-highest-rated ACC group within the NET (Virginia). No different Energy 4 convention has that large of a niche between its highest-rated group within the NET and its second-highest-rated group within the NET.
“I am actually happy with our group,” mentioned Duke coach Jon Scheyer. “We have simply had such a mature method with our protection. It is our calling card.”
No argument right here.
Duke held the Cavaliers to only 29% taking pictures from the sector within the dominant victory, together with 20% from 3-point vary. In consequence, Duke now ranks No. 1 in adjusted defensive effectivity, in accordance with KenPom.com.
For sure, the Blue Devils stay No. 1 in Sunday morning’s up to date CBS Sports activities High 25 And 1 each day school basketball rankings for the eighth straight day. They’re one in every of solely 4 groups that rank within the prime 11 in each adjusted offensive effectivity and adjusted defensive effectivity at KenPom. The opposite three are Michigan, Arizona and Florida, i.e., the three groups which might be second, third and fourth within the High 25 And 1.
High 25 And 1 rankings
![[In the Public Square] Kaufman on the ICC: Go or fail?](https://www.rappler.com/tachyon/2026/03/In-the-Public-Square-2026-LS-02.jpg "[In the Public Square] Kaufman on the ICC: Go or fail?")
