The Blue Devils should absolutely be the tournament’s top seed.
We’ve arrived at Selection Sunday 2025 and the Duke basketball program is riding high after its ACC Tournament Championship victory yesterday over Louisville, 73-62. The Blue Devils ended the regular season and conference tournament on an 11-game win streak and are riding high as the potential top seeded squad in this season’s NCAA Tournament.
Additionally, there is no rational reason why Duke shouldn’t be the top overall seed in this year’s big dance following the Blue Devils’ victory in yesterday’s conference tournament title.
For most of the season, Auburn had been predicted to be the top seed in the tournament, and Duke and the Tigers are generally regarded as being on a level above all other collegiate basketball teams.
However, Auburn will not win the SEC Tournament after losing to Tennessee 70-65 in yesterday’s quarterfinals, which is why Duke must secure the top overall seed at this time.
Interestingly, however, despite the Tigers’ defeat in the SEC playoffs and the Blue Devils’ victory in the ACC Tournament, Auburn remains the top overall seed according to Joe Lunardi’s Bracketology. Last night at 8:55 p.m. ET, Lunardi revised his predictions, and yesterday at 1:00 p.m. ET, the Tigers took on Tennessee.
Having the Blue Devils as the top team in this year’s big dance after Auburn lost its conference championship simply doesn’t make sense. The Blue Devils have done everything right to establish themselves as the top team in college basketball, and they deserve recognition for it. Sure, Duke plays in the lowly ACC, and Auburn is in the SEC, which may be the finest single-season conference in college basketball history this year.
Additionally, Duke defeated Georgia Tech 78-70 in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals without the help of freshman sensation Cooper Flagg. The Blue Devils defeated Louisville in the conference title game and a fierce UNC squad in the semifinals despite being without their best player.
And when it comes down to it, Duke has defeated Auburn in their meetings this season. Earlier these season, the Blue Devils defeated the Tigers 84-78 at Cameron Indoor.
Since both Florida and Tennessee are now ranked in the top two seeds, the victor of today’s SEC Tournament matchup will have a strong argument for the top overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. Currently, the Vols are a predicted 2-seed and the Gators are a projected 1-seed.
It’s fairly fair if Florida wins today and takes first place in the big dance. the top group in the top conference. However, Duke has made every effort to demonstrate that it is deserving of the top overall seed, and Auburn should never again be chosen over Jon Scheyer’s program.
Watch the Selection Show on CBS at 6:00 p.m. ET.