Duke Men’s Basketball Emerges Victorious in ACC Tournament Championship Game
Duke men’s basketball showcased their dominance in the ACC tournament championship game, securing a 73-62 victory over Louisville at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Despite missing freshman standout Cooper Flagg, the Blue Devils rallied from a five-point deficit in the first half to outscore the Cardinals 40-24 in the second half.
Leading the charge for Duke was Tyrese Proctor, who delivered a stellar performance with 19 points fueled by six 3-pointers, setting a new career-high. Kon Knueppel contributed 16 points and eight rebounds, while Sion James added 15 points to the scoreboard.
On the defensive end, Duke limited Louisville to a mere 25.7% shooting in the second half, stifling their offensive efforts despite a 29-point display from Terrence Edwards Jr. Chucky Hepburn struggled, managing only 14 points on 5 of 16 shooting.
With this victory, Duke now boasts an impressive record of 23 conference tournament championships, including two in the last three seasons. In contrast, Louisville, which joined the ACC in 2014, has yet to claim an ACC tournament title. Duke leads the overall series against Louisville 17-9, with seven consecutive victories under their belt.
Looking ahead, Duke’s triumph over Louisville positions them favorably to secure the No. 1 overall seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament following Auburn’s defeat to Tennessee in the SEC tournament semifinals. Both Duke and Louisville received double byes in the ACC tournament, having finished as the top two teams in the regular season. Duke’s path to the championship included wins over Georgia Tech (78-70) and North Carolina (74-71), while Louisville triumphed over Stanford (75-73) and No. 10 Clemson (76-73) to reach the final showdown.
Despite Flagg’s absence due to an ankle injury sustained in the quarterfinals, NCAA Senior Vice President of Basketball Dan Gavitt assured that he would be available for the NCAA Tournament, alleviating concerns about Duke’s seeding. The standout freshman’s potential return adds further excitement to Duke’s prospects as they eye postseason glory.
In a game rife with momentum swings and competitive spirit, Duke’s resilience and strategic prowess ultimately clinched the victory against a resilient Louisville squad. The Blue Devils’ exceptional performance highlighted their depth and determination, underscoring their status as a formidable contender in the basketball arena.