In a startling outcome, Duke has lost in the ACC quarterfinals to NC State. While the underdog performed incredibly well defending the opponents, Blue Devils gave signs of a weak offense in the very beginning. In fact, their nine missed field goals set the tone of the match straight away. This loss does not only put an end to Duke’s consecutive conference title win but also marks the first time since 2013 that they have lost a conference tournament opener matchup.

However, does this mean that Devils may also miss the hit on getting into the March Madness? Possibly. Here’s how their upset loss to NC State may prove to be a hurdle to cross.

A peek into NC State’s ACC quarter final win

Despite an impressive performance by sophomores Kyle Filipowski and Tyrese Proctor, Devils missed their take on grabbing the title. Apparently, the Wolfpack brought the same game tonight that got them through the line in the last two matchups, including an upset win over Syracuse. While Duke dominated the floor in the very beginning, they ended the first half with a three-point lag at 32-35.

Nevertheless, NC State’s continuous momentum on the offensive end kept them ahead of Devils. On top of that, their prominent center DJ Burn Jr. kept Duke’s knight in shining armour Filipowski at bay with his influential defense. Additionally, the freshly off-the-bench guard DJ Horne grabbed 12 points in the first half and 6 in the latter, leading the team’s total for the night.

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While Filipowski tried to bring the team closer to the opposing score with just 21 seconds left in the game, their following errors that fouled them out cleared the standing difference. Even though NC State did give some late options to Duke, they overcame and reigned with 74-69 on the board. The quarter-final loss also meant that Devils are no longer in the automatic bid.

Is Duke really out of the NCAA tournament?

While they did lose the option to automatically enter March Madness, Devils can still make their way to the much-anticipated competition bracket. However, the ball is no longer in their court now. In fact, they can only enter the field of 68 through the at-large bid.

While they do sit at the second rank in ACC and have performed thoroughly during the regular season, their performance in the crucial quarter-final will also be a factor for their candidacy. However, it is hard to imagine a Division I men’s basketball tournament without the Blue Devils sitting on everyone’s shoulders.

After their unexpected loss to Wolfpacks, fans would surely be looking forward to the Selection Sunday (17th March 2024) to get a final poll vote on their standing. What would you expect the outcome to be?

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