In a season defined by dominance, discipline, and determination, the Duke Blue Devils men’s basketball team completed a clean sweep of the Atlantic Coast Conference by capturing their 23rd ACC Tournament title—solidifying their place at the top of the conference with a regular-season crown and a postseason flourish. The Blue Devils, led by second-year head coach Jon Scheyer, proved unequivocally that the ACC still runs through Durham.
From start to finish, the Blue Devils were a step ahead of their competition. They closed out the regular season with a 16–4 conference record, outlasting a resurgent North Carolina squad and other contenders like Virginia and Miami. But their most emphatic statement came in Washington, D.C., at Capital One Arena, where Duke dispatched three tough opponents in three days to hoist the tournament trophy once more.
A Championship Run in the Capital
As the No. 1 seed in the tournament, Duke enjoyed a first-round bye before squaring off against the winner of the 8-9 matchup. That brought a quarterfinal contest against the Syracuse Orange, who came in hot after edging Boston College. Despite a valiant effort by Syracuse’s backcourt, Duke’s depth and defensive intensity were too much. The Blue Devils leaned on sophomore guard Tyrese Proctor’s steady hand and Kyle Filipowski’s inside-out dominance to secure a 74–62 victory.
The semifinal showdown against Miami brought flashbacks of last year’s tournament, where Miami had knocked Duke out in a bitter battle. This time, the Blue Devils flipped the script. Jeremy Roach, the steady senior leader and team captain, played like a man possessed. His 21 points and five assists set the tone in a fast-paced, physical game. Freshman phenom Cooper Flagg—who reclassified to join Duke a year early—had his breakout moment with a thunderous block and coast-to-coast slam that ignited the pro-Duke crowd.
Duke won 79–69, setting the stage for a classic finale against archrival North Carolina in what felt more like a Final Four clash than a conference title game.
The Title Game: Duke vs. Carolina
Few rivalries in sports match the spectacle of Duke vs. North Carolina, and the 2025 ACC Championship was no exception. With both fanbases flooding the arena and national attention locked in, the stage was set for another chapter in the Tobacco Road saga.
Carolina had knocked off Virginia and NC State to reach the final, and Hubert Davis had his team peaking at the right time. But Duke’s tenacity and championship pedigree won the day.
In a back-and-forth affair, the Blue Devils tightened the screws in the final five minutes. Filipowski, who had struggled early against Carolina’s Armando Bacot, found his groove late, scoring 11 of his 19 points in the second half. The game’s most pivotal moment came with under two minutes to go, when Mark Mitchell snatched a defensive rebound, pushed the ball in transition, and dished to Proctor for a dagger three from the wing. It gave Duke a seven-point lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
Final score: Duke 82, North Carolina 76.
Scheyer pumped his fist as the final horn sounded, embracing his players at midcourt. Confetti fell, fans roared, and the Blue Devils celebrated their 23rd ACC Tournament championship—second only to North Carolina’s 26, but now with a more recent résumé of consistent postseason success.
A Testament to Scheyer’s Vision
When Jon Scheyer took the reins from the legendary Mike Krzyzewski in 2022, skeptics wondered if Duke would maintain its elite status under a new voice. Three seasons later, Scheyer has answered every question with poise and results. The 2024–25 season marked his most complete campaign yet, with a blend of youth and experience buying into his philosophy of unselfish offense, suffocating defense, and relentless effort.
What sets this Duke team apart isn’t just talent—it’s chemistry. Roach and Filipowski brought leadership and continuity, while players like Jared McCain and Mark Mitchell developed into two-way standouts. Proctor took a massive leap as the team’s cerebral playmaker, and Cooper Flagg’s mid-season emergence as a future top-three NBA draft pick gave the Blue Devils a matchup nightmare on both ends.
Scheyer managed minutes, rotations, and egos like a seasoned veteran, guiding his team through the gauntlet of the ACC with precision. His ability to adapt to different game scripts—whether grinding out wins against Virginia’s slow tempo or running and gunning with teams like Wake Forest—proved invaluable.
In the postgame press conference, Scheyer was reflective yet hungry:
“I’m incredibly proud of these guys. They believed in each other from day one. But we’re not done yet. Our goal is to win a national championship, and this is one big step in that direction.”
Regular Season Recap: A Model of Consistency
Duke’s regular season wasn’t without challenges. They dropped early conference games on the road against Florida State and Clemson but responded each time with winning streaks that kept them atop the standings. A signature win over then-top-five ranked Kansas in the non-conference schedule provided a spark that carried over into league play.
The Blue Devils led the ACC in scoring margin (+11.8), defensive efficiency, and three-point shooting percentage (39.4%). They averaged 78.9 points per game while holding opponents to just 66.7. Their ability to close games—often a struggle for young teams—was among the best in the country, with a 9–1 record in games decided by single digits.
Their final regular-season win, a convincing 84–70 road victory at NC State, clinched the outright ACC regular-season championship and sent a message: this team was built for March.
Players Who Defined the Season
Kyle Filipowski – The 7-foot forward was the engine of Duke’s offense and the anchor of its defense. Averaging 17.3 points and 8.1 rebounds per game, he developed into one of the most versatile bigs in college basketball. His decision to return for another season paid dividends for both himself and the program.
Tyrese Proctor – The Australian point guard was Duke’s most important player down the stretch. His court vision, basketball IQ, and composure under pressure earned him First-Team All-ACC honors. Proctor’s leadership grew with each game, and he became the emotional tone-setter.
Jeremy Roach – The heart and soul of the team. In his senior season, Roach embraced his role as the veteran leader, often making the key play or big shot in crunch time. His ACC Tournament performance will be remembered as one of the finest in Duke history.
Cooper Flagg – Though a freshman, Flagg’s talent was undeniable. He led Duke in blocks, was among the team leaders in steals, and delivered highlight-reel plays every night. His trajectory suggests he could become a national star as the NCAA Tournament unfolds.
Looking Ahead to March Madness
With the ACC regular season and tournament titles in hand, Duke heads into the NCAA Tournament as a projected No. 1 seed, most likely in the East Region. Bracketologists agree that the Blue Devils are among the top four overall teams, alongside fellow blue bloods like Kansas and UConn.
Duke’s résumé, which includes wins over Kansas, Miami, North Carolina, and Syracuse, positions them well for a deep run. Their balance on both ends of the floor and late-game execution make them a nightmare matchup for any opponent.
The key for Scheyer will be keeping his team fresh and focused through the grind of March. Depth will be an asset—players like Sean Stewart, TJ Power, and Caleb Foster provide scoring punch and defensive versatility off the bench. And the Blue Devils’ experience in close games gives them a mental edge that many younger teams lack.
Duke is chasing its sixth national title and its first since 2015. With momentum, health, and belief on their side, few teams are better positioned to cut down the nets in April.
Legacy in Motion
The 2024–25 Duke Blue Devils have already etched their name into program lore with a dominant ACC season. But for a team of this caliber, greatness is not measured in conference titles alone.
The ACC Tournament championship is a reminder: Duke basketball is not just surviving the post-Coach K era—it is thriving.
Scheyer’s crew has restored the fear factor in playing Duke, and with a deep, talented, and battle-tested roster, the Blue Devils aren’t just hunting banners—they’re building a dynasty anew.