It’s never too early to talk about NCAA Tournament bracketology. Of course, there are no results to base any projections on, and most teams across the country have completely retooled their rosters this offseason. It’d be crazy to try to predict who will make the NCAA Tournament, which is exactly why I’m doing just that and projecting which college basketball teams in the Carolinas will be dancing in March. This will be a monthly series where I’ll update where I see teams slotting into the tournament.
Duke: Projected 1 Seed
I’m not gonna pretend there’s any mystery here, Duke will make the 2027 NCAA Tournament. I currently project the Blue Devils to be the best team in the country and earn the top overall seed. Duke is aiming to earn a No. 1 seed for a third straight season and bring home Jon Scheyer’s first national championship as a head coach.
You’d be hard-pressed to find a team with a more complete roster than Duke. At point guard, the Blue Devils have two All-ACC-caliber options in Caleb Foster and Cayden Boozer. I see Boozer as a player with slightly more upside, but either way, Duke is in good shape. Wisconsin transfer John Blackwell is a lock in the backcourt and has All-American upside. After a stellar campaign with the Badgers last season, I expect Blackwell to be even better now that he’s surrounded by the best supporting cast in the country.
Patrick Ngongba II gives Duke a real defensive anchor in the frontcourt, while Dame Sarr returns on the wing. The only real question is who starts at the four. Freshman Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje started Duke’s scrimmages against Belmont and Tennessee, making him the most likely candidate to round out the starting five. Boumtje Boumtje is one of several highly touted transfers, many of whom will be key pieces off the bench.
The only real question with Duke is how dominant they are in the regular season. I don’t expect the Blue Devils to coast during the regular season, but even if they let off the gas at times, there’s so much talent that they could still win the ACC and be a No. 1 seed.