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Duke Basketball Faces Tough Opponents in Final Week of Regular Season
No. 1 Blue Devils look to clinch outright ACC regular season title
Published on Mar. 2, 2026
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Duke basketball, ranked No. 1 in the NCAA NET rankings, faces a tough final week of the regular season. They open the week on the road against NC State on Monday, March 2, and then host rival UNC on Saturday, March 7 in a rematch of their earlier 71-68 loss to the Tar Heels.
Why it matters
Duke has already clinched a share of the ACC regular season title, but needs to win one of their final two games to claim the title outright. These matchups against NC State and UNC will be crucial as the Blue Devils prepare for the upcoming ACC tournament and NCAA tournament.
The details
Duke (27-2, 15-1 ACC) is coming off a dominant 77-51 home win over No. 11/12 Virginia, their 10th win over a ranked opponent this season. The Blue Devils lead the all-time series over NC State 83-52 and are 6-4 in the last 10 meetings. However, Duke is only 27-27 on the road against the Wolfpack. In the rematch against UNC, the Tar Heels (23-6, 11-5) handed Duke their only ACC loss of the season on Feb. 7 with a last-second 3-pointer. Duke is 32-29 overall at home against UNC, winning 2 of the last 5 games at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
- Duke plays at NC State on Monday, March 2 (7 p.m. ET, ESPN).
- Duke hosts UNC on Saturday, March 7 (6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN).
The players
Duke Blue Devils
The No. 1 ranked college basketball team in the NCAA NET rankings, with a 27-2 overall record and 15-1 in ACC play.
NC State Wolfpack
Duke's opponent on Monday, March 2, with a 19-10 overall record and 10-6 in ACC play under first-year head coach Will Wade.
UNC Tar Heels
Duke's opponent on Saturday, March 7, with a 23-6 overall record and 11-5 in ACC play. The Tar Heels handed Duke their only ACC loss of the season on Feb. 7.
What’s next
Duke needs to win one of their final two regular season games to clinch the ACC regular season title outright. Their performance in these final two games will be crucial as they prepare for the ACC tournament and NCAA tournament.
The takeaway
Duke has had an impressive regular season, but faces a tough final week with matchups against NC State and rival UNC. These games will be crucial as the Blue Devils look to clinch the outright ACC regular season title and build momentum heading into the postseason.
