Duke Basketball Wins 24th ACC Tournament Title

Blue Devils make NCAA history with latest conference championship

Mar. 15, 2026 at 3:08am

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Duke Basketball defeated the Virginia Cavaliers 74-70 to capture its 24th ACC Tournament title, the most conference tournament championships of any school in history. The Blue Devils had to fight through a tough defensive performance from Virginia center Ugonna Onyenso, who set an ACC Tournament championship game record with nine blocks.

Why it matters

This victory further cements Duke's status as the dominant program in the ACC, a conference that has produced some of college basketball's most storied teams and players over the decades. The Blue Devils' continued excellence at the conference level also boosts their chances of making a deep run in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.

The details

Duke forward Cameron Boozer, the Naismith Player of the Year frontrunner, struggled with his shooting against Virginia's defense, but the Blue Devils were still able to pull out the victory. Onyenso's record-setting defensive performance kept the Cavaliers within striking distance throughout the game.

  • The ACC Tournament championship game took place on Saturday, March 15, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The players

Jon Scheyer

The head coach of the Duke Blue Devils basketball team.

Cameron Boozer

A star forward for the Duke Blue Devils and a leading candidate for the Naismith Player of the Year award.

Ugonna Onyenso

The starting center for the Virginia Cavaliers, who set an ACC Tournament championship game record with nine blocked shots.

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What’s next

Duke will now turn its attention to the upcoming NCAA Tournament, where the Blue Devils will look to win their 6th national championship.

The takeaway

Duke's continued dominance in the ACC solidifies their status as one of the premier college basketball programs in the country, and sets them up as a top contender for the NCAA title.