No. 1 Duke Clinches Top Seed in ACC Tournament with Win Over No. 11 Virginia

Isaiah Evans and Ryan Boozer lead the Blue Devils to a dominant victory.

Mar. 3, 2026 at 5:15am

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The top-ranked Duke Blue Devils defeated the 11th-ranked Virginia Cavaliers 77-51 on Saturday, clinching the number one seed in the upcoming Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament. Sophomore guard Isaiah Evans led the way for Duke, scoring 19 points and hitting five 3-pointers, three of which came in the first half to help the Blue Devils pull away early.

Why it matters

This win solidifies Duke's position as the team to beat in the ACC Tournament, as they have now secured the top seed. The Blue Devils are looking to make a deep run in the tournament and potentially earn a number one overall seed in the NCAA Tournament.

The details

Duke jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, dominating Virginia on both ends of the floor. In addition to Evans' strong performance, junior forward Ryan Boozer added 15 points and 8 rebounds for the Blue Devils. Duke's stifling defense held the Cavaliers to just 51 points on the day.

  • The game was played on Saturday, February 28, 2026.
  • Duke clinched the top seed in the upcoming ACC Tournament with the victory.

The players

Isaiah Evans

A sophomore guard for the Duke Blue Devils who led the team with 19 points, including five 3-pointers.

Ryan Boozer

A junior forward for the Duke Blue Devils who scored 15 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in the win.

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What they’re saying

“We came out with a lot of energy and focus today, and that allowed us to take control of the game early. This is a big win for us as we look ahead to the conference tournament.”

— Isaiah Evans, Duke Guard

What’s next

Duke will now turn its attention to the ACC Tournament, where they will be the top seed and the favorite to win the championship.

The takeaway

Duke's dominant performance against a ranked Virginia team demonstrates their status as the team to beat in the ACC. With the conference tournament just around the corner, the Blue Devils have positioned themselves as the clear frontrunner to earn a number one seed in the NCAA Tournament.