ESPN Bracketology expert Joe Lunardi released an updated bracket on Tuesday morning, and Duke’s recent form has the Blue Devils climbing.
Lunardi slotted Duke in as the No. 3 seed in the West. The Blue Devils have lost just two games since December 2, catapulting themselves from 5-3 to 20-5, and wins over teams like Baylor, Clemson, Wake Forest, and a now-resurgent Pittsburgh give Duke a solid resume.
The newest ESPN bracket has Duke playing in Pittsburgh against No. 14 Charleston during the opening round of the bracket. Should the Blue Devils win that first game, BYU or Texas A&M would await in the second round.
Arizona, who beat Duke in Cameron Indoor in the second game of the season, currently sits atop the West region, a potential Elite Eight foe for the Blue Devils should they make it that far.
Three other ACC teams are in Lunardi’s bracket thus far. Clemson is a 5-seed in the West, and Virginia fell to a No. 9 seed in the Midwest.