Longtime ESPN bracket expert Joe Lunardi released his latest bracket projections on Tuesday morning, and the Blue Devils have finally broken into the top three seeds.
Duke slotted in as the No. 3 seed in the South region with a first-round matchup against High Point.
The top two seeds in Lunardi’s South region are Houston and Marquette, respectively. A first-round win for Duke would set them against either Kentucky or Grand Canyon in the second round.
Connecticut, Purdue, and Arizona were Lunardi’s other three top seeds, and the 2023-24 season is projected to be the rare year without an ACC No. 1 seed.
North Carolina finished as a No. 2 seed in the East region, still on the outside of the top four looking in. Clemson was the No. 6 seed in the West region, and Virginia came in as the No. 8 seed in the East region.
Wake Forest, whom Duke beat on Monday night, was Lunardi’s first team out.