As the college basketball world pivots to Selection Sunday, the action heats up during conference tournament weekend. In a dramatic face-off on Friday, top-ranked Duke clashed with rival North Carolina, managing to secure a hard-fought 74-71 victory in the ACC semifinals despite missing star player Cooper Flagg, who is sidelined with a sprained ankle.

Without Flagg, hailed as a potential top pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, Duke held a substantial lead at times, leading by as much as 24 points. Assuredly, they appeared on a path to an easy win. However, North Carolina fought fiercely, closing the gap dramatically in the final moments.

With only a minute remaining, UNC trailed by just one point and had a chance to take the lead with two free throws. Unfortunately for the Tar Heels, their hopes were dashed when the first attempt missed the mark, and the second was negated due to a lane violation. This costly turnover paved the way for Duke’s narrow escape.

The loss leaves North Carolina’s NCAA tournament ambitions teetering, as they had been included in only 72 of the 104 bracket projections leading into this game. As a result, their path to March Madness now involves a potentially nerve-wracking Selection Sunday.

Duke, completing a 3-0 sweep against UNC this season, is gearing up for the ACC Tournament championship game against either Clemson or Louisville. The Blue Devils aim for their 23rd conference title under third-year coach Jon Scheyer.

In this thrilling semifinal, Kon Knueppel led Duke with 17 points. Despite a rocky start and a defensively resolute performance from UNC throughout the match, the Blue Devils managed to hold on and celebrate yet another victory.

Key Takeaways from the Game:

• Missed Opportunities: UNC struggled from beyond the arc, shooting only 3-for-17 on three-point attempts.
• Star Performances: Ven-Allen Lubin shined for UNC with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
• Final Minutes Drama: The ending left many on the edge of their seats as Duke barely held on amidst frantic efforts by UNC.

Looking forward, Duke will continue the quest for the championship title in ACC, while UNC reflects on its missed opportunities as they await their fate this Selection Sunday.