Experts weigh in on how Duke can earn a No. 1 seed in the 2022 NCAA Tournament

Saturday’s game in Cameron Indoor Stadium between Duke and UNC is an extremely important one for a number of reasons. The game will serve as Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski’s final game inside Cameron Indoor, and the game also carries a great significance when it comes to the NCAA Tournament picture.

On Saturday’s edition of ESPN’s College GameDay, the analysts discussed Duke’s path to earning a one seed in the NCAA Tournament. ESPN Bracketology expert Joe Lunardi believes that there is a path for the Blue Devils, as does Jay Bilas.

“There isn’t a more impactful game than the one in Cameron Indoor,” Lunardi said. “Duke has a path to the top line. It needs some help in the Big 12 and the SEC, where Auburn, Kentucky, Baylor and Kansas all need to lose to open up spots on the top line for the Blue Devils with an ACC Tournament title and a win tonight, which would also put at least one nail in the bubble hopes of North Carolina. That would make Cameron crazier than ever.”

Bilas on Duke’s hopes for a top NCAA Tournament seed if they win out: ‘It won’t be a question’

To Jay Bilas, who played under Krzyzewski at Duke, it won’t even be a question on whether or not Duke will be a one seed in the NCAA Tournament if the Blue Devils win out.

“If Duke wins out, all respect to Bracketology, Duke will be a number one seed,” Bilas said. “If they win out, they will be a number one seed. It won’t be a question.”

GameDay analyst LaPhonso Ellis believes that Duke’s resume already stacks up against the rest of the teams vying for a top seed. The emergence of AJ Griffin has also played a big role in Duke’s emergence as a true contender for the top line.

“They’ve beaten Gonzaga, they’ve beaten Kentucky, two teams that are in front of them,” Ellis said. “And I think another thing that should be taken into consideration – AJ Griffin has emerged into one of the best players, not only in this game, but one of the best players in the country. He averaged, what, nine minutes in those two games? So when you consider the fact that he’s the second best player on this team, along with those wins that they have, I could definitely see them sliding up to the one line.”

In ESPN’s latest Bracketology, Duke is listed on the two line with Wisconsin, Kentucky, and Kansas. Baylor, Auburn, Gonzaga, and Arizona are the four one seeds. Additionally, UNC is listed as one of the final four teams into the NCAA Tournament, so Duke can truly play a big role in the field with a win on Saturday night.