CHARLOTTE, N.C. – In an electrifying performance at the ACC Championship game on Saturday night, Tyrese Proctor silenced his critics by breaking out of a shooting slump. After coming into the contest 0 for 10 from beyond the 3-point line in his previous two tournament games, Proctor made an impressive six 3-pointers, contributing significantly to Duke's victory. The No. 1 ranked Duke Blue Devils defeated the 13th-ranked Louisville Cardinals 73-62, clinching their second Atlantic Coast Conference championship in three seasons under head coach Jon Scheyer.
“He’s been playing great defense,” Scheyer noted regarding Proctor's performance. “The shots haven’t been falling for him lately, but we knew it was only a matter of time because he’s a killer.” This victory marks Duke's 23rd ACC title overall, solidifying their position as the team with the most championships in conference history—five more than their arch-rivals, the North Carolina Tar Heels, whom Duke defeated in a thrilling semifinal match, 74-71.
The Blue Devils not only captured the ACC tournament title but also secured the ACC regular-season championship. Tournament MVP Kon Knueppel added 18 points to Duke's tally, while Sion James contributed 15 points as Duke finished the tournament with a record of 31-3. Remarkably, Duke achieved this success without the ACC Player of the Year Cooper Flagg and Maliq Brown, who were sidelined due to injuries.
“Every game this season, everyone standing behind me stepped up, and tonight was no different,” said Scheyer. “So many guys made winning plays, and that has been the story of this team.” The Blue Devils are now focused on the upcoming NCAA Tournament, where they are guaranteed to be the No. 1 overall seed. Knueppel remarked, “Two down and one to go,” highlighting their aspirations for further success.
On the other side, the Louisville Cardinals faced a challenging game, despite an impressive performance from Terrence Edwards Jr., who scored 29 points, including five 3-pointers. This marked Louisville's first appearance in the ACC finals since joining the conference in 2014. Under first-year head coach Pat Kelsey, the Cardinals enjoyed an impressive regular season, finishing with an 18-2 record in conference play after struggling in previous years with a 5-37 record against ACC competition.
Kelsey praised his team for their effort, stating, “In the last three months, this team has lost twice. So I feel strongly in my heart that the best is yet to come.” Edwards echoed this sentiment, adding, “We are far from done,” as the team looks forward to the NCAA Tournament.
The championship game was tightly contested, featuring nine lead changes and neither team leading by more than five points in the first half. Duke managed to break the game open with a decisive 12-0 run midway through the second half, spurred by Proctor's 3-pointer in transition, giving them a 57-47 lead. Scheyer praised his team, stating, “We have a special group. They are connected. They show incredible fight and incredible heart, and that is what they did tonight.”
As both teams await their NCAA Tournament seedings, Duke's defensive prowess was evident, holding Louisville to just 9-of-35 shooting in the second half. Patrick Ngongba II's spinning drive along the baseline and subsequent free throws extended Duke's lead to 13 points with less than five minutes remaining in the game.
With the NCAA Tournament approaching, both teams are poised for potential deep runs, and fans eagerly await Selection Sunday to discover their paths in the postseason. For more updates and alerts on college basketball, including the AP Top 25, be sure to check the AP sports news hub.
