Duke University

Saying that Duke (27-8, 11-7 ACC) had a difficult road to March Madness would be an understatement. After being defeated in the Elite 8 by No. 1-seeded Oregon, the team looks to rebound this year. The 2016-17 season was not kind to Duke, however, as numerous starters fell to injury and key losses to teams such as Kansas, Syracuse and Miami began to pile up. When a loss to North Carolina at Chapel Hill finished its regular season, Duke responded with a sweep of the ACC tournament, culminating in a 75-69 win over Notre Dame. Seeded second overall in the East, it will face off against Troy on March 17. This season of hardships and a championship in Brooklyn has surely lit a fire within the Blue Devils that will carry the team to the title.