Bubble Watch 2021: Coach K and Duke inching closer to another bid

• ESPN Insider college basketball contributor
• First began covering college hoops in 2004
• Has written for Basketball Prospectus and the Wall Street Journal

When Duke lost at home to North Carolina at the beginning of February, conventional wisdom held that the Blue Devils were finished. Any true believers who thought otherwise were then further tested when Mike Krzyzewski’s team proceeded to lose its next game, at Notre Dame.

Duke hasn’t lost since. The Blue Devils have posted victories at NC State, at Wake Forest and, most crucially, at home against Virginia and now Syracuse.

This sudden turn of fortune for what was previously a 7-8 team has brought Coach K’s program at least within shouting distance of a 25th consecutive NCAA tournament bid. To be sure, Duke is by no means there yet, at least not if Joe Lunardi is correct. (Joe Lunardi is very often correct.)

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