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Blue Devils Win ACC Championship

By Chris Brown

Mar 11, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Duke Blue Devils players hold the championship trophy after defeating against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the ACC Conference Tournament Final at Barclays Center. Duke Blue Devils won 75-69. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 11, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Duke Blue Devils players hold the championship trophy after defeating against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the ACC Conference Tournament Final at Barclays Center. Duke Blue Devils won 75-69. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /
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Duke put together another second half comeback against Notre Dame to beat the Fighting Irish and win the 2017 ACC Tournament Championship!

The Duke Blue Devils made ACC history by becoming the first team to win the tournament championship by winning four consecutive games. The most impressive part is the way the games were played and the opponents. Duke beat a Clemson team that needed a win to get into the NCAA Tournament, and then three won three straight against “Final Four caliber teams” while trailing at some point in the second half in each one.

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    • Duke played well out the gate to start the game, but the Fighting Irish were able to remain within striking distance. The Blue Devils had no answer for Notre Dame forward Bonzie Colson in the first half, who dominated against Duke. After halftime, it was the Irish who came out on fire and took the lead. The Blue Devils trailed by 8 with about 11:36 to go down 48-56. Duke was able to comeback by forcing a few turnovers and going to Amile Jefferson who scored 4 straight points, grabbed key rebounds, and recorded a block in a key stretch.

    After going back and forth for a few minutes, Colson tied the game at 65 with a huge three pointer. Then, Jayson Tatum took over scoring six points and assisting on a clutch three to Matt Jones, who was scoreless since the semifinal matchup against UNC. Clutch free throw shooting and key stops down the stretch helped seal the 75-69 victory for Duke.

    Tatum led the Blue Devils with another great ACC Tournament performance recording 19 points and 8 rebounds. Luke Kennard added 16, Jefferson recorded 14, and Grayson Allen scored 10 off the bench. Duke players were honored throughout the ACC Tournament teams, with Luke Kennard earning Tournament MVP honors. Kennard and Tatum joined the First Team while Allen, Jefferson, and freshman guard Frank Jackson were all All-Tournament Second Team selections.

    Next: Duke Wins Tobacco Road Rivalry Part 3 in ACC Tourney

    This victory also gives Duke a conference-best 20th tournament championship and the 14th for Coach K. He also became the winningest coach in the ACC Tournament en route to the title game this year. The Blue Devils are now waiting for their NCAA Tournament bid, which will be announced later tonight for Selection Sunday. With the conference tourney championship, Duke is projected to go as high as a 1-seed but we’ll have to wait to find out.

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