College Basketball Championship Week 2017: 5 biggest takeaways

By Chris Stone | Mar 12, 2017

Mar 11, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Grayson Allen (3) cuts the net 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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Here’s your weekly dive into what we took away from the last seven days of college hoops.

College basketball’s championship week brings with it the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Conference tournament upsets send unexpected teams to the NCAA Tournament and crush the dreams of some of the nation’s potential Cinderellas. It’s a week that also teaches us plenty about the college basketball landscape ahead of March.

Here’s a look at what we learned.

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 /

Duke back?

Buried in Sunday discussions about the Blue Devils’ rightful place in the field of 68 was the obvious question, is Duke back?! That’s obviously a bit of a joke as it’s a question that has consumed a significant amount of time and resources in college basketball media this season. The fact that the Blue Devils became the first team in ACC history to win four games in four days en route to the tournament trophy only intensified the inquiry.

The truth is that Duke is wha\t we always thought it was. The Blue Devils are the most talented team in the country and a favorite to win it all in Phoenix if everything comes together. Their roster is loaded from with experienced veterans like Amile Jefferson and Grayson Allen alongside a bevy of five-star recruits. Jayson Tatum’s game is continually developing in a good way. He looks better finishing at the rim and moving than ball now than he did back when he debuted in December. Harry Giles, the former top-rated recruit who has been hobbled by injuries, is also more consistently showing flashes of his potential.

The ACC tournament gave us a glimpse of what Duke is capable of. In the span of four days, they beat four KenPom top 40 teams, including Louisville, North Carolina and Notre Dame. The Blue Devils never left. They just need things to gel like they did in Brooklyn.

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