That would make for an exciting showdown, both in terms of team dominance and individual player accolades. Auburn and Duke have been two of the most complete teams this season, with deep rosters and star players leading the way.
Auburn’s strength has been its depth, defensive intensity, and ability to play at a fast pace. Johni Broome has been the anchor in the paint, while the backcourt has provided consistent scoring and playmaking. If Auburn locks up the SEC title and performs well in the conference tournament, they could be in prime position for the No. 1 overall seed.
Duke, on the other hand, has a balanced attack with Kyle Filipowski leading the charge. If he continues putting up dominant numbers, he could be a frontrunner for National Player of the Year, especially if Duke wins the ACC and secures a top seed.
It’ll likely come down to conference tournament performances and how both teams finish the regular season.
Yeah, it really feels like Auburn and Duke are on a collision course this season. Not only are they dominating their respective conferences, but the individual battle between Johni Broome and Cooper Flagg for National Player of the Year adds another layer to the story.
Broome has been a force in the paint for Auburn, controlling both ends of the floor with his scoring, rebounding, and rim protection. His experience and leadership have been crucial to the Tigers’ success, and he’s been the most dominant big man in the country.
Flagg, on the other hand, has been everything people expected—an elite two-way player with the versatility to impact the game in so many ways. His defensive instincts, athleticism, and ability to create offense make him one of the most complete freshmen we’ve seen in a long time.
If both teams win out and take their conference tournaments, the committee will have a tough call on who gets the No. 1 overall seed. Right now, Auburn’s slight edge in record and overall consistency might give them the nod, but Duke has the star power and a tougher strength of schedule argument.
Auburn and Duke have been neck and neck all season, but Auburn’s ability to maintain the No. 1 spot even after a loss shows just how much respect they’ve earned. That February 8th night was a missed opportunity for Duke—if they had beaten Clemson, they likely would have overtaken Auburn in the polls after the Tigers’ loss to Florida.
The head-to-head win for Duke in December is a strong argument in their favor, but voters seem to value Auburn’s overall body of work more, especially with how they’ve handled SEC play. Their recent win over Georgia looks even better now that the Bulldogs took down Florida. The depth of competition in both the SEC and ACC is making the margin razor-thin between these two teams.
It’s looking like conference tournament play might be the deciding factor in both the No. 1 overall seed and the Player of the Year race. If Auburn and Duke both win their tournaments, we could see the debate go down to the wire. If one stumbles, the other will likely seize the top spot.
timeline for his return. Duke’s depth will be tested if Proctor is forced to miss extended time, especially with the ACC Tournament approaching.”
Duke’s back-to-back blowout wins, especially the 43-point dismantling of Illinois at MSG, were a statement. Borzello’s ranking shift reflects just how dominant the Blue Devils have looked lately. While Auburn still holds the No. 1 spot, Duke is making a strong case, and if they keep rolling through ACC play, they might push the Tigers for that top overall seed.
The big concern now is Tyrese Proctor’s knee injury. A bone bruise can be tricky—it’s not as severe as a ligament tear, but it can linger and affect mobility. Without Proctor, Duke will have to rely even more on Jeremy Roach and Caleb Foster in the backcourt, which could become an issue against elite defensive teams. No
