As the NCAA Tournament first round inches closer, it’s officially gut-check time for bracket visionaries. The consensus since Champ Week concluded on Sunday, is to pick chalk. The favorites are here for a reason.

The No. 1-ranked Duke Blue Devils, after winning the ACC championship, are the No. 1 seed for the NCAA Tournament East Region, which means starting its expected run to the Final Four close to home.

Duke women's basketball earned a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, setting the Blue Devils on a crash course to face UNC in the Sweet 16.

Duke freshman Cooper Flagg appeared to injure his left ankle after slipping under the basket and was helped to the locker room by two teammates late in the first half. He did not return.

Duke and Houston retained their respective spots at No. 1 and No. 2 in the latest AP Top 25 college basketball poll released Monday for a second consecutive week. Duke earned 49 first-place votes on the heels of winning the ACC championship,