That’s what made Saturday’s 82-69 win so remarkable for the Blue Devils. It wasn’t the grand, season-saving spectacle the Tar Heels hoped for, needed and often threatened to deliver, but another comfortable Duke win in a sea of 27 others.

No. 1 Duke headlines the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament that begins this week in Charlotte, North Carolina.

While North Carolina kept it interesting, Duke escaped its rival on the road, closing out the regular season with a 82-69 win. Four of Duke’s starters finished with double digits, and the visitors demolished the Tar Heels on the glass 39-26.

Madness looms closer, Duke star Cooper Flagg and the team learned a key assistant coach in Jon Scheyer's staff will be leaving the program after the season.

After a lopsided triumph over Wake Forest, Duke head coach Jon Scheyer dropped a bold reminder to Cooper Flagg and the rest of the team about the challenges ahead, as they gear up for March Madness.

It's foolish to punish Flagg for beating up on the teams on Duke’s schedule, or to ignore his excellence in the team’s marquee matchups.