Why Duke's ACC championship win is tied to the 'Belichick Effect'

Duke added another historic chapter to one of the most successful athletic years in school history Saturday night.

The Blue Devils defeated Virginia 74-70 to capture the ACC men’s basketball tournament championship and complete an unprecedented sweep of the conference’s three major team titles. With the victory, Duke became the first school to win the ACC football championship along with both the men’s and women’s basketball tournament titles in the same academic year.

The rare across-the-board achievement in Durham shows Duke’s dominance across multiple sports in the ACC. Some on social media have called it the Bill "Belichick Effect." Duke hasn't lost a major ACC championship since he was hired at UNC. Could this be a curse in the making? 

The Blue Devils’ men’s program continued its recent dominance in Charlotte, claiming a second straight ACC Tournament crown despite playing shorthanded. Duke was without starters Caleb Foster and Pat Ngongba but still found a way to outlast a Virginia team, who gave them fits in a close matchup.

More: BYU became the team no one wants to face in the NCAA Tournament

Freshman standout Cameron Boozer was named ACC Tournament Most Valuable Player, though he admitted afterward he was surprised by the honor after a difficult shooting night. Boozer finished just 3-for-17 from the field, but Duke relied on defense and timely scoring to secure the win.

The title further strengthens Duke’s case to be the No. 1 overall seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. We'll find out soon if that happens.

Under fourth-year head coach Jon Scheyer, the Blue Devils have maintained remarkable consistency. Duke has won three ACC Tournament titles and two regular-season championships in Scheyer’s four seasons while compiling a 67-6 record over the past two years. This season’s success is particularly notable considering Duke entered the year with a completely new starting lineup.