Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski was clear when asked about Virginia NCAA Tournament case on Wednesday night.

“It’d be a sin if they’re not in the NCAA tournament,” Krzyzewski told reporters after the game. “It almost makes me be like, ‘What am I talking about?’ They have to be in. They’re that good. They really are that good, and Tony’s that good.”

Those comments came after Duke’s narrow 65-61 win over the Cavaliers on Wednesday night. Virginia would have had a chance to sweep the season series vs. Duke if not for a pair of clutch shots by freshman AJ Griffin.

Virginia’s NCAA Tournament case is a complicated one. The Cavaliers struggled mightily early in the season, picking up losses to programs like Navy and James Madison.

But they’ve rebounded over the last couple months and have become one of the more consistent teams in the ACC. They’ve won five of seven games down the stretch, with the only losses coming vs. Duke and on the road at Virginia Tech.

Virginia has three Quad 1 victories, which may help separate itself from other bubble teams. For instance, the Hokies — also on the bubble — don’t have any such wins.

If the Cavaliers win their final two games against Florida State and Louisville and win a couple more contests in the ACC Tournament, it will be hard to keep them out of the Field of 64.

Virginia hosts Florida State on Saturday.