Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball Gets Season's Biggest Boost in Stock on Christmas Day

Duke basketball is back in the top 20 following last week's big-time victory.

Matt Giles

Photo credit: John Jones-USA TODAY Sports
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On Christmas Day, Duke basketball rose five spots, its biggest single-week jump this season, and now sits at No. 16 in the latest edition of the Associated Press Top 25 Poll. It marks only the third time that the team bumped its ranking from the previous week.

The Blue Devils (8-3, 0-1 ACC), whose lone contest last week resulted in an impressive 78-70 win over then-No. 10 Baylor in New York City's Madison Square Garden, began the year at No. 2 in the country. They fell to a season-low No. 22 earlier this month following back-to-back road losses to still-unranked Arkansas and Georgia Tech.

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Duke is one of only three ACC squads in this week's AP Poll, along with No. 9 UNC and No. 18 Clemson.

This week's top five is unchanged from the last go-round, with Purdue leading the way, followed by Kansas, Houston, Arizona, and UConn.

Next on the slate for second-year Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer and his Blue Devils is a home game against unranked Queens in Cameron Indoor Stadium at 2 p.m. ET Saturday (The CW), their last non-conference outing of the regular season. Three days later, the Blue Devils host unranked Syracuse in Durham.

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Stay tuned to Blue Devil Country on SI.com for more Duke basketball news.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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