Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball Draws Closer to Archrival UNC in Poll

Duke basketball and UNC are no longer the only ranked ACC squads.

Matt Giles

Photo credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
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For four straight weeks, Duke basketball and rival UNC were the only ACC teams appearing in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll. But the conference, specifically Virginia, is gaining more respect in February, as the Cavaliers (19-5, 10-3) have joined the Blue Devils (18-5, 9-3) and Tar Heels (19-5, 11-2) with a ranking by their name.

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Duke, fresh off home wins over unranked Notre Dame and Boston College, stayed put at No. 9. UNC dropped four spots to No. 7 following a 1-1 record against unranked Clemson and Miami. And Virginia, riding an eight-game winning streak, reappeared at a season-high No. 21 after spending seven weeks outside the top 25.

Meanwhile, Clemson (16-7, 6-6), responsible for knocking UNC down a few notches by defeating the Tar Heels in Chapel Hill, is the only ACC representative among the nation's 20 unranked programs that are receiving votes this week.

As for Jon Scheyer's second batch of Blue Devils, who began the season at No. 2 in the AP Poll, the group fell as low as No. 22 in early December. Although not always in dominant fashion, Duke has won two in a row since losing at then-No. 3 UNC on Feb. 3, five of its past six, and 13 of its past 15 since almost disappearing from the rankings.

NEXT DUKE BASKETBALL GAME: at home versus unranked Wake Forest (16-7, 8-4 ACC), 7 p.m. ET Monday (ESPN)

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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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