Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball Enjoys Ranking Bump Despite Loss in Vegas

The Duke basketball squad has reentered the top 10 as it gears up to welcome No. 2 Auburn to Durham.

Matt Giles

Duke basketball forward Cooper Flagg
Duke basketball forward Cooper Flagg / Rob Kinnan-Imagn Images
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The stage is now set for one SEC/ACC Challenge showdown between teams sitting inside the top 10 of both polls released on Monday afternoon. Duke basketball, checking in at No. 9 in this week's Associated Press Top 25 Poll and USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, hosts the Auburn Tigers (7-0, 0-0 SEC), who rose to No. 2 in both polls, in Cameron Indoor Stadium at 9:15 p.m. ET Wednesday (ESPN).

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Jon Scheyer's Blue Devils (5-2, 0-0 ACC) saw a two-spot AP Poll jump despite their 75-72 loss to the top-ranked Kansas Jayhawks in Las Vegas on Tuesday night. Duke rebounded with a 70-48 home win over the unranked Seattle Redhawks on Friday night.

ALSO READ: 'Confidence Thing' Powers Veteran Blue Devil Tyrese Proctor

After the season's first four editions of the AP Poll included only two ACC programs in the Blue Devils and archrival UNC Tar Heels (4-3, 0-0), a third conference member joined the club this week, as Duke basketball alum Jeff Capel's Pitt Panthers (7-1, 0-0) made their debut at No. 18.

As for the Tar Heels, who are in the midst of a two-game losing streak after falling to Auburn and the unranked Michigan State Spartans on consecutive days at the Maui Invitational last week, they dropped eight notches to No. 20 this week.

ALSO READ: Former Duke Big Man Jahlil Okafor Prioritizing Return to NBA

Stay tuned to Duke Blue Devils On SI 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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