Blue Devil Country

Duke Basketball Overtakes Rival in Latest Rankings

The Duke basketball team and its UNC counterpart remain the only ranked ACC squads.

Matt Giles

Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer
Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer / Dale Zanine-Imagn Images
In this story:

Friday night's 69-55 road win over the then-No. 17 Arizona Wildcats equated to just a single-spot rise for Jon Scheyer's third Duke basketball cast (4-1, 0-0 ACC) in this week's Associated Press Top 25 Poll released on Monday afternoon.

ALSO READ: Discouraging Injury Update for Duke Product Zion Williamson

Nevertheless, the Blue Devils' jump to No. 11 was sufficient to leapfrog the archrival UNC Tar Heels (3-1, 0-0 ACC), who dropped two notches to No. 12 despite their 1-0 mark last week via an 87-69 road victory over the previously unbeaten Hawaii Rainbow Warriors on Friday night.

For the fourth time in as many weeks this season, Duke and UNC are the only two ACC programs boasting a ranking their name. The Blue Devils began their campaign at No. 7 in the preseason poll, two notches above the Tar Heels, and climbed to No. 6 a week later before sliding to No. 12 following their Champions Classic loss to the now-No. 8 Kentucky Wildcats on Nov. 12.

Conceivably, Duke could soar as high as the top five next week. After all, the Blue Devils square off against the No. 1 Kansas Jayhawks (5-0, 0-0 Big 12) in the Vegas Showdown at 9 p.m. ET Tuesday (ESPN) before hosting the unranked Seattle Redhawks (2-3, 0-0 Western Athletic) at 7 p.m. ET Friday (ACC Network).

Duke basketball's highest ranking in the Jon Scheyer era came last year when the 2023-24 Blue Devils debuted at No. 2 in the preseason AP Top 25 Poll.

RELATED: Complete List of Former Duke Players Currently in the NBA

Stay tuned to Duke Blue Devils On SI for more Duke basketball news.

Published
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.

Home/Basketball