Blue Devil Country

Where Duke Basketball Ranks Among All Programs Since 1998

The KenPom formula labels Duke basketball as the unmatched 1998-present program.

Matt Giles

Photo credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
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Across the past 26 years, UConn leads the way with five NCAA Tournament titles, UNC and Michigan State boast the most Final Four appearances with eight apiece, and Kansas and Michigan State are the only schools to play in every Big Dance. But Duke basketball ranks No. 1 overall, according to the KenPom Program Ratings.

Between 1998 and the present, the Blue Devils, now in the second season with Jon Scheyer at the helm following Duke basketball legend Mike Krzyzewski's 42-year reign, have cut down the nets in April three times: 2001, 2010, 2015. That's tied with their archrival Tar Heels for the second most.

And the Blue Devils' six trips to the Final Four (1999, 2001, 2004, 2010, 2015, 2022) are tied with Kansas and UConn, trailing only UNC and Michigan State.

On Sunday night, the College Basketball Report social media account posted KenPom's calculated ranking of the top 20 programs since 1998:

Interestingly, Tennessee is the only program in the top 20 that hasn't been to a Final Four since 1998. In fact, the Volunteers, who ended Scheyer's first campaign as Duke head coach in last year's NCAA Tournament Round of 32 battle in Orlando, Fla., have never reached the Final Four.

As for this season, the KenPom formula, including a variety of metrics from schedule strength and adjusted efficiencies to luck, ranks the Blue Devils (16-5, 7-3 ACC) at No. 15, eight spots below where they sit in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll.

However, KenPom factors in Duke's 93-84 loss at UNC (No. 8 KenPom, No. 3 AP) on Saturday night. The updated weekly AP Poll doesn't come out until Monday afternoon, and the Blue Devils may drop a couple of spots there.

Duke Collapses in Effort Department Against Tar Heels

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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