Blue Devil Country

Predicting Duke Basketball Drop in Top 25 Rankings

Duke basketball may need another big winning streak to retain its standing as a projected top seed for March Madness.
Matt Giles|
Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer versus Clemson Tigers
Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer versus Clemson Tigers | Ken Ruinard-Imagn Images

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Duke Blue Devils

One drawback to competing against a relatively weak ACC this season is that Duke basketball cannot afford many setbacks if the No. 2-ranked Blue Devils (20-3, 12-1 ACC) are to secure a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

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While Duke hasn't fumbled that projected status, Saturday night's 77-71 road loss to the unranked Clemson Tigers (19-5, 11-2 ACC) could drop the Blue Devils near the edge of the top four when the next AP Top 25 Poll comes out on Monday afternoon.

Duke, No. 2 below Auburn for the past three weeks and still No. 2 in the NCAA NET Rankings as of Sunday's update, will likely slide only one notch to No. 3, with Auburn or Alabama in the top spot.

No. 1 Auburn (21-2, 9-1 SEC) suffered a 90-81 home defeat at the hands of No. 6 Florida (20-3, 7-3 SEC) on Saturday but blew out Oklahoma earlier in the week. No. 3 Alabama (20-3, 9-1 SEC) added an 85-81 win at Arkansas to its work history.

Plus, fanbases of teams sitting No. 4-6 could argue that the Blue Devils should tumble a bit further.

After all, No. 4 Tennessee (20-4, 7-4 SEC) picked up an 85-81 home victory over No. 15 Missouri before winning at Oklahoma, 70-52, on Saturday. Meanwhile, No. 5 Houston (19-4, 11-1 Big 12) remained atop the Big 12 by coming out on top against Colorado and Oklahoma State last week.

And in addition to snapping Auburn's 14-game winning streak, Florida posted a double-digit home win over Vanderbilt since the last update to the AP Top 25 Poll.

Jon Scheyer and his third Duke basketball squad look to begin a new winning streak when the Blue Devils, probably with a No. 3 by their name, welcome the unranked Cal Golden Bears (12-12, 5-8 ACC) to Cameron Indoor Stadium at 9 p.m. ET Wednesday (ACC Network).

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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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