Blue Devil Country

Upcoming Duke Basketball Tests Present Absurd Opportunity

Duke basketball enters a stretch that could result in a swift rise to No. 1 or a massive drop in a matter of weeks.
Matt Giles|
Duke basketball
Duke basketball | Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images

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Duke Blue Devils

If Jon Scheyer's third Duke basketball team is still undefeated in early December, there's little doubt that the Blue Devils (2-0, 0-0 ACC) will sit No. 1 in the country.

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On the flip slide, should 17-year-old freshman phenom Cooper Flagg and the rest of the thus-far dominant bunch repeatedly underperform under the bright lights of four ranked matchups in their next six outings, it wouldn't be surprising to see them lose the ranking by their name altogether.

As of the latest Associated Press Top 25 Poll released on Monday afternoon, the No. 6 Blue Devils, up one spot from where they began the season, face the following major tests in the next 24 days alone:

  • vs. No. 19 Kentucky Wildcats at the Champions Classic in Atlanta, 9 p.m. ET Tuesday (ESPN)
  • at No. 9 Arizona Wildcats in Tucson, 10:30 p.m. ET Friday, Nov. 22 (ESPN2)
  • vs. No. 1 Kansas Jayhawks at the Vegas Showdown in Las Vegas, 9 p.m. ET Tuesday, Nov. 26 (ESPN)
  • vs. No. 5 Auburn Tigers as part of the SEC/ACC Challenge, Durham, 9:15 p.m. ET, Wednesday, Dec. 4 (ESPN)

All four of those upcoming foes are currently 2-0. And except for the Jayhawks, who ranked No. 1 from the get-go, each climbed in the latest AP Top 25, highlighted by Auburn's six-spot leap.

Duke basketball and archrival UNC are again the only ranked ACC programs. The Tar Heels (1-1) dropped one notch to No. 10 this week following their 92-89 loss at Kansas on Friday night.

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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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