In the most recent AP Poll, Duke basketball drops one spot below Kentucky.
The Duke Blue Devils experienced a slight dip in the men’s basketball AP Poll this past Monday, falling one spot but still remaining within the top five with an 8-2 record. Duke’s only game last week was a 72-46 victory over Incarnate Word at home, which, while commanding, wasn’t as dominant as the score might suggest. At one point in the first half, the Blue Devils only led by two points with about six minutes remaining. This slow start against the Cardinals gave an opening for the Kentucky Wildcats to leapfrog Duke into the No. 4 spot.
Duke had previously been defeated by Kentucky in an earlier matchup, but they managed to regain some momentum with a solid victory over Auburn, a one-loss team from the SEC. That victory helped Duke retain its position near the top of the rankings. Auburn, currently ranked No. 2, trails only the undefeated Tennessee Volunteers, while the Iowa State Cyclones hold steady at No. 3, rounding out the top five teams in the nation.
Meanwhile, the Clemson Tigers, the only other ACC team to appear in the AP Poll, took a significant tumble. After their second loss, Clemson fell a staggering nine places, landing at the very bottom of the rankings.
Despite the somewhat shaky performance against Incarnate Word, Duke’s standing within the top five is a testament to their overall strength and potential for the rest of the season. With key matchups ahead, including conference games, the Blue Devils will need to maintain consistency and build on their strengths to avoid any further slips in the rankings.
