Duke Basketball Moves Up One Position to the Top of the NET Ranking
Duke basketball is currently riding a four-game winning streak, which includes impressive victories over the No. 2-ranked Auburn Tigers at home and a hard-fought road win in the ACC opener against the Louisville Cardinals. The team is gaining strength, with new contributors emerging, including rookie Isaiah Evans, known as “Showtime Slim.” Evans is impressively shooting 50.0 percent from beyond the three-point line this season, adding another dimension to Duke’s offense.
In a recent development, Jon Scheyer’s third-year Duke squad saw a jump in the NCAA NET rankings, climbing to No. 3 despite having not played a game in five days. The rankings, used to evaluate teams for the NCAA Tournament, were influenced by the previous weekend’s results. The Blue Devils benefitted from the No. 4-ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs’ 77-71 loss to the UConn Huskies, the reigning back-to-back national champions. This loss caused Gonzaga’s NET ranking to drop, allowing Duke to move up. UConn, which now sits at No. 11 in the rankings, moved up dramatically after the victory in Madison Square Garden on Saturday.
Duke currently holds the No. 4 spot in the AP Top 25 Poll, but it ranks below two SEC teams in the NET rankings: Auburn (No. 1) and Tennessee (No. 2). With a record of 8-2 and 1-0 in ACC play, Duke has managed a solid 3-2 record in Quad 1 matchups, which refers to games against highly ranked teams. This ranks them behind only Auburn and Memphis in the win column for Quad 1 games. Additionally, the Blue Devils boast a perfect 1-0 record in Quad 3 games and a strong 4-0 performance in Quad 4 contests.
The ACC is well-represented in the NET rankings, with four other teams sitting in the top 50. The No. 12-ranked Pitt Panthers, coached by former Duke player Jeff Capel, are joined by the No. 19 Clemson Tigers, the No. 36 UNC Tar Heels, and the No. 39 SMU Mustangs. This strong presence highlights the competitiveness of the ACC this season.
Looking ahead, the Blue Devils will next face the George Mason Patriots (7-3, 0-0 in the Atlantic 10, No. 87 in the NET) in a home game scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on Tuesday. The game will be broadcast on the ACC Network, and Duke will look to continue building momentum as they aim to strengthen their position in both the national rankings and the NCAA Tournament picture.
In conclusion, Duke basketball is in an excellent position, both in terms of recent performance and its standing in national rankings. With key players like Isaiah Evans stepping up and the team continuing to collect wins, the Blue Devils are well on their way to a successful season under Jon Scheyer. Their climb in the NCAA NET rankings and strong showing in the AP Top 25 suggests that this team has the potential to compete at the highest level as the season progresses. The upcoming game against George Mason will be another opportunity for Duke to solidify its place among the nation’s elite programs.
