Duke basketball, flaws and all, is back in the AP Top 25. Here’s where everyone stands
Duke enters the ACC tournament on its longest winning streak, and with a double bye, as it takes the No. 4 seed into Greensboro. And, as Blue Devil fans are quick to interject, their six game streak could — probably should — be at seven games if it weren’t for an errant call at the end of regulation in their loss at Virginia.
Duke is at No. 21 in the poll, its first time being ranked in eight weeks. Unlike the Blue Devils’ No. 7 preseason ranking, which was based largely on projecting from their incoming recruiting class, they earned their way into the poll.
The Blue Devils, like many of the teams ranked in the bottom five, are very much a flawed team. It will be a challenge to see if they can muster enough offensively to make a deep run in the NCAA tournament.
But one thing they do well is play to their strengths. They know how they have to play to be successful and they’ve embraced having a defensive identity. Last week’s wins over N.C. State and North Carolina proved as much.
Highest rise
Texas A&M jumped six spots to No. 18 powered by its 67-61 win over then-No. 2 Alabama. The Aggies surprised many finishing second in the Southeastern Conference as winners of eight of their last nine games.
Biggest drop
Tennessee fell five spots back to No. 17 after losing at Auburn. It feels like more of a projection of how they Volunteers will manage without injured point guard Zakai Zeigler than it is a reflection of how they played last week. Zeigler suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee three minutes into their win over Arkansas last Tuesday.
Indiana dropped four spots largely because of a 22-point home beat down suffered to Iowa. The Hawkeyes completed the season sweep of the Hoosiers, who escaped Michigan on Sunday 75-73 in overtime to finish tied for second with Northwestern in the Big Ten standings.
Welcome to the Top 25
There were no true newcomers to the poll this week. Duke, Missouri and Creighton are back in this week, but have all been ranked at some point this season.
Outta here
Pitt entered last week with a chance to win the ACC regular season title outright and at the least share it. The Panthers did neither, suffering road losses at both Notre Dame and Miami. And, far less ceremonious, losing their No. 20 ranking on my ballot in the process.
Maryland continued its pattern away from College Park this season. The Terps have looked at times like a Final Four contender at home. But on the road? Their only wins have come at Louisville — the last place team in the ACC — and at Minnesota — the last place team in the Big Ten. Maryland fell off from No. 23 on my ballot after losing at Ohio State and at Penn State.
Providence played like an overachiever for most of the season, but has now lost three of its past four, including back-to-back home losses to Xavier and Seton Hall. It’s not the way the Friars want to enter the postseason, falling from No. 20 out of the poll.
AP Top 25 poll
| Rk Team |
| 1. Houston |
| 2. UCLA |
| 3. Kansas |
| 4. Alabama |
| 5. Purdue |
| 6. Marquette |
| 7. Texas |
| 8. Arizona |
| 9. Gonzaga |
| 10. Baylor |
| 11. UConn |
12. Kansas State |
| 13. Virginia |
| 14. Miami |
| 15. Xavier |
| 16. St. Mary’s |
| 17. Tennessee |
| 18. Texas A&M |
| 19. Indiana |
20. San Diego St |
| 21. Duke |
| 22. TCU |
| 23. Kentucky |
| 24. Creighton |
| 25. Missouri |
C.L. Brown’s ballot
| Rk Team |
| 1. Houston |
| 2. UCLA |
| 3. Marquette |
| 4. Kansas |
| 5. Alabama |
| 6. Purdue |
| 7. Baylor |
| 8. Gonzaga |
| 9. Texas |
| 10. Arizona |
11. Kansas State |
| 12. Miami |
| 13. Virginia |
| 14. UConn |
| 15. Tennessee |
| 16. Indiana |
| 17. Xavier |
| 18. Texas A&M |
| 19. St. Mary’s |
| 20. Duke |
21. San Diego St |
22. West Virginia |
| 23. Vanderbilt |
| 24. Iowa State |
| 25. Providence |
This story was originally published March 6, 2023 at 9:24 AM.