The Duke Blue Devils walked into Madison Square Garden on Saturday night with an unblemished record and a 17-point lead against No. 15 Texas Tech.
They walked out with their first loss of the season - an 82-81 heartbreaker that reminded everyone just how quickly momentum can swing in college basketball. Now sitting at 11-1, Duke still holds one of the strongest resumes in the country, but the slip-up has cost them in the latest AP Poll.
Duke dropped three spots, from No. 3 to No. 6, in the new rankings. That slide places them behind Arizona, Michigan, Iowa State, UConn, and Purdue. You could make a case that Duke’s narrow loss to a top-15 opponent is more forgivable than Purdue’s 81-58 home blowout against Iowa State, but the committee leaned toward rewarding the Boilermakers - a reminder that timing, context, and margin still matter in the eyes of voters.
Still, there’s little reason for panic in Durham. Jon Scheyer’s squad remains one of the most complete teams in the country, and a one-point loss in December doesn’t erase the work they’ve put in over the first month and a half of the season. But it does serve as a wake-up call - especially with conference play looming.
Louisville, the ACC’s next-highest ranked team, also took a hit in the rankings after an 83-62 loss at No. 19 Tennessee on December 16.
The Cardinals fell five spots, from No. 11 to No. 16, and now sit at 10-2. Both of their losses have come against ranked opponents, which keeps them in respectable standing, but the blowout nature of the Tennessee game raised some eyebrows.
For a team that’s been flying under the radar nationally, this was a missed opportunity to make a statement on the road.
Meanwhile, North Carolina held steady at No. 12, showing consistency in a season where volatility has been the norm across the top 25. The Tar Heels didn’t move up or down, but staying put in a chaotic week speaks volumes.
Virginia, on the other hand, used a quality win over Maryland - 80-72 - to climb two spots to No. 21.
That’s a team quietly building momentum, and if they can string together a few more wins, they’ll be knocking on the door of the top 15 soon enough.
The ACC, as a whole, remains well-represented in the poll with four teams in the top 25. Beyond that, California, Clemson, Miami, and NC State all received votes, signaling that the depth of the conference is still very real - even if the top-tier teams took a hit this week.
It’s worth noting that while the AP Poll in December doesn’t define a season, it does shape perception - and perception matters when it comes to seeding, scheduling, and national attention. The ACC may not have a team in the top three anymore, but with depth, experience, and several marquee matchups ahead, there’s still plenty of time for the conference to reassert itself at the top of the national conversation.