Duke’s place near the top of the early college basketball conversation isn’t budging.
In CBS Sports’ latest Top 25 and 1 rankings, released Monday by Gary Parrish, the Blue Devils held steady at No. 2 in September, sitting just behind Florida. The top 15 stayed unchanged in the update, and Duke remained right where it was before as practice gets going and the season draws closer.
That kind of stability says plenty about the roster Jon Scheyer has assembled. Duke brings back four of its top six scorers from last season’s Elite Eight team in Patrick Ngongba II, Caleb Foster, Cayden Boozer and Dame Sarr, giving the Blue Devils a strong returning base to go with a loaded incoming group. The mix of experienced pieces and high-end talent is a big reason Duke is drawing so much national attention again.
The Blue Devils also added transfer John Blackwell from Wisconsin and stacked another elite recruiting class on top of that. The class includes five-star prospects Cameron Williams, Deron Rippey Jr., Bryson Howard and Joaquim Boumtje, helping Duke land the No. 1 recruiting class overall.
For Scheyer, that combination of veterans and newcomers gives this roster a different kind of shape, but one with real upside. Duke’s offseason has been cleaner than some around the country, too, with the program not having to navigate the eligibility court rulings that have shuffled other teams’ plans.
The ranking also fits the broader picture around Duke’s schedule. Illinois is No.
3, UConn is No. 4 and Texas is No. 5 in the latest CBS Sports list, and Duke will face Florida, UConn and Illinois this season. That means the Blue Devils won’t have long to settle in before getting tested against some of the country’s best.
In Other News...
Former Duke Stars New Start In LA Just Hit A Worrying Snag
Brandon Ingrams new chapter in Los Angeles has already run into trouble before it really gets underway. After stops in Toronto and with the Lakers earlier in his career, the former Duke standout was traded to the Clippers this offseason, but he is now dealing with a partially torn Achilles tendon and recent heel surgery that cloud the beginning of his time with his new team.
Kon Knueppels situation adds another layer of concern for Duke fans keeping tabs on the NBA. The young Blue Devils product is expected to miss the entire preseason with a hamstring injury, and his availability for the regular-season opener is also in doubt, leaving two familiar names on the sidelines as the season approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Is Already Forcing A CFP Debate Nobody Saw Coming
Dukes undefeated start has already turned into something bigger than a feel-good opening run, because the Blue Devils are doing it in a way that forces people to rethink how far a strong September can carry in the College Football Playoff race. The rushing attack has been the engine, the schedule still has plenty of ACC games ahead, and for now the conversation is less about whether Duke belongs in the picture and more about how long it can keep forcing its way into it.
Heather Dinichs latest bubble watch only sharpened that tension, with Duke still on the outside of the projected field while Miami stands as the leagues lone expected entrant. Nate Sheppard has given the Blue Devils a legitimate weekly hammer on offense, but the real test is coming as the ACC slate tightens and the team tries to turn a hot start into something the playoff committee can no longer ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Duke Looks More Complete Than Ever Under Manny Diaz
Duke heads into its bye week at 4-0 in ACC play, and the clearest sign of Manny Diazs progress is how complete the Blue Devils have looked across the board. The quarterback room has produced steady play from Walker Eget, the backfield has gotten useful work from Nate Sheppard along with true freshmen CJ Givers and Jayvian Tanelus, and the defense has leaned on a front that keeps winning its share of snaps.
The latest example came against William & Mary, where Dukes defense controlled the line of scrimmage and the secondary again looked steadier than it did a year ago. Transfers Kyon Loud and Dylan Flowers have helped bring more stability on the back end, and the overall mix is starting to look like a team with real depth rather than just a few standout pieces, which makes the next stretch after the bye even more interesting. [Read more 🡒]