Duke Holds Firm at No. 4 in Rankings, Eyes Statement Week Ahead
The Duke Blue Devils are off to a perfect 8-0 start, and the national polls are taking notice - or rather, staying the course. For the second straight week, Duke holds steady at No. 4 in both the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll and the AP Top 25, released Monday, Dec.
- It’s a sign of both respect and expectation: the Blue Devils are playing like a top-tier team, and now come two chances to prove they belong even higher.
Boozer’s Big Night Boosts Blue Devils
Duke’s latest win came on Thanksgiving Day, and it was anything but a holiday break. Facing then-No.
23 Arkansas, the Blue Devils pulled out an 80-71 victory behind another monster performance from freshman sensation Cameron Boozer. The highly touted forward dropped 35 points - his second 35-point outing of the season - and once again looked like the most dominant player on the floor.
But Boozer wasn’t alone. Caleb Foster stepped up with a season-high 15 points and dished out a career-best eight assists, showing poise and control in the backcourt that Duke will need as the schedule ramps up. This wasn’t just a win - it was a showcase of the team’s growing chemistry and depth.
A Defining Week on Deck
Now comes the real test. Duke faces two ranked teams this week, starting with a marquee matchup at home against No.
15 Florida on Tuesday, Dec. 2.
The Gators are the defending national champions and bring a physical, defensive-minded identity that should clash in fascinating ways with Duke’s up-tempo, high-efficiency offense. It’s part of the third annual ACC/SEC Challenge - and it has the makings of a December game that feels like March.
Then, on Saturday, Dec. 6, the Blue Devils hit the road for a clash with Tom Izzo’s Michigan State Spartans, currently ranked No. 8 in the Coaches Poll and No. 7 in the AP. That one will be a battle of bluebloods, and a true road test for a Duke team that’s looked the part so far but hasn’t faced a hostile environment like the one awaiting them in East Lansing.
Where Duke Stands in the Rankings
In the USA TODAY Coaches Poll, Duke received one first-place vote and remains the highest-ranked team from the ACC. Louisville (No. 6) and North Carolina (No. 17) are the next closest conference rivals, while NC State and Virginia are on the outside looking in but still picking up votes.
The AP Poll tells a similar story. Purdue (No.
1), Arizona (No. 2), and Michigan (No. 3) are the only teams ahead of Duke. Once again, the Blue Devils lead the ACC pack, with Louisville at No. 6 and UNC at No.
But it’s not just the traditional polls where Duke is making noise. In the first NCAA NET rankings of the season - a key metric used by the selection committee in March - Duke comes in at No. 2, just behind Michigan. That’s a strong early indicator of how well the Blue Devils are performing across efficiency metrics, strength of schedule, and quality wins.
They’ve slipped slightly in some of the advanced analytics rankings, falling from No. 1 to No. 3 in KenPom, now trailing Michigan and Purdue. But they’re still holding strong at No. 2 in both the EvanMiya and Bart Torvik rankings, again just behind Michigan.
The Bigger Picture
What we’re seeing from Duke right now is the early formation of a team that could make a deep run come March. Boozer is already playing like a seasoned star, and the supporting cast is rounding into form. Foster’s emergence as a playmaker adds another layer to an already potent offense.
But this upcoming week is about more than rankings - it’s about identity. Can Duke outlast a gritty Florida team in a physical battle?
Can they handle the pressure and intensity of a road showdown with a top-10 Michigan State squad? These are the kinds of games that shape a season - and define a contender.
The Blue Devils have passed every test so far. Now, two more are waiting.