Since the sophomore campaign under current head coach Jon Scheyer, the Duke basketball program has never begun a season outside of the top 10.
For a large portion of the 2024–25 season, the Duke basketball team was the only ACC representative in the AP Top 25 Poll, or the Blue Devils and one other program were. In fact, according to national analysts, the once-premier conference has now strung together a few “down” years.
Additionally, given the ACC’s dismal roster builds thus far, some analysts predict that the league will have another poor season.
John Fanta revised his list of the top 25 for the 2025–2026 season on Thursday night. He anticipates only two ACC squads to have a rating by their name in Duke and Louisville:
The Cardinals are ranked No. 7, two spots higher than the Blue Devils at No. 9, but Fanta still ranks both in his top 10.
Duke basketball would begin a season with a single-digit ranking for the 18th consecutive year if they are ranked No. 9 or higher by the first week of November. The run started with a No. 8 preseason pick in 2008–09, the junior season of now 37-year-old head coach Jon Scheyer, who is getting ready for his fourth season in Durham.
Leave a Comment