Duke has reclaimed the No. 1 spot in the AP men’s college basketball poll following a critical 68-63 victory over Michigan. This win propelled the Blue Devils two places up the rankings, marking their 148th appearance at the summit—more than any other program in history.
The triumph came against Michigan, which had shared an identical 25-2 record and had just been ranked at No. 1 the previous week. Duke secured 56 of the 61 first-place votes, overtaking Michigan, who slipped to No. 3 after their first top ranking since January 2013. This matchup featured the top two teams as per the NCAA men’s selection committee’s initial March Madness seeding.
Duke’s Stronghold at No. 1
Under fourth-year coach Jon Scheyer, Duke has sustained remarkable consistency. The Blue Devils hold a national-best 12 Quadrant 1 wins, reflecting success against the highest-caliber opponents. They have also recorded nine wins against AP Top 25 teams this season. Last year, Duke’s Final Four run reached No. 1 status in the final two polls before the NCAA tournament, indicative of Scheyer continuing the storied tradition set by legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski.
Arizona rose to No. 2 after impressive wins against BYU and Houston, securing the remaining five first-place votes. Meanwhile, Iowa State and Houston, two Big 12 teams, followed Michigan at Nos. 4 and 5 respectively.
Poll Movement and Highlights
- UConn dropped one spot to No. 6 after a home loss to Creighton.
- Defending national champion Florida surged five places to No. 7, returning to the top 10 for the first time since November. The Gators boast a seven-game winning streak and have won 12 of their last 13 games.
- Rounding out the top 10 are Purdue, Gonzaga, and Illinois.
The AP poll largely mirrors the NCAA selection committee’s preliminary top 16 seeds, with the same four teams projected as No. 1 seeds—Michigan, Duke, Arizona, and Iowa State—in a slightly different order. Iowa State climbed two spots despite a recent loss, aided by a tiebreaker win over Houston in the prior week.
Teams Rising and Falling in the Rankings
- Alabama made the biggest leap, advancing eight spots to No. 17 thanks to a thrilling double-overtime victory over Arkansas and a win at LSU, extending their streak to six.
- BYU and Florida also recorded notable rises, with BYU up four spots.
- Kansas and Vanderbilt experienced the steepest drops, each falling six places due to recent losses. Kansas was defeated at home by Cincinnati, while Vanderbilt lost two consecutive games after a strong start to the season.
- Saint Louis fell five spots after their 18-game winning streak ended with a loss at Rhode Island.
Eleven teams moved upward in the poll, while 11 others slipped yet stayed ranked. Illinois and Arkansas held their positions this week.
Conference Representation
The Big 12 leads with six teams in the rankings, followed by the Big Ten and Southeastern Conference with five each. The Atlantic Coast Conference has four teams ranked, while the Big East reports two. The West Coast Conference, Mid-American Conference, and Atlantic 10 each contributed one team to the AP Top 25.
Tennessee rejoined the rankings at No. 22 after victories over Oklahoma and Vanderbilt boosted their four-game winning streak. The Volunteers replaced Wisconsin, who dropped out after their loss at Ohio State.
This week’s AP poll reflects the high competitiveness and dynamic shifts in men’s college basketball as teams position themselves in the lead-up to March Madness. Duke’s ascent underscores their sustained excellence this season, reaffirming their legacy as a perennial powerhouse under Coach Jon Scheyer’s leadership.