Duke Basketball Ranks Higher Than Expected in Preseason Poll A Familiar Place with Fresh Faces
For the 18th straight year, the Duke Blue Devils will open the college basketball season ranked inside the AP Top 10, an achievement that continues to underline the program’s enduring consistency. But this year’s ranking No. 6 in the preseason AP Top 25 has come as a pleasant surprise to many, even among Duke fans.
It’s one spot higher than where last year’s Cooper Flagg-led squad began their campaign, and it marks another vote of confidence in head coach Jon Scheyer, who now enters his fourth season at the helm in Durham.
A Blue Blood Standard That Never Fades
In an era defined by constant roster turnover and the unpredictability of the transfer portal, Duke’s ability to remain a top-10 program year after year is no small feat.
Scheyer’s teams have now opened the season ranked No. 7 or higher in each of his four years as head coach. That consistency mirrors his own playing days under Mike Krzyzewski, when the Blue Devils opened the 2008-09 season ranked eighth in the nation.
This year’s No. 6 ranking is the second-highest starting point of Scheyer’s coaching career, only behind the No. 2 preseason slot the Blue Devils earned two seasons ago.
Even more impressive Duke once again stands as the highest-ranked team in the ACC, ahead of No. 11 Louisville and No. 25 North Carolina, further cementing their position as the conference’s gold standard.
The Schedule and the Road Ahead
Duke’s 2025–26 campaign begins on Tuesday, November 4, when they face Texas at Charlotte’s Spectrum Center in a primetime showdown on ESPN.
Before that, Scheyer’s team will play two exhibitions one against UCF inside Cameron Indoor Stadium (Oct. 21) and another on the road versus No. 18 Tennessee (Oct. 26).
It’s a schedule designed to challenge, not comfort. The Blue Devils will get an early chance to measure themselves against battle-tested competition before the regular-season grind begins.
For a program that finished third in last year’s final AP Poll after a deep run to the Final Four, expectations are once again sky-high.
A New-Look Duke with Familiar Ambitions
While Cooper Flagg has moved on to the NBA, this year’s Duke roster has plenty of intrigue. Isaiah Evans, a sophomore guard who shot 41.6% from three last season, is expected to take on a much larger role in the backcourt.
Evans’ improvement particularly his confidence as a perimeter shooter and his decision-making under pressure has the coaching staff excited about his potential breakout.
Alongside him will be Cameron Boozer, the No. 3-ranked player in the 2025 class and the son of Duke legend Carlos Boozer. The freshman forward has already shown flashes of his father’s physicality but combines it with a modern, face-up game that makes him a matchup nightmare.
Patrick Ngongba II Poised for a Breakout Season
One player who might change everything for Duke this year is Patrick Ngongba II.
The 6-foot-11 sophomore center was overshadowed last season by first-round draft picks and hampered by a nagging foot injury that limited him to 30 games. But inside Duke’s locker room, there’s quiet confidence that Ngongba could be this season’s breakout star.
He’s slimmed down, added muscle, and spent the offseason refining his touch around the rim. What makes Ngongba so valuable, though, isn’t just his size it’s his mobility. Few big men in the country run the floor like he does, and his ability to defend multiple actions in pick-and-roll situations gives Duke a defensive anchor they sorely need.
As a freshman, he offered glimpses of his potential, most memorably in the ACC Tournament against North Carolina, where he scored 12 points on a perfect 6-for-6 shooting night.
At this year’s Countdown to Craziness, Ngongba’s explosiveness drew loud roars from the crowd inside Cameron Indoor Stadium. His rebounding, rim protection, and improved passing have earned him praise from teammates and coaches alike.
“He’s ready,” one assistant coach said earlier this fall. “He’s healthy, confident, and understands how important he can be to what we’re trying to do.”
Scheyer’s Steady Hand at the Helm
Jon Scheyer’s journey from Duke guard to Duke head coach has been filled with pressure, comparisons, and expectations. But now, in year four, it feels like he’s building his version of Duke one that blends the tradition of the program with the demands of today’s game.
Scheyer has embraced modern basketball concepts: spacing, pace, and versatility. His recruiting remains elite, but what’s changed most is Duke’s balance. They’re no longer just a collection of future pros; they’re a team built to win now.
That’s what makes this No. 6 ranking so interesting it’s both a recognition of talent and an acknowledgment of structure. The Blue Devils have the pieces, but they also have cohesion.
A Familiar Feeling in Durham
Duke fans have grown used to lofty rankings, but this one feels different. It comes after heartbreak last year’s Final Four loss to Houston and a sense of unfinished business.
This group might not have a generational prospect like Flagg, but they have something that might matter more: experience, chemistry, and hunger.
When the lights go on in Charlotte on November 4, all eyes will be on Scheyer’s new-look Blue Devils. And once again, the rest of the college basketball world will be watching to see if Duke can live up to the number beside its name or surpass it.
Final Thought:
Eighteen straight years in the top 10. Four straight under Scheyer. A mix of youth, hunger, and experience.
The names may change, but the message remains the same Duke basketball is still very much Duke basketball.
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