After the Duke Blue Devils’ recent win against Louisville but a loss to Kentucky, their AP ranking will likely be impacted by several factors, including the strength of these teams, Duke’s performance, and the overall landscape of college basketball.
Impact of the Louisville Win:
Duke’s victory over Louisville, assuming it was dominant and reflective of the Blue Devils’ skill level, would likely provide a boost to their ranking. Louisville, while not ranked among the top teams, is still a power in the ACC, and defeating them shows Duke’s strength in conference play. A solid win in a major conference like the ACC is always significant, as the league is competitive and often produces high-level teams. If the victory was impressive, with notable individual performances, it could move Duke up or prevent a significant drop in the rankings.
Impact of the Kentucky Loss:
A loss to Kentucky, while disappointing, may not hurt Duke’s ranking as much as it would for a lesser opponent. Kentucky is traditionally a top-tier program and, depending on the nature of the loss (close or blowout), the Blue Devils’ ranking might only experience a small dip. A narrow defeat could be seen as a competitive game against another highly ranked team, which would allow Duke to remain in the higher tier of rankings. However, if the loss was a blowout, it could cause Duke to drop a few spots, depending on other results across the top 25.
Broader Context:
– **Strength of Schedule**: Duke’s ranking will also be influenced by the overall strength of their schedule. If the loss to Kentucky came in a non-conference matchup, it might be seen as a less detrimental result compared to losses within the ACC. The win against Louisville, though positive, doesn’t carry the same weight as beating a top-tier team, but it helps keep the Blue Devils in the conversation for a high ranking.
– **Other Teams’ Performances**: The outcome will depend heavily on the performances of other top teams. If teams like Kansas, Purdue, or Michigan State win their games, Duke might see little movement in the rankings. However, if other top teams lose, Duke could rise in the rankings despite the Kentucky setback.
Conclusion:
Duke will likely remain in the top 10 to 15 of the AP poll after the results against Louisville and Kentucky. Their ranking could range from 8th to 15th, depending on the margin of their loss to Kentucky and the performance of other teams. They have a strong enough resume and are still a favorite to make a deep run in the NCAA tournament, which will also factor into their positioning moving forward.
