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As the 2026 college basketball exhibition schedule draws to a close this week, programs across the nation are finalizing their preparations with less than seven days remaining before the new season tips off.
The Duke Blue Devils are once again carrying lofty expectations into the campaign. Despite suffering a disappointing loss to UConn in the Elite Eight last season, the Blue Devils have reloaded their roster and are determined not only to return to that stage but also to make a deeper run in the NCAA Tournament.
Head coach Jon Scheyer and his staff have assembled another impressive roster that is expected to rank among the best in all of college basketball. Duke is positioned in the top three of both the Associated Press Top 25 and the Coaches polls for the preseason.
With the upcoming season on the horizon, Matt Norlander of CBS Sports has released his updated Top 100 and 1 rankings for the new campaign. In this edition, Norlander evaluated teams based on the new 76-team NCAA Tournament format, categorizing them as follows: schools ranked 1-15 are national title hopefuls, those in the top 22 or so are Final Four contenders, teams in the top 35 are Sweet 16 candidates, and those in the top 65 are at-large and bubble candidates.
For the Blue Devils, they check in at No. 2 overall, trailing only No. 1 Florida in Norlander's rankings. That placement comes as little surprise, as Duke and Florida are widely regarded as the top two teams heading into the new season. The Gators may be receiving slightly more attention in the polls and rankings, but the margin is narrow, and it is clear that Duke is right behind them.
The most intriguing aspect? These two teams will meet this season in the ACC/SEC Challenge down in Florida.
Norlander notes that Duke is once again loaded and is even ranked ahead of Florida on metric sites BartTorvik.com, EvanMiya.com, and KenPom.com. He also points out that the Blue Devils are bringing back key players such as Dame Sarr, Patrick Ngongba, Caleb Foster, and Cayden Boozer. In addition, they welcome newcomers John Blackwell and talented freshman Joaquin Boumtje Boumtje, two players who should see early playing time and contribute right away for the Blue Devils.
The next highest-ranked ACC team is Virginia at No. 11, followed by Louisville at No. 15. Duke's rival, North Carolina, checks in at No. 32 in the first year under head coach Michael Malone.
Key Analysis
Duke's No. 2 ranking in CBS Sports' Top 101 underscores the program's sustained excellence under Jon Scheyer. While the Blue Devils are not the unanimous top pick—Florida holds that distinction in Norlander's list—the gap between the two is minimal, and advanced metrics actually favor Duke. The return of seasoned contributors like Sarr, Ngongba, Foster, and Boozer provides a solid foundation, while the addition of Blackwell and Boumtje Boumtje adds fresh talent that could make an immediate impact. The ACC/SEC Challenge matchup against Florida will serve as an early-season litmus test for both squads and could have significant implications for NCAA Tournament seeding. With Virginia and Louisville also ranked in the top 15, the ACC appears poised for another competitive season, and North Carolina's No. 32 ranking reflects the transition under new head coach Michael Malone.
Originally reported by yahoo.