Duke Extends No. 1 Record in AP Top 25 as UConn Rises to No. 4

The Blue Devils received 55 of 59 first-place votes in the latest poll.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Duke remains the top-ranked team in the latest AP men's college basketball poll, extending its all-time record with the program's 149th appearance at No. 1. The Blue Devils received 55 of 59 first-place votes after dominant wins over Notre Dame and then-No. 11 Virginia last week. Arizona, Michigan, UConn, and Florida round out the top five.

Why it matters

Duke's continued dominance at the top of the rankings underscores the program's sustained excellence, while UConn's rise to No. 4 signals the Huskies' return to national prominence in men's basketball.

The details

Duke (27-2) has been stifling on defense since its loss to rival North Carolina on Feb. 7, holding its last six opponents to an average of 57 points per game. The Blue Devils opened the week by handing Notre Dame its worst home loss since 1898 with a 100-56 win, then crushed Virginia 77-51 on Saturday to clinch the top seed for the ACC Tournament.

  • Duke has been No. 1 in the AP poll for the second straight week.
  • Duke has now been ranked No. 1 a record 149 times in program history.

The players

Duke

The Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team, a perennial powerhouse in college basketball.

Arizona

The Arizona Wildcats men's basketball team, which received four first-place votes and is ranked No. 2 in the latest poll.

UConn

The University of Connecticut Huskies men's basketball team, which rose to No. 4 in the rankings.

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The takeaway

Duke's continued dominance at the top of the rankings underscores the program's sustained excellence, while UConn's rise to No. 4 signals the Huskies' return to national prominence in men's basketball.