Duke Extends Record Atop AP Top 25 as Top Teams Shuffle

Michigan State, Nebraska, and Texas Tech crash the top 10 as Duke remains No. 1 for second straight week.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Duke has extended its all-time record with the program's 149th appearance at No. 1 in the latest AP Top 25 men's college basketball poll. The Blue Devils received 55 of 59 first-place votes after dominant wins over Notre Dame and Virginia last week. Arizona, Michigan, UConn, and Florida round out the top 5, while Michigan State, Nebraska, and Texas Tech all cracked the top 10 with big jumps.

Why it matters

Duke's continued dominance at the top of the rankings highlights the program's sustained excellence, while the shuffling of teams in the top 10 reflects the competitive balance and parity in college basketball this season.

The details

Duke has been stifling on defense since its loss to North Carolina, holding its last six opponents to just 57 points per game on average. The Blue Devils routed Notre Dame and Virginia last week to cement their hold on the No. 1 spot. Meanwhile, Michigan State moved up five places to No. 8 after wins over Purdue and Indiana, while Texas Tech jumped six spots to No. 10 with victories over Cincinnati and Iowa State.

  • Duke has been No. 1 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, which has extended its record for most appearances at No. 1 in the AP Top 25 poll.

Arizona

The Arizona Wildcats men's basketball team, which received 4 first-place votes and is ranked No. 2 in the latest poll.

Michigan State

The Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team, which moved up 5 spots to No. 8 in the rankings.

Texas Tech

The Texas Tech Red Raiders men's basketball team, which jumped 6 spots to No. 10 in the poll.

Richie Saunders

The BYU Cougars' sharpshooting guard who suffered a season-ending knee injury, leading to BYU dropping out of the rankings.

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The takeaway

Duke's continued reign atop the AP Top 25 poll underscores the program's sustained excellence, while the shuffling of teams in the top 10 reflects the competitive balance and parity in college basketball this season.