Duke now No. 2 in USA TODAY Sports poll
by Eddie Timanus, USA TODAY Sports
Coach Mike Krzyzewski’s Duke Blue Devils are putting together an impressive resume already — and it’s still November.
So what’s Duke’s reward for beating two teams ranked in the top five? Another top-five opponent, of course. Well, and a No.2 ranking for itself.
Duke vaulted to second behind No.1 Indiana in the latest USA TODAY Sports coaches poll after its tournament title in the Bahamas that finished with a victory against then-No.2 Louisville. That added to the Blue Devils’ earlier victory against Kentucky, which was ranked third in the preseason, gives them arguably the most impressive set of wins to date in the young season.
A few voters have noticed; four of the 31 coaches on the panel picked Duke No.1. They have little time to rest on their laurels, however, as No. 4 Ohio State is up next Wednesday as part of the ACC-Big Ten challenge.
Indiana retained the other 27 No.1 votesand still tops the rankings, as it has since the preseason.
The Hoosiers face No.13 North Carolina Tuesday as part of the same event. Michigan crept two poll points ahead of Ohio State for the No. 3 spot following the Wolverines’championship in the NIT Season Tip-off at Madison Square Garden.
Syracuse rounds out the top five with Louisville slipping to No. 6.
No.19 Colorado heads a group of four newcomers to the poll this week.
Maui Invitational champion Illinois comes in at No. 22 despite a narrow win against Gardner Webb on Sunday.
Also moving in are No. 23 New Mexico and No. 25 Georgetown, which lost to Indiana in overtime of Legends Classic tournament Tuesday.
… [For more on Duke now No. 2 in USA TODAY Sports men's basketball poll, click here.]
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