Duke Claims Number One Rank In AP Poll
DURHAM, NC – After starting the 2018-19 season 2-0, the Duke men’s basketball team has vaulted to No. 1 in this week’s Associated Press poll. This marks the 135th week all time that Duke has been ranked No. 1, a new college basketball record.
Duke had been ranked No. 1 a total of 134 weeks since the inception of the AP poll in 1949, tying UCLA for the most all-time. This week becomes the record 135th as the Blue Devils garnered 48 of the 65 first-place votes from AP voters.
Under head coach Mike Krzyzewski, Duke’s 117 weeks ranked in the top spot are the most among active coaches. Roy Williams is second with 59.
Kansas, which was No. 1 in the preseason poll, slips to is No. 2, followed by Gonzaga, Virginia and Tennessee to complete this week’s top five.
The Blue Devils spent the first five weeks of last season ranked No. 1, and are 228-35 (.867) all-time when playing as the No. 1-ranked team. Of Duke’s 135 weeks ranked in the top spot, 104 have come since the 1989-90 season – by far the most in college basketball. Kansas is second over that time at 57.
Duke hosts Eastern Michigan Wednesday at Cameron Indoor Stadium at 7 p.m.