Opinions regarding the AP poll: Duke’s men’s basketball team drops to the 11th spot, while North Carolina rises to 4th place.
In a crucial showdown with a share of the ACC regular-season title at stake, Duke narrowly missed a comeback in front of its home crowd at Cameron Indoor Stadium. This highly anticipated rivalry clash featured two top 10 teams: North Carolina ranked 7th and Duke ranked 9th. Duke entered the game following a dominant win against N.C. State, triumphing 79-64. However, it was North Carolina who proved to be better prepared, seizing an early lead in the first half and maintaining their advantage.
Senior guard RJ Davis and graduate center Armando Bacot, familiar faces to the Blue Devils, were overshadowed by Notre Dame transfer Cormac Ryan, who propelled North Carolina to victory with a standout performance. Ryan scored a season-high 31 points, shooting an impressive 66.7% from the field and sinking 6 out of 8 three-point attempts. When Duke applied pressure in the final minutes, it was Ryan who delivered a critical three-pointer and made two clutch free throws, silencing the Cameron Crazies.
Despite a lackluster performance from much of the Duke squad, sophomore center Kyle Filipowski showcased resilience, leading his team with 23 points and making two crucial three-pointers in the second half. Duke managed to outscore North Carolina 48-44 in the second half, but their late surge wasn’t enough to erase the early deficit. Ultimately, North Carolina emerged victorious, completing the season sweep. As they headed into the ACC Tournament, Duke dropped to 11th in the AP Poll, while North Carolina climbed back into the top five at 4th.
In the SEC, the Wildcats had their sights set on an upset as they faced off against Tennessee. Ranked 15th at the time, Kentucky extended their winning streak to five games by defeating the 4th-ranked Tennessee team. Senior guard Antonio Reeves and freshman guard Reed Sheppard led the charge for the Wildcats, both contributing 27 points. Reeves, the team’s leading scorer, impressed with a 60% accuracy rate from beyond the arc and shooting 8-of-16 from the field. Sheppard, a rookie from Kentucky, showcased his talent by hitting 7 out of 10 three-point attempts off the bench. Despite a remarkable performance from Tennessee’s senior guard Dalton Knecht, who scored a season-high 40 points, the Volunteers couldn’t prevent the upset. Despite a late surge, Kentucky secured an 85-81 victory. Consequently, the Wildcats climbed to 9th in the latest AP rankings, while Tennessee maintained its position in the top 5, ranking 5th.
