League: NCAAM Sport: College Sports Country: United States Category: Scores & Results

Duke basketball earns number two ranking in ESPN preseason poll

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 2, 2026, 8:01 PM

Last updated Sep 2, 2026

Duke basketball earns number two ranking in ESPN preseason poll

Summary

Duke ranks second in the latest ESPN preseason college basketball poll ahead of the 2026-27 season. The program maintained a high position in the rankings despite losing multiple contributors to the 2026 NBA Draft. Roster additions including Wisconsin transfer John Blackwell alongside prospects Cameron Williams and Joaquim Boumtje-Boumtje provide depth and length for the team. Duke faces a challenging non-conference schedule that features six opponents currently ranked in the top 15. These upcoming matchups include games against Florida, UConn, Illinois, Michigan State, Texas Tech, and Gonzaga. Virginia represents the next highest-ranked Atlantic Coast Conference team at number 12.

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By the Numbers

•Duke holds the number two spot in the ESPN preseason poll.
•Roster additions include John Blackwell, Cameron Williams, and Joaquim Boumtje-Boumtje.
•The team plays six top-15 opponents during the regular season.
•Virginia is the only other Atlantic Coast Conference team in the top 15.
•Florida, Illinois, Texas, and UConn join Duke in the top five.

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