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Blue Devils Ascend to No. 1 Again

January 27, 2009
The Blue Devils rose to a familiar perch in the week 11 college hoops polls, earning the No. 1 rank in both the AP poll and the coaches poll.  The ranking marks the 14th season and 93rd week that Coach K has led a Duke team to the top spot in the rankings.

“It’s a big deal for us because it means we’re playing really well,” said Coach K after our 85-44 win over Maryland.  “It’s an honor but you don’t get anything from it except a really big headline when you lose.”

Jon Scheyer welcomes the national recognition.  “Watching Duke when I was in high school, it did seem like they were No. 1  a lot,” said the junior guard.  “I feel like this is where we belong.”

To stay in the mix for the No. 1 rank and a top seed in the Big Dance, Greg Paulus says the secret is to avoid thinking about it.  “You have to get ready for the next game,” said the senior veteran.  “You have to control what you can control.  We have to keep getting better.  That is what we are focused on.  We come in every day ready to work.  Rankings can be a distraction and we are going to stay the course.”  

Devils at No. 1 in the Coach K Era
1986, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2009

Familiar Fixture at No. 1
Duke has been ranked No. 1 in nine of the past 12 seasons.

 
Six Seasons at the Top
Duke has held the nation’s top spot in the polls in 20 percent of its games played under Coach K (188 games which is close to six seasons!).
 
Conference Comparison
Since 1985, Duke has been ranked No. 1 in more seasons (14) than the entire Pac-10 (11), the entire SEC (11), the entire Big East (10), and the entire Big Ten (7).

Seasons Ranked No. 1 All-Time
1. Coach K: 14
2. John Wooden: 12
3. Roy Williams: 10
3. Dean Smith: 10
5. Adolph Rupp: 9

Seasons Ranked No. 1 since 1985
1. Duke: 14
2. UNC: 11
3. Kansas: 9
4. Arizona: 5
4. UConn: 5
4. Kentucky: 5

Most Weeks at No. 1 by Active Coaches
1. Coach K: 93
2. Roy Williams: 58
3. Jim Calhoun: 25
4. John Calipari: 20
5. Bruce Weber: 15

 

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