Duke Dominates North Carolina, Maintains No. 1 Ranking in Men’s Basketball
Durham, North Carolina – The No. 1 Duke Blue Devils closed out their regular season with a commanding 76-61 victory over the No. 17 North Carolina Tar Heels on Saturday, solidifying their position atop the Associated Press men’s basketball Top 25 poll.
Blue Devils’ Dominant Performance
Cameron Boozer led Duke with a stellar performance, scoring 26 points and grabbing 15 rebounds. Senior Maliq Brown added 15 points for the Blue Devils, who completed a perfect home record for the second consecutive season. Duke’s victory marked their 17th ACC win of the season, finishing with a 29-2 overall record.
Historical Significance for Cameron Boozer
Boozer’s performance against the Tar Heels added him to an exclusive list in Duke-North Carolina rivalry history. He became the third player in program history to record a 20-point double-double in each of his first two career games against North Carolina, joining RJ Barrett (2018-19) and Jeff Mullins (1961-62) in achieving this feat.
Second-Half Surge Seals the Win
After a tight first half, Duke pulled away in the second half with a decisive 24-2 run, effectively ending any comeback hopes for North Carolina. The Blue Devils’ strong defensive effort and efficient offense proved too much for the Tar Heels to handle.
AP Top 25 Poll – March 10, 2026
Duke remains the No. 1 team in the Associated Press men’s basketball Top 25 poll, becoming the first team in history to spend 150 weeks in the No. 1 spot. Here’s a glance at the current top 25:
- Duke (29-2)
- Arizona (29-2)
- Michigan (29-2)
- Florida (25-6)
- Houston (26-5)
- University of Connecticut (27-4)
- Iowa State (27-6)
- Michigan State (25-6)
- Illinois (24-7)
- Virginia (27-4)
- Nebraska (26-5)
- Gonzaga (28-3)
- Saint John’s (25-6)
- Kansas (22-9)
- Alabama (23-8)
- Texas Tech (22-9)
- Arkansas (23-8)
- Purdue (23-8)
- North Carolina (24-7)
- Miami (Ohio) (31-0)
- Santa María (27-4)
- Vanderbilt (24-7)
- Wisconsin (22-9)
- Louisville (22-9)
- Tennessee (21-10)
Looking Ahead
With the regular season concluded, Duke now sets its sights on the upcoming ACC tournament and the NCAA Tournament, where they are expected to be a top seed. Their dominant performance throughout the season positions them as strong contenders for the national championship.
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