Duke basketball stays behind Auburn in the NET rankings after Wake Forest win
Duke basketball stays behind Auburn in the NET rankings after Wake Forest win
The Duke Blue Devils have won seven straight games by at least 18 points, averaging a 37.0 margin of victory over the last four, but as of Tuesday morning, the men's basketball NET rankings still hold the Auburn Tigers' resume in higher regard.
Duke sits atop advanced counting metrics like the KenPom rankings and the ESPN Basketball Power Index because of its statistical dominance, but the depth of the SEC gives the Tigers more chances at statement victories. Despite a head-to-head victory at Cameron Indoor Stadium back in December, the Blue Devils have six Quad 1 victories to Auburn's 16.
The Tigers also took down the Houston Cougars, Iowa State Cyclones, and Purdue Boilermakers during their non-conference schedule, three teams within the top 17 of the NET rankings.
The Blue Devils have been outstanding away from Durham this season, however, and their 9-1 record in true road games has helped them keep pace with the Tigers' remarkable Quad 1 record.
The Cougars, Florida Gators, and Tennessee Volunteers completed the top five as of Tuesday. The Clemson Tigers (No. 21) and Louisville Cardinals (No. 24) are the next-highest ACC teams, and the North Carolina Tar Heels come in at No. 43.
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