Duke basketball stays clean in history making day in college basketball

The Duke basketball team dominated Syracuse and avoided the upset-filled day. 

There had never been a day like Saturday in the history of college basketball, and the Duke basketball team avoided the massive upsets.

The No. 7 Blue Devils (25-4, 15-3 ACC) dominated the Syracuse Orange (15-14, 9-9 ACC) on the road, 97-72.

Duke has outscored Syracuse by 45 points in its two meetings this regular season.

However, it was the impressive play by the leaders in the ACC coupled with the upsets around the country that created history in the sport.

ALSO READ: Duke puts winning gene on display against Virginia

Seven of the teams in the Top-10 of the Associated Press Top-25 Poll lost on Saturday, the first time that many teams in the Top-10 lost on a single day in the history of the poll.

Duke was the highest-ranked team not to lose and could be in position for a massive jump in the polls.

The ‘Big 3’ led the way for the Blue Devils in their demolition of the Orange as Mark Williams, Paolo Banchero, and AJ Griffin combined for 69 points. Williams posted a career-high 28 points and 12 rebounds.

Jeremy Roach was the only other player in double figures with ten points.

Duke shot 53.8-percent from the field, 46.9-percent from 3-point range, and 70.6-percent from the free throw line. Saturday was one of the best offensive performances from the Blue Devils all season.

Duke basketball has legit case to be ranked No. 1 in polls

Gonzaga, Arizona, Auburn, Purdue, Kansas, and Kentucky lost yesterday.

Every team is ranked ahead of Duke.

Could the Blue Devils make the conceivable jump from No. 7 to No. 1? It’s possible.

Would the voters in the AP Poll elevate a team that lost to the No. 1 spot, or could Gonzaga, despite its loss to No. 23 St. Mary’s, hang on to its top ranking?

It certainly creates an interesting debate as Mike Krzyzewski enters his final regular-season week as the head coach of the Blue Devils.