The debate is not Duke vs. the ACC; it's Duke vs. Tennessee
Posted February 14, 2019 1:51 p.m. EST
Tennessee deserves to be ranked No. 1, but Duke is the best team in the country.
There. I’ve stated the obvious.
With a bit more than 24 hours to digest the Devils’ historic 23-point comeback against Louisville, that’s the thought I keep coming back to over and over again: Tennessee deserves to be ranked No. 1, but Duke is the best team in the country.
I don’t have a vote in the Top 25 this year, but I can find no fault in those that voted for Duke over UT. Tuesday night’s comeback merely reinforced what we already knew: This team is loaded, and can get buckets in waves.
Just ask Louisville.
But rankings are about more than just a “looks test.” Rankings also have to be earned, and let’s give the guys in Knoxville some credit.
At 22-1, Tennessee not only has the best record among Power 5 schools (No. 7 Nevada remains somewhat under-the-radar at 23-1), they also have an advantage over Duke when their schedules are compared.
Between them, the Vols and Devils have four common opponents: Georgia Tech, Louisville, Gonzaga and Wake Forest.
Tennessee is 4-0 in those games. Duke is 3-1, with the only loss coming against the Zags.
Ironically, both teams defeated Georgia Tech by the same score: 66-53.
Obviously, those games cannot be repeated or replicated. But it’s an edge to the Volunteers on paper. And that’s what the rankings are really worth right now: paper.
Still, rankings give us something to talk, argue, debate – and yes, write about in February.
The next few weeks will tell us much more about these teams. Tennessee has a pair of games remaining against Kentucky, and Duke has to play next-door neighbor Carolina twice in the next three weeks.
If these teams really are head-and-shoulders about the rest, it will be decided on the court – not on paper. Especially if they happen to meet in late March or early April. Now, that would be something to see.
