DURHAM, N.C. _ The path to get here hasn't always been smooth but Duke finds itself aligned well to capture all its goals as the college basketball season enters 2020.
Ranked No. 2 in The Associated Press poll, Duke is No. 1 in Ken Pomeroy's advanced analytical ratings system. Currently No. 3 in defensive efficiency and No. 8 on offense, Duke (12-1, 2-0 ACC) is the only team nationally in single digits in both of those key KenPom.com categories.
Among ACC teams, Duke's strength on both offense and defense sets it apart. Louisville (11-2, 2-0 ACC) is the only league team close to the Blue Devils. The Cardinals are No. 12 in offense and No. 5 in defense.
Reigning NCAA champion Virginia (10-2, 2-0 ACC) is No. 1 in defensive efficiency but is No. 175 in offense.
N.C. State's No. 9 offensive rating nationally is comparable to Duke's No. 8. But the Wolfpack (10-3, 1-1 ACC) is No. 111 defensively.
Duke is also the ACC's top team in the NCAA's NET rankings, coming in at No. 7.
Two months of ACC games remain to be played before March and the NCAA tournament. But looking at the big picture so far, Duke looks like one of the nation's best teams and, as usual, a strong contender for the Final Four and the NCAA championship.
"It is a team that knows what they do can contribute to winning and that it is important," Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "That is why I have said from the start that it is more of an old-school team. We have depth and we have good attitude, really good attitude. They are working hard. You can tell that they pull for one another. We just have to keep that going and keep getting better."
Using a combination of traditional and advanced statistics, compiled by KenPom.com and Synergy Sports Technologies, here's a look at what Duke has produced in the season's first 13 games.
