No. 1 Duke leads six ACC teams among top 15 in AP poll

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It’s getting crowded at the top of the Associated Press Top 25. Crowded with Atlantic Coast Conference teams, that is.

No. 1 Duke leads three ACC teams in the top nine in this week’s poll. The ACC also has six programs in the top 15.

But without a doubt, Duke is the talk of the conference and the nation, with freshman Zion Williamson (see video above) making the spectacular look routine.

Williamson incited the home crowd with his dunk of the year last Saturday in an 87-68 victory over Clemson.

“I said, ‘You know what? I’m wide open. Why not?'” Williamson said in an AP story out of Durham, North Carolina. “I did it, got high enough and it was almost like a layup.”

Added Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, “I’m not amazed at that stuff. He can do that. We allow him to do it. There’s no ceiling on how high or how many times he can twirl — as long as he puts the damn thing in.”

Against the Tigers, Williamson had 25 points and 10 rebounds. He’s averaging 19.8 points and 9.4 rebounds in 13 games.

Here are the rankings:

AP Top 25
1. Duke 12-1 ACC
2. Michigan 15-0 Big Ten
3. Tennessee 12-1 SEC
4. Virginia 13-0 ACC
5. Gonzaga 14-2 West Coast
6. Michigan State 13-2 Big Ten
7. Kansas 12-2 Big 12
8. Texas Tech 13-1 Big 12
9. Virginia Tech 13-1 ACC
10. Nevada 14-1 Mountain West
11. Auburn 11-2 SEC
12. North Carolina 11-3 ACC
13. Florida State 12-2 ACC
14. Mississippi State 12-1 SEC
15. North Carolina State 13-1 ACC
16. Ohio State 12-2 Big Ten
17. Houston 15-0 American
18. Kentucky 10-3 SEC
19. Buffalo 13-1 Mid-American
20. Iowa State 12-2 Big 12
21. Marquette 12-3 Big East
22. Indiana 12-3 Big Ten
23. Oklahoma 12-2 Big 12
24. St. John’s 14-1 Big East
25. TCU 12-1 Big 12

Local athletes in the top five

Two athletes from the San Antonio area appear to have a great chance to experience deep runs in the NCAA Tournament with highly-rated teams. One is Duke junior Justin Robinson, a 6-10 junior forward from San Antonio Christian. Robinson is the son of former Spurs great David Robinson. The other is Jeremy Jones. Jones, a 6-7 senior forward from East Central, plays for the No. 5 Gonzaga Bulldogs.