Step Aside, Heels - This Poll Ranks Duke No. 1 in Basketball

The Duke Blue Devils are back on top in college basketball.

Well, at least in one poll.

The annual Harris Poll asking fans their favorite collegiate men’s and women’s basketball teams has Duke finishing first, ahead of North Carolina, among men's teams. Duke has been first five of the last six years and six times since the poll began in 1993.

Harris Interactive conducted the poll between March 11-18, 2008, sampling of 2,513 nationwide. A total of 611 of the respondents follow college basketball.

North Carolina was second in the poll after finishing first last season for the first time.

On the women’s side, Tennessee and Connecticut finished first and second in the poll, respectively, as they have each of the five years the poll has been in existence. Duke was fourth and North Carolina seventh.

Of course, coaches are fond of saying the only poll that matters is the one at the end of the season. Right now, North Carolina is the No. 1 seed in the men's tournament and the only ACC team remaining. Both UNC and Duke are alive in the women's tournament.