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Duke Men Take On Hoyas In First Game As No. 1

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DURHAM, N.C. — The Duke Blue Devils, one of only three unbeaten teams in Div. I basketball will play host to Georgetown at 7 p.m. Wednesday in their first game since ascending to the nation's No. 1 ranking.

One of the biggest victories in the Duke program's history was an 85-77 triumph over Georgetown in 1989 that sent the Blue Devils into their second straight Final Four. Coach Muke Krzyzewski and his players hope that Wednesday's game could result in another significant victory for a program that continues to play at the highest level.

Duke moved to No. 1 on Monday, after a victory at Clemson on Sunday. Since the 1997-98 season, the Blue Devils have been ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press poll a total of 36 weeks, 24 more weeks than its closest competitors in that area (Cincinnati and Stanford).

The Blue Devils have reached the No. 1 ranking in each of the last six seasons, becoming just the second program in NCAA history to accomplish that feat.

UCLA holds the record with 12 consecutive seasons being ranked No. 1 at some point (1964-75). Duke is the only school to gain the top ranking in the land in more than three of the past six years.

This also marks the 11th different season that Duke has been ranked No. 1 in either the Associated Press or coaches' poll under Krzyzewski.

The Blue Devils, 9-0 overall, join Connecticut and Atlantic Coast Conference rival Wake Forest as the only unbeaten Div.-I teams. Duke will be looking for its eighth 10-0 start under Krzyzewski.

This season marks the first time in school history that Duke has won each of its first nine games by at least 10 points.

The Blue Devils have finished No. 1 in the country in the final Associated Press poll the past four seasons, an unprecedented feat in college basketball history.

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