Patrick Ngongba Is ACC’s Top Dog, But Duke’s Ranking Numbers Are Getting Hard To Ignore

Patrick Ngongba is officially the top dog in the ACC heading into the 2026-27 college basketball season, but if you thought Duke would dominate the top-10 rankings, you might want to double-check that list. College sports reporter Mat Mlodzinski just dropped his top-10 players in the conference, and while Ngongba snagged the coveted number one spot, the Blue Devils’ overall representation is raising some eyebrows.

Duke’s Dynamic Duo Dominates the Top Tier

Ngongba, a returning player for Duke, absolutely earned that top billing. Last season, as a sophomore, he showed out, making 28 starts in 32 appearances. His stat line was solid: 10.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, two assists, 0.6 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game. Right behind him, almost, is incoming transfer John Blackwell from Wisconsin, who secured the third spot in Mlodzinski’s rankings. Blackwell, entering his senior season, brought some serious scoring prowess from the Badgers, averaging 19.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.1 steals, all while shooting 43% from the field and a sweet 38.9% from three-point range. He’s only behind Louisville transfer Flory Bidunga, who claimed the number two spot.

The Numbers Tell a Surprising Story

Here’s where it gets interesting, though. Duke only had two players make the cut, tying with the University of Miami. That’s not terrible, but it’s not what you’d expect from a perennial powerhouse, especially when Virginia led the conference with three players in the top-10. You gotta wonder if that’s gonna light a fire under the rest of the roster.

The men’s college basketball season is right around the corner, and the stakes are set. Will Ngongba and Blackwell live up to these high individual expectations, and more importantly, how will Duke perform with what seems like less top-tier individual depth than some of their ACC rivals? We’re about to find out!

This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.

Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.