In a surprising turn of events, Duke University's basketball team has slipped from No. 3 to No. 7 in the latest way-too-early Top 25 And 1 rankings. The drop in rankings comes after the announcement that Jeremy Roach, the 6-foot-2 point guard, has entered the transfer portal and declared for the 2024 NBA Draft while maintaining his college eligibility.

Roach, who started 108 games over the past four years at Duke under both Mike Krzyzewski and Jon Scheyer, was projected to be a key player for the Blue Devils in the upcoming season. However, his decision to leave Duke leaves a void in the team's lineup. It is speculated that Scheyer will find a similarly talented lead guard from the transfer portal to replace Roach.

This development means that Duke will only be able to retain two of its top seven scorers from the previous season. Consequently, the team has dropped to No. 7 in Version 6.0 of the 2024-25 CBS Sports Top 25 And 1 college basketball rankings.

While the news of Duke's slide in rankings is disappointing to fans, the program is enrolling the nation's top-ranked recruiting class, led by five-star phenom Cooper Flagg. With the addition of Flagg and other promising recruits, Duke's new crop of talent may help boost the team's performance in the upcoming season.

Meanwhile, the top spot in the rankings remains unchanged, with the Houston Cougars retaining their position as No. 1. The projections suggest that Houston will return eight of their top 10 scorers from the previous season, making them a formidable force in the Big 12. With the addition of Milos Uzan, a 6-foot-4 transfer from Oklahoma, the Cougars seem poised to continue their dominance in college basketball.

As the basketball season approaches, fans eagerly anticipate the on-court performances of these top-ranked teams. Duke's drop in rankings and Roach's departure have undoubtedly created more uncertainty for the Blue Devils, while the Houston Cougars demonstrate their strength and depth as they aim to maintain their position at the top of the college basketball world.

Only time will tell how these developments impact the upcoming season and whether Duke can regain its former glory or whether Houston will continue to reign supreme in the NCAA Tournament.