Juwan Thompson and the high-flying Blue Devils are starting to gather national attention. Credit: CHRIS SEWARD

Earlier today, Duke received its first AP poll votes since the end of the 1994 season when John Silver of the Journal (Conn.) Inquirer ranked them No. 23. I had a chance to catch up with John via email and phone, and he explained his reasoning. 

Like a mythical Phoenix, Duke has risen up from the ashes and is well on its way back to respectability. Credit: CHRIS SEWARD

For the first time since January 2, 1995, Duke has received votes in the AP poll.

All three votes come courtesy of one man, John Silver, who ranked the Blue Devils No. 23. Silver covers Connecticut for the Journal Inquirer, which has a circulation of about 35,000 and publishes six days a week. 

North Carolina’s wild 29-24 victory over Notre Dame on Saturday pushed it up four spots in Sunday’s Associated Press poll.

The Tar Heels’ No. 18 ranking is their highest since Sept. 5, 1998, when then-No. 12 UNC lost to Miami (Ohio) 13-10.