Blue Devils dominate USBWA poll, watch lists

Defending national champion Duke is the nation's preseason No. 1 team, according to the U.S. Basketball Writers Association board of directors.

The Blue Devils also placed Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith on the watch list for the Oscar Robertson Trophy, given to the the nation's best player, and Kyrie Irving on the watch list for the Wayman Tisdale Award, the newly named award for the nation's top freshman.

The poll was conducted before second-ranked Purdue lost star forward Robbie Hummel for the season to a torn ACL.

Oscar Robertson Trophy Watch List: Malcolm Delaney, Virginia Tech; Jimmer Fredette, Brigham Young; Elias Harris, Gonzaga; JaJuan Johnson, Purdue; Jon Leuer, Wisconsin; Kalin Lucas, Michigan State; Shelvin Mack, Butler; Marcus Morris, Kansas; Jacob Pullen, Kansas State; Kyle Singler, Duke; Nolan Smith, Duke; Isaiah Thomas, Washington.

Wayman Tisdale Award Watch List: Harrison Barnes, North Carolina; Will Barton, Memphis; Tobias Harris, Tennessee; Kyrie Irving, Duke; Perry Jones, Baylor; Cory Joseph, Texas; Brandon Knight, Kentucky; Fab Melo, Syracuse; Jared Sullinger, Ohio State; Patric Young, Florida.

USBWA Board of Directors' Top 25
1. Duke (10) 346
2. Michigan State (3) 327
3. Kansas State (1) 299
4. Ohio State 290
5. Pittsburgh 282
6. Kansas 256
7. Villanova 251
8. Florida 206
9. Kentucky 192
10. North Carolina 189
11. Gonzaga 188
12. Syracuse 176
13. Missouri 175
14. Illinois 169
15. Purdue 140
16. Baylor 134
17. Washington 125
18. Butler 105
19. Memphis 92
20. Temple 86
21. Virginia Tech 78
22. Georgetown 65
23. Brigham Young 63
23. Tennessee 61
25. Texas 48

Others receiving votes: San Diego State 42, Wisconsin 39, West Virginia 24, Xavier 14, Florida State 12, Georgia 12, Wichita State 11, Minnesota 10, UNLV 10, Old Dominion 9, Utah State 9, Arizona 8, Richmond 8, Murray State 6, Miami 3, Mississippi State 3, Wofford 3, Marquette 1, UCLA 1.