With four losses in its last five games, Duke is mired in its worst skid in almost a decade. The Blue Devils are 15-6 overall and 4-4 in the ACC, their worst start in the league since 1996-97. Less than 10 months removed from winning a national title, they're suddenly no longer a lock to make the NCAA tournament and defend that championship.
It would take several more losses—probably more than its number of wins during the same span—for Duke to miss its first tourney since 1995. But if the current downward trend continues, it will be looking at an unfavorable seed after being no worse than a No.