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LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Pleased as Kentucky coach John Calipari was by last weeks performance on the national stage, he seemed more encouraged by the second-ranked Wildcats encore that figures to raise their profile even more.DeAaron Fox scored 16 points, Malik Monk added 14 and Kentucky took a step toward the nations top ranking by rolling past Duquesne 93-59 on Sunday night.Five days after beating No. 13 Michigan State in New York, the Wildcats (4-0) made their case toward supplanting Duke for No. 1 when the AP Top 25 is announced Monday. The first of several scheduled late-evening starts didnt affect Kentucky as it won by its biggest margin this season.The Wildcats controlled Duquesne (2-3) on both ends, holding the Dukes to a season-low 30 percent shooting while making 35 of 76 attempts (46 percent).One thing I was anxious to see was how would we play, would there be a letdown, Calipari said. I thought we played well and I think Isaiah (Briscoe) kind of dragged them in the first half. ... I thought we played hard. Were still learning each other.Briscoe and Mychal Mulder each had 13 points and Bam Adebayo had 12 with eight rebounds for Kentucky, which out-rebounded Duquesne 49-32 to win its second game of the Bluegrass Showcase. Mulders total was a career high and included three 3-pointers.Were coming together better as the season progresses, Adebayo said.Emile Blackmans 13 points led the Dukes, who lost their third in four games.BIG PICTUREDuquesne: Coming off a one-point loss Friday against Canisius, the Dukes were close at the start but quickly fell behind due to cold shooting. They made just 6 of 29 in the first half (21 percent) and committed 11 of their 18 turnovers as they struggled against the Wildcats disruptive defense and length. They were near even on the boards for a while but eventually beaten there as well.Nothing Kentucky did surprised Duquesne coach Jim Ferry other than its ability to sustain the effort.Its relentless, Ferry said of the Wildcats intensity. Its just so challenging, the size and the length of the guards, how quickly they attack and they play very unselfishly.Kentucky: Seeking to pick up where they left off in an impressive defensive showing against Michigan State, the Wildcats constantly contested the Dukes passes and shots to build a 50-23 lead at the break. They controlled the paint offensively (44-20) and established a season best in rebounding differential.POLL IMPLICATIONSTop-ranked Dukes loss to No. 7 Kansas at Madison Square Garden opened the door for Kentucky to assume the top spot, and the Wildcats made it a foregone conclusion with their easy victory over the Dukes.RELOADINGEarlier Sunday, Kentucky announced the signings of 2017 recruits Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Quade Green -both guards -- along with center Nick Richards and forward P.J. Washington. All are rated as four- or five-star prospects by recruiting services, which of course is a familiar story in Lexington.RUPP MILESTONECalipari improved to 122-4 at Rupp Arena and tied Joe B. Halls record for most wins at the venue. Ferry drew a laugh when he remarked, He lost four? and Calipari said Yaaaay when told of the achievement before noting what visitors face when playing there.Its a hard place to win if youre an opponent and the fans make it that way, he said. I walked in today, 9 oclock on a Sunday night, we were missing some students but other than that, the place was packed. Are you kidding me?Attendance was 21,327.UP NEXTDuquesne: The Dukes host UT Martin on Wednesday night as they continue play in the Bluegrass Showcase.Kentucky: Hosts Cleveland State in a Wednesday matinee before Thanksgiving.---More AP college basketball: www.collegebasketball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 . J.T. Brown Wild Jersey . 10 VCU 85-67 on Thursday night at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. The Seminoles (4-0) have scored at least 80 points in each of their games. Marcus Foligno Jersey .05 million next season unless Graham and the Saints subsequently agree on a long-term deal. The designation was released Monday after the deadline passed for NFL teams to use franchise or transition tags on players becoming free agents. http://www.authenticwildpro.com/Luke-kunin-wild-jersey/ . All of the scoring came in the final 20:04. Lucic scored on a power play at 15:46 of the third period, when he tipped a shot over Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen for a 3-1 lead. Devan Dubnyk Jersey . -- The Bishops Gaiters are showing they belong among the countrys top varsity football teams. Greg Pateryn Jersey . After taking two big hits this week -- losing at home and dropping back-to-back games for the first time all season -- Indiana struck back by playing its most complete game of the year. NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Belmonts Rick Byrd is defensive about preseason polls and his Bruins in general.He doesnt like polls or the way Belmont played defense last season.That didnt matter to his fellow coaches in the Ohio Valley Conference. Byrds Belmont Bruins received 16 of 24 first-place votes from the leagues coaches and sports information directors in a poll released Wednesday with the leagues media day.I dont like preseason polls at all, I dont like preseason all-conference teams, Byrd said. Nobodys earned anything. If we dont get better defensively, were not going to get where we need to get.Belmont ranked 312th out of 346 Division I teams allowing 78.4 points per game last season when the Bruins (20-12) lost to Georgia in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament.Byrd, going into his 31st season with 731 career wins, describes himself as an offensive-minded coach but plans to base playing time more on defense than in years past.One Bruin who will log a lot of minutes is reigning OVC Player of the Year Evan Bradds, also the preseason player of the year.The 6-foot-7 forward averaged 17.6 points and 9.2 rebounds per game last season. The senior led Division I in field goal percentage the past two years, including 71.4 percent last season.Evan, maybe more than any other player weve ever had at Belmont, has this gift and knack for scoring the basketball inside, Byrd said. He has great touch scoring it around the basket, over bigger guys, under bigger guys, through bigger guys. So all we do is throw it to him and get out of the way.Belmont returns 12 players, including senior guard Taylor Barnette, junior forward Amanze Egekeze and junior guard Austin Lake.While the Bruins are favored to winn the East Division, Murray State is picked to win the West.dddddddddddd The Racers have won the West the past four seasons, including a 17-14 mark last season when they lost in the OVC tournament quarterfinals.I really like our team, Racers coach Matt McMahon said. We have three seniors back who played huge role for us last season. All three have gotten much better as players and as leaders in the offseason, so I think all three are ready to take a step forward.Senior guards Bryce Jones (12.7 points and 4.2 assists), Damarcus Croaker (9.6 points, 4.5 rebounds) and Gee McGhee (9 points, 4.7 rebounds) give Murray State an explosive backcourt.Austin Peay was the leagues surprise last season as the first No. 8 seed to win the OVC tournament, upsetting four teams in four days.Our guys have got to understand that theyve got a target on their back, Austin Peay coach Dave Loos said. They also need to understand that we need to put that in the rear-view mirror.OVC tournament MVP Chris Horton graduated, but the Governors return 10 players, including three starters. Guards Josh Robinson (16.9 points) and Jared Savage (record 19 3-pointers in tournament) will lead the way for Loos, who returns for his 27th season.Tennessee State is picked to finish second in the East under Dana Ford, last seasons OVC Coach of the Year.If we compete as a unit consistently from the start of the game to the end and we stay healthy, I like our chances to play anybody in the league, said Ford, whose Tigers improved by 15 wins to 20-11 last year.Online:More AP College Basketball: www.collegebasketball.ap.org ' ' '