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AP Poll: Week of 1/26

Let’s check in on this week’s rankings.

NCAA Basketball: N.C. State at North Carolina Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Last week was a better one for North Carolina Tar Heels on the basketball court.

The men’s team bounced back after a loss to Florida State by winning both of their games played last week. The latter was a fairly impressive one over NC State, which, considering their earlier meeting in the season, shows that the team is making progress.

As for the women’s team, they finally got back in the win column for the first time in a month, beating Notre Dame. That long wait was partially due to COVID postponements/cancellations having a big effect on the schedule, but the Heels had lost three straight prior to Sunday.

With another week in the books, let’s take a look at the AP Polls and see whether either Tar Heel team cracked the top 25.

Men’s Basketball

AP Top 25

  1. Gonzaga Bulldogs (61 first place votes)
  2. Baylor Bears (3)
  3. Villanova Wildcats
  4. Michigan Wolverines
  5. Texas Longhorns
  6. Houston Cougars
  7. Iowa Hawkeyes
  8. Virginia Cavaliers
  9. Alabama Crimson Tide
  10. Texas Tech Red Raiders
  11. West Virginia Mountaineers
  12. Missouri Tigers
  13. Ohio State Buckeyes
  14. Wisconsin Badgers
  15. Kansas Jayhawks
  16. Florida State Seminoles
  17. Creighton Blue Jays
  18. Tennessee Volunteers
  19. Illinois Fighting Illini
  20. Virginia Tech Hokies
  21. Minnesota Golden Gophers
  22. Saint Louis Billikens
  23. UCLA Bruins
  24. Oklahoma Sooners
  25. Louisville Cardinals

Where is UNC?

Despite the two wins last week, Carolina did not gain any traction for AP voters. They are still vote-less, never mind in the top 25.

Biggest Winners

After dominating the previously #20 Clemson for their fourth-straight win, Florida State are back in the top 25 and up to #16. That’s an increase of 10 spots after they just missed out last week. Alabama also continued their rapid ascent and are now into the top 10 as their win streak has reached 10 games.

Biggest Losers

Tennessee had the biggest fall of the week, dropping 12 spots. The Vols have lost two-straight games, including taking a 26-point beatdown to Florida. Meanwhile, Clemson went from #20 to the fringes of the “others receiving votes.”

Conference Breakdown

  • AAC: 1
  • ACC: 4
  • Atlantic 10: 1
  • Big 12: 6
  • Big East: 2
  • Big Ten: 6
  • Pac-12: 1
  • SEC: 3
  • WCC: 1

Marquee Matchups This Week

  • #24 Oklahoma at #5 Texas - Tonight at 7 PM ET on ESPN2
  • #8 Virginia at #20 Virginia Tech - Saturday at 6 PM ET on ACC Network
  • #15 Kansas at #18 Tennessee - Saturday at 6 PM ET on ESPN

Women’s Basketball

AP Top 25

  1. Louisville Cardinals (22 first place votes)
  2. NC State Wolfpack (5)
  3. UConn Huskies (1)
  4. South Carolina Gamecocks (2)
  5. UCLA Bruins
  6. Stanford Cardinal
  7. Maryland Terrapins
  8. Texas A&M Aggies
  9. Baylor Bears
  10. Arizona Wildcats
  11. Oregon Ducks
  12. Michigan Wolverines
  13. South Florida Bulls
  14. Ohio State Buckeyes
  15. Kentucky Wildcats
  16. Indiana Hoosiers
  17. DePaul Blue Demons
  18. Gonzaga Bulldogs
  19. Arkansas Razorbacks
  20. Tennessee Volunteers
  21. Mississippi State Bulldogs
  22. Georgia Bulldogs
  23. Northwestern Wildcats
  24. West Virginia Mountaineers
  25. South Dakota State Jackrabbits

Where is UNC?

As mentioned, UNC won their first game in over a month on Sunday, beating Notre Dame by five. It’s not surprising because of that fact, UNC has not registered any votes. If they somehow pull off an upset of #1 Louisville this week however, they’ll probably get a bunch.

Biggest Winners

After playing UConn close in the resumption of that rivalry and then following that with a win over then #12 Kentucky, Tennessee vaulted five spots up to #20.

Biggest Losers

Arkansas had the biggest drop of the week, having now lost three of four. All of those losses are to teams in the top 25, hence why they’re still hanging onto their spot.

Conference Breakdown

  • AAC: 1
  • ACC: 2
  • Big 12: 2
  • Big East: 2
  • Big Ten: 5
  • Pac-12: 4
  • SEC: 7
  • Summit League: 1
  • WCC: 1

Marquee Matchups This Week

  • #4 South Carolina at #21 Mississippi State - Thursday at 7 PM ET on ESPN
  • #10 Arizona at #5 UCLA - Sunday at 6 PM ET on Pac-12 Network
  • #2 NC State at #1 Louisville - Monday at 7 PM ET on ESPN2