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UNC men’s basketball continued their improvement, extending their win streak to three games before they got the weekend off. Their win over Pitt was maybe the best they’ve looked all season and a massive jump from how they were playing in late December/early January.
Despite the recent success, the Tar Heels were still a long way off the top 25 last week. Are they any closer in this week’s edition?
Men’s Basketball
AP Top 25
- Gonzaga Bulldogs (61 first place votes)
- Baylor Bears (3)
- Villanova Wildcats
- Michigan Wolverines
- Houston Cougars
- Texas Longhorns
- Ohio State Buckeyes
- Iowa Hawkeyes
- Oklahoma Sooners
- Alabama Crimson Tide
- Tennessee Volunteers
- Illinois Fighting Illini
- Texas Tech Red Raiders
- Virginia Cavaliers
- Creighton Blue Jays
- Virginia Tech Hokies
- West Virginia Mountaineers
- Missouri Tigers
- Wisconsin Badgers
- Florida State Seminoles
- UCLA Bruins
- Florida Gators
- Kansas Jayhawks
- Purdue Boilermakers
- Drake Bulldogs
Where is UNC?
Thanks to a now three-game win streak, UNC are back among the teams receiving votes, but are still a ways off the top 25. The Heels got three voting points, putting them 114 points off #25 Drake.
Biggest Winners
Said Drake Bulldogs are now into the top 25 for the first time since 2007-08. Before that one off (on?) year, the last team they had appeared in the AP Poll was in the 70s. However, the biggest jump of the week belongs to Oklahoma, who moved up a massive 15 spots, thanks to wins over Kansas, Texas, and Alabama, who were all in the top 10 when the Sooners beat them. They did take a loss last night, however, so that huge gain might not last very long.
Biggest Losers
Thanks to their loss to the aforementioned Oklahoma team, Kansas took the biggest drop of the week. The Jayhawks are now #23.
Conference Breakdown
Marquee Matchups This Week
- #2 Baylor at #6 Texas - Tonight at 7 PM ET on ESPN
- #7 Ohio State at #8 Iowa - Thursday at 7 PM ET on ESPN
- #10 Alabama at #18 Missouri - Saturday at 12 PM ET on ESPN
Women’s Basketball
AP Top 25
- Louisville Cardinals (26 first place votes)
- South Carolina Gamecocks (4)
- UConn Huskies
- NC State Wolfpack
- UCLA Bruins
- Stanford Cardinal
- Texas A&M Aggies
- Baylor Bears
- Arizona Wildcats
- Maryland Terrapins
- Ohio State Buckeyes
- Oregon Ducks
- Michigan Wolverines
- South Florida Bulls
- Kentucky Wildcats
- Arkansas Razorbacks
- Indiana Hoosiers
- Tennessee Volunteers
- Gonzaga Bulldogs
- DePaul Blue Demons
- West Virginia Mountaineers
- Northwestern Wildcats
- South Dakota State Jackrabbits
- Mississippi State Bulldogs
- Georgia Bulldogs
Where is UNC?
After losses to Louisville and Virginia Tech, UNC did not receive any votes this week.
Biggest Winners
Not any massive jumps this week, as Ohio State, Arkansas, and West Virginia tied for the biggest improvement, moving up three spots each.
Biggest Losers
Not a ton of big drops either, as several teams tied for the biggest fall, also at three spots. No new teams in the top 25 either. It’s the same teams as last week, just in a different order.
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
- #18 Tennessee at #24 Mississippi State - Thursday at 8 PM ET on SEC Network+
- #2 South Carolina at #3 UConn - Monday TBD on Fox Sports 1
- #9 Arizona at #12 Oregon - Monday at 7 PM ET