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

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

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

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

1. Louisville Cardinals (26 first place votes)
2. South Carolina Gamecocks (4)
3. UConn Huskies
4. NC State Wolfpack
5. UCLA Bruins
6. Stanford Cardinal
7. Texas A&M Aggies
8. Baylor Bears
9. Arizona Wildcats
10. Maryland Terrapins
11. Ohio State Buckeyes
12. Oregon Ducks
13. Michigan Wolverines
14. South Florida Bulls
15. Kentucky Wildcats
16. Arkansas Razorbacks
17. Indiana Hoosiers
18. Tennessee Volunteers
19. Gonzaga Bulldogs
20. DePaul Blue Demons
21. West Virginia Mountaineers
22. Northwestern Wildcats
23. South Dakota State Jackrabbits
24. Mississippi State Bulldogs
25. 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