All Tar Heels

UNC Basketball Loss Drops Tar Heels Three Spots in Poll

UNC basketball faces four ranked squads between now and Christmas.

Matt Giles

UNC basketball (Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports)
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UNC basketball fell three notches this week to No. 17 in the AP Top 25 (up two spots from where the team began the season). The drop is due to the Tar Heels' overtime defeat at the hands of then-unranked Villanova on Thanksgiving Day at the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas; the Wildcats now rank No. 18.

The Tar Heels (5-1, 0-0 ACC), who bounced back from their campaign's first loss with a resilient win over now-unranked Arkansas on Black Friday, are one of only three ACC squads in this weeks' AP Top 25.

No. 7 Duke and No. 8 Miami are the other two.

Next on the UNC basketball slate is a home bout against No. 10 Tennessee on Wednesday at 7:15 p.m. ET as part of the inaugural ACC/SEC Challenge.

Then, the Tar Heels will gear up for their ACC opener at Florida State on Saturday at 2 p.m. ET.

Including the matchup against the Volunteers, four of UNC's next five outings are against ranked teams. The other three are at neutral sites: versus No. 4 UConn on Dec. 5 in New York City's Madison Square Garden, No. 12 Kentucky on Dec. 16 in Atlanta's State Farm Arena, and No. 25 Oklahoma on Dec. 20 in Charlotte's Spectrum Center.

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Stay tuned to All Tar Heels on SI.com for more UNC basketball news.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, Duke Blue Devils on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining UNC on SI in 2023, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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