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UNC Basketball: NET Proves Quite Unkind to Tar Heels

The UNC basketball squad has work to do in the heart of its non-conference slate.

Matt Giles

UNC basketball head coach Hubert Davis
UNC basketball head coach Hubert Davis / Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
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Hubert Davis' fourth UNC basketball team popped up just outside the top 25 in this season's debut NET Rankings, a metric to evaluate squads for the NCAA Tournament, released on Monday morning. The Tar Heels (4-3, 0-0 ACC), who left Maui last week on a two-game losing skid, appear at No. 26.

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They sit fourth among ACC squads, below the No. 18 Clemson Tigers (7-1, 0-0), No. 5 Pitt Panthers (7-1, 0-0), and No. 4 Duke Blue Devils (5-2, 0-0).

The Auburn Tigers (7-0, 0-0 SEC), who recorded an 85-72 victory over UNC en route to their Maui Invitational championship performance, check in No. 2 in the NCAA NET Rankings. A fellow SEC team, the Tennessee Volunteers (7-0, 0-0), reigns at No. 1.

As things stand, UNC basketball has a 1-3 record against Quad 1 opponents, 0-0 versus Quad 2, 2-0 versus Quad 3, and 1-0 versus Quad 4.

Davis and his Tar Heels have a chance to boost their stock considerably when they host Nate Oats' Alabama Crimson Tide (6-2, 0-0 SEC), No. 13 NET, in the Dean E. Smith Center for their SEC/ACC Challenge showdown and 2024 Sweet 16 rematch at 7:15 p.m. ET Wednesday (ESPN).

Carolina will then face its first ACC foe when it welcomes the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (4-3, 0-0), No. 175 NET, to Chapel Hill for a 2 p.m. ET tipoff on Saturday (ACC Network).

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Stay tuned to North Carolina Tar Heels On SI 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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