All Tar Heels

One UNC Basketball Ranking Streak Ends at Hands of Blue Devils

UNC basketball is no longer the highest-ranked ACC squad.

Matt Giles

Photo credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
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The Duke basketball team began the season at No. 2 in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll. UNC basketball sat at No. 19. But ever since the first edition of December, the Tar Heels (20-6, 12-3 ACC) have ranked higher than the Blue Devils (20-5, 11-3), not to mention the rest of the ACC.

This week, though, UNC's 11-week streak as the highest-ranked ACC team came to an end. The Tar Heels, who lost at Syracuse on Tuesday night before bouncing back via Saturday afternoon's home win over Virginia Tech, slid three spots to No. 10 in the AP Poll released on Monday afternoon, and the Blue Devils jumped one notch to No. 8.

Sure, then-No. 3 UNC defeated then-No. 7 Duke, 93-84, in Chapel Hill on Feb. 3, the only meeting between the archrivals to date this season (they'll square off again in Durham on March 9 in the regular-season finale).

But since that matchup, the Tar Heels are 2-2. And the Blue Devils are 4-0.

Meanwhile, the ACC sees no other representation in this week's AP Poll, as Virginia (20-6, 11-4) fell from No. 21 to the top vote-getter among unranked teams in light of the Cavaliers' Tuesday night home loss to Pitt before squeaking out a Saturday win over visiting Wake Forest.

NEXT UNC BASKETBALL GAME: at Virginia, 4 p.m. ET Saturday (ESPN)

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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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