All Tar Heels

UNC Basketball Returns to Top 10 Following One-Week Absence

The UNC basketball team ranks No. 9 for the third time this season.

Matt Giles

Photo credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
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For the fourth straight week, UNC basketball is the highest-ranked ACC team in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll. The Tar Heels (8-3, 1-0 ACC), fresh off last week's 81-69 win over then-No. 7 Oklahoma at the Jumpman Invitational in Charlotte, jumped two spots to No. 9 in the latest release on Christmas Day.

That ties their season-high ranking. The Tar Heels, who began their campaign at No. 19 in the AP Poll, ranked No. 9 in each of this month's first two editions before falling to No. 11 last Monday following a loss to now-No. 8 Kentucky at the CBS Sports Classic in Atlanta.

There are only two other ranked ACC squads this week: No. 16 Duke and No. 18 Clemson.

Meanwhile, Purdue, Kansas, Houston, Arizona, and UConn, in that order, represent the top five for the second week in a row.

The next UNC basketball outing is at home against unranked Charleston Southern at 8 p.m. ET Friday (ACC Network). That's the last non-conference game on the Tar Heels' regular season slate.

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Then, UNC encounters its first ACC road test when the team travels to face unranked Pitt at 7 p.m. on Jan. 2.

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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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