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UNC Basketball: Where Tar Heels stand in updated BPI

By Zack Pearson

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 19: (L-R) Leaky Black #1, Cameron Johnson #13, Kenny Williams #24 and Garrison Brooks #15 of the North Carolina Tar Heels react during the second half of their game against the St. Francis Red Flash at the Dean Smith Center on November 19, 2018 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 101-76. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 19: (L-R) Leaky Black #1, Cameron Johnson #13, Kenny Williams #24 and Garrison Brooks #15 of the North Carolina Tar Heels react during the second half of their game against the St. Francis Red Flash at the Dean Smith Center on November 19, 2018 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 101-76. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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We take a look at where the UNC Basketball program stands in ESPN’s latest BPI rankings updated daily

The North Carolina Tar Heels dropped their second game of the season on Wednesday night, losing a road contest to No. 7 Michigan. UNC didn’t look good, especially on the defensive end, and it cost them a chance to earn a top 10 win.

After their loss to Texas on Thanksgiving, UNC fell out of the top 10 in the Associated Press poll and probably rightfully so. But the AP Top 25 isn’t always the best metric to judge a team.

When it comes to March, the NCAA will use their new NET rankings which after the initial release looks like garbage. Ohio State was the No. 1 team last week according to those NET ratings, so take it for what it’s worth.

Another metric to pay attention too this season is ESPN’s BPI.

The Basketball Power Index is defined as measure of team strength that is meant to be the best predictor of performance going forward. BPI represents how many points above or below average a team is. They take into account the strength of record, strength of schedule and other factors into the methodology.

This won’t determine where a team will be seeded but it’s a good indicator to see where a team is at in any point this season.

Despite the two losses for the Tar Heels, they are pretty high in ESPN’s BPI. They rank No. 2 right now behind only Virginia. They are also the highest-rated team with two losses as Michigan State is No. 8.

As of now, UNC’s BPI is 13.4 thanks in large part to their 9.9 in BPI OFF which is the best in the country right now. But their defense is rated at just 3.5 which is 36th in the nation.

Going into Wednesday night’s game against Michigan, the Tar Heels were No. 1 in the BPI rankings but took the drop due to that defensive performance.

This number will certainly change as the year goes on and UNC does have a tough non-conference schedule remaining with games against Gonzaga and Kentucky left.

Tar Heels updated BPI ranking. dark. Next

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