AP Top 25: Tar Heels fall out of Top 10 after loss to Kentucky
By Zack Pearson
The Tar Heels find themselves out of the top 10 in the AP Top 25 poll after losing to Kentucky on Saturday
The North Carolina Tar Heels haven’t been in action much as we wrap up the month of December and are right in the middle of the Holiday season. That will change when they enter Atlantic Coast Conference play in January, but for now the Tar Heels are playing in just one game a week over the final three here in December.
During the week of December 10th, the Tar Heels lone game was a home win over then Top-5 ranked Gonzaga which put them back into the Top 10.
But that Top 10 ranking would be short-lived.
Following their 80-72 loss to Kentucky at the United Center on Saturday, the Tar Heels have dropped back out of the Top 10. The latest Associated Press Top 25 poll was released on Christmas Eve and UNC has checked in at No. 14 which matches their lowest ranking this season to date.
UNC is now 8-3 with two of those three losses coming to ranked teams and all three coming either at a neutral site or on the road.
There were some big changes in the Top 5 with previous No. 1 Kansas falling on the road at Arizona State on Saturday. With that loss, Duke is back at No. 1 followed by No. 2 Michigan, No. 3 Tennessee, No. 4 Virginia and No. 5 Kansas.
Nevada, Gonzaga, Michigan State, Florida State and Virginia Tech make up the Top 10.
The ACC is well-represented again in this poll, dominating the Top 15. The conference has five teams ranked in the Top 15 and six teams ranked in the Top 25 with NC State checking in at No. 20. The Wolfpack are in the polls for the first time this season as they are 11-1 to start the year.
Next up for UNC is a home game against Davidson on Saturday and then they wrap up conference play by hosting Harvard on Wednesday January, 2 in the Dean Dome.
For more on the Tar Heels, please check back with Keeping It Heel.