Keeping It Heel
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UNC Basketball: Tar Heels climb latest ESPN Power Rankings

By Blake Cockrum

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - FEBRUARY 02: Roy Williams the head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels gives instructions to his team against the Louisville Cardinals at KFC YUM! Center on February 02, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY - FEBRUARY 02: Roy Williams the head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels gives instructions to his team against the Louisville Cardinals at KFC YUM! Center on February 02, 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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UNC basketball continues its ascent in the latest ESPN Power Rankings

The North Carolina Tar Heels are on the rise in ESPN’s latest edition of Power Rankings after wins over Georgia Tech and Louisville last week, the second of which was a momentous 10-point victory on the Cardinals’ home court.

Those wins — along with the current five-game winning streak that the Tar Heels are on — have vaulted North Carolina to No. 8 in this week’s rankings. Also ranked eighth in the Associated Press Top 25 poll, the Tar Heels will look to keep their win streak alive when they face off with the NC State Wolfpack on Tuesday night at the Dean Smith Center.

Tennessee remained in the top spot of the Power Rankings this week after comfortable wins over South Carolina and Texas A&M. The Volunteers will look to hold on to their No. 1 ranking when they take on Missouri and Florida in a pair of home games this week.

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Tennessee is followed by Duke at No. 2, and Virginia at No. 3. The Blue Devils will have a tune-up against Boston College on Tuesday night before facing off with Virginia in Charlottesville this weekend. For the Cavaliers, it’s their only game of the week, and a chance at redemption after losing to the Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium in mid-January.

The 21-2 Gonzaga Bulldogs are fourth this week, and inching closer to their bid for an unbeaten season in West Coast Conference play. Michigan State has dropped consecutive games against Purdue and Indiana, but remains in the top-5 this week. In-state rival Michigan got upset by the Iowa Hawkeyes on the road, and comes in at No. 6 in the rankings.

The Kentucky Wildcats are in the midst of an eight-game win streak, and playing their best basketball of the season. They come in at No. 7 on the list, and are followed by the Tar Heels at No. 8. Nevada and Houston round out the top-10.

Kansas has lost five games now, and fallen outside of the top-10 to No. 11. The Jayhawks have a huge road game in Manhattan against Kansas State on Tuesday night. A loss to the Wildcats would put the Jayhawks 1.5 games back of first-place in the Big 12.

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The Marquette Golden Eagles are 19-3 and ranked 12th on the list. They’re followed by Louisville, which had a huge road win over the Virginia Tech Hokies on Monday night. Purdue, Iowa State and Virginia Tech are ranked 13th through 16th.

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