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UNC Basketball: Tar Heels continue to rise in ESPN Power Rankings

By Blake Cockrum

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 26: Nassir Little #5 of the North Carolina Tar Heels blocks a shot by Tyus Battle #25 of the Syracuse Orange during the second half of their game at the Dean Smith Center on February 26, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 93-85. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - FEBRUARY 26: Nassir Little #5 of the North Carolina Tar Heels blocks a shot by Tyus Battle #25 of the Syracuse Orange during the second half of their game at the Dean Smith Center on February 26, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 93-85. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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UNC basketball on the rise in latest ESPN Power Rankings

After winning 12 of its last 13 games, the North Carolina basketball program has climbed to No. 4 in the latest edition of ESPN Power Rankings released on Monday.

Despite being second in the Associated Press Top 25, Virginia sits alone atop the power rankings as we begin college basketball’s final week of regular season play. The Cavaliers are 26-2, and just two wins away from earning at least a share of their second straight ACC regular season title, and fourth in the last six years.

Gonzaga comes in at No. 2 this week after finishing its regular season slate last week. Now sitting at 29-2 on the season, the Bulldogs look to win their seventh consecutive West Coast Conference title, and march into the NCAA Tournament as a 1-seed.

Despite losing two of its last four games — one of those at home to North Carolina — Duke is ranked third in this week’s power rankings. The Blue Devils continue to get the benefit of the doubt from ESPN (shocker) when it comes to their losses in the absence of star freshman Zion Williamson.

North Carolina won both of its games last week, at home against Syracuse and on the road at Clemson, and moved up to fourth on the list. The Tar Heels are just two victories away from at least a share of the ACC title, and a potential 1-seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Tennessee blew out Kentucky at home over the weekend, and moved up to No. 5, while the Wildcats moved down two spots to sixth. Michigan is at No. 7, one spot ahead of the Michigan State Spartans at No. 8. Despite the Spartans’ recent victory over the Wolverines, they failed to beat a sub-par Indiana team on Saturday, and dropped in the rankings.

LSU is up to ninth in the rankings, and Texas Tech, who looks to earn at least a share of the Big 12 title this week, sits at No. 10. The Purdue Boilermakers are 22-7, and alone atop the Big 10 standings. They are at No. 11, and followed by the Houston Cougars at No. 12. Kansas, Virginia Tech, Marquette and Wisconsin are ranked 13 through 16, respectively.

Next. Are surging Tar Heels poised for a 1-seed?. dark

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