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

By Blake Cockrum

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 09: Kenny Williams #24 of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts after a shot against the Duke Blue Devils during their game at Dean Smith Center on March 09, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 09: Kenny Williams #24 of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts after a shot against the Duke Blue Devils during their game at Dean Smith Center on March 09, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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Tar Heels’ victory over Duke has them on the rise in latest ESPN Power Rankings

With a win over Duke on Saturday night, the North Carolina Tar Heels earned a share of the ACC regular season title, and likely moved themselves onto the 1-line in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.

They’re also moving up in ESPN’s Power Rankings, checking in at No. 3 after completing the regular season sweep of their arch rival from Durham.

Despite not having Zion Williamson in the lineup against North Carolina for the second time in 18 days, ESPN reluctantly moved the Tar Heels ahead of the Blue Devils in the latest edition of the rankings. With their second victory of the season over Duke, the Tar Heels matched Virginia’s 16-2 conference mark, and dropped Duke to third-place with a record of 14-4 in ACC play.

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Topping the list again this week is ACC co-champion Virginia, who won their final game of the season on Saturday against Louisville. They clinched a share of the conference title, and cemented their top seed in next week’s ACC Tournament.

With a record of 29-2, West Coast Conference champion Gonzaga is second in the rankings. The Bulldogs are preparing for a WCC Tournament semifinal game against Pepperdine, hoping to win their seventh consecutive postseason title.

North Carolina moved up one spot to third, replacing Duke and leapfrogging Kentucky in the process. The Tar Heels now stand at 26-5 on the season, and have won 14 of their last 15 games. Like Virginia, they’ll have a double-bye to begin the ACC Tournament before playing in the quarterfinal round on Thursday night.

Kentucky beat Florida on Saturday afternoon to finish its regular season, tying Tennessee for second-place in the SEC with a 15-3 record. The Blue Devils dropped to fifth after their loss at North Carolina, and Tennessee fell to No. 6 after falling in its season finale at Auburn. Michigan State and Michigan switched spots, with the Spartans taking over at No. 7 and the Wolverines coming in at No. 8.

LSU and Texas Tech round out the top 10, while 28-2 Houston moves up a spot to eleventh. Big 10 champion Purdue is ranked No. 12, followed by the Kansas Jayhawks at No. 13 after finishing third in the Big 12, and losing their streak of consecutive regular season titles. Florida State, Wisconsin and newcomer Kansas State are ranked 14 through 16.

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