UNC Basketball program jumps back into latest AP Poll

After an epic slide, UNC Basketball returns to the AP Top 25 Poll. The Tar Heels began the season as the preseason No. 1 team

The UNC Basketball program has won four straight after an epic fall from the Associate Press Top 25. The Tar Heels began the season as the No. 1 ranked team in the country, but after four straight losses, North Carolina fell out of the polls faster than any team in history.

Like the 2021-2022 team, never count them out. The same talent and players and additions that the people that voted on the AP Poll believed would be the best team in the country are still on this team. That’s the problem with polls. Pre-season polls are based on paper and guesses and projections. You still have to play the games.

The Tar Heels are currently 9-4 after playing the sixth toughest strength of schedule games. That is the problem with pre-season rankings. They set a level of expectation based on assumptions and thoughts. You still have to play the games.

I often say that all that matters is that you win six in a row in March and early April. In Chapel Hill and for UNC Basketball fans, we should add that you beat Duke twice. Regardless, we can get so caught up in polls and projections and analytics that we as fans lose sight of the prize, championships.

I celebrate with the rest of you that the Tar Heels have returned to the AP Top 25. I fully expect this team to continue to climb back to the Top 10 but really, does it matter?

Beat Duke and NC State. Make the tournament. Win six in a row in March and late April and we’ll all be celebrating on Franklin Street once again.

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