UNC Basketball Programs See Change In Opposite Directions in Latest AP Poll

The UNC Women's Basketball program entered last week as the No. 25 team in the country in the Associated Press Poll following their loss to No. 17 Connecticut just over a week ago. Following that game, Courtney Banghart's squad had a five-day break for exams before hosting in-state opponent Western Carolina.

The Tar Heels looked dominant in a bounce-back victory over the Catamounts, winning 96-36 on Friday night in their only game of the week. Four Tar Heels scored in double-figures and while it was a win over a non-conference mid-major opponent, North Carolina earned a spot back in the latest AP Poll as they moved up one spot to No. 24.

Next up for the UNC Women's Basketball program will be a matchup in the Jumpman Invitational with 6-4 Oklahoma on Tuesday, December 19th. The No. 24-ranked Tar Heels and Sooners will play on day one in the second game of the two-day event at 9:30 PM on ESPN2 before a 12-day break for the Christmas Holiday.

Meanwhile, on the men's side, the UNC Basketball program didn't move from their No. 9 ranking last week after the 11-point loss to Connecticut in the Jimmy V Classic. The same wasn't true this week as the Tar Heels couldn't overcome miscues and missed opportunities in a four-point loss to No. 14 Kentucky in the CBS Sports Classic.

The previous No. 9-ranked Tar Heels fell, but only two spots, to No. 11 in the most recent AP Poll. The result of this is that the voters in the AP Poll see what all Tar Heel fans should recognize: this UNC Basketball squad has shown plenty of potential and is attacking a gauntlet of a non-conference schedule that hasn't been seen in over half a century for a North Carolina team.

Unfortunately, when two talented teams play each other, someone is going to lose, even when they are evenly matched. That's how sports work. The Tar Heels have been on the wrong end of that against two quality teams of late, UConn and Kentucky, but the AP Poll voters clearly respect North Carolina. They will have another great opportunity on Wednesday night against the No. 7 ranked Oklahoma Sooners in the Jumpman Invitational at 9:30 PM.

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