The greatest college basketball program of all time, the North Carolina Tar Heels, has struggled to find its footing since head coach Hubert Davis took over the program.
Yes, over the last four years, the Tar Heels have won nearly 70 percent of their games and secured the ACC title in 2024, as well as made it to the Sweet Sixteen later that season. However, other than those accomplishments, the UNC basketball program hasn't done anything of much significance since Davis took hold of the reins.
Now, in the most recent way-too-early top 25 poll by ESPN, North Carolina took a tumble towards the bottom of the ranks, with months still remaining until tip-off.
Yes, you read that correctly, ESPN has the Tar Heels as the final team in the top 25, three spots below where the sports site previously ranked North Carolina. Rubbing salt in the wound, ESPN gave the Duke Blue Devils an 11-spot boost, ranking them sixth in the nation.
Last season, the Tar Heels finished 23-14 overall with a 13-7 performance in ACC play, earning them a fourth-place tie in the conference. North Carolina then walloped San Diego State to earn a berth in the Round of 64 in the NCAA Tournament, where they were edged out by the Ole Miss Rebels.
Why did ESPN rank North Carolina so low?
The biggest visible problem for the UNC men's basketball program is the lack of returners. Star guard Drake Powell declared for the 2025 NBA Draft, and fifth-year guard R.J. Davis more than ran out of eligibility.
However, both Seth Trimble and James Brown are returning for the Heels, Trimble the more experienced player with three years under his belt, and Brown returning for his sophomore season.
Yes, Davis brought in an impressive recruiting class, headlined by five-star freshman Caleb Wilson. However, Wilson, alongside transfers Zayden High, Jarin Stevenson, and Henri Veesaar, aren't enough to sway ESPN to push the UNC Tar Heels up the poll.