By R.L. Bynum
North Carolina moved up to a season-high No. 12 in the AP Top 25 men’s basketball poll after winning its only game last week.
The Tar Heels (9–1), which beat USC Upstate 80–62 on Saturday, topped their previous high of No. 14 in last week’s poll. It’s UNC’s highest ranking since it was No. 12 last season on Nov. 25.
The two teams directly ahead of UNC last week both lost:
— Illinois (8–3) dropped from No. 13 to No. 18 after an 83–80 at home loss to Nebraska (11–0), which moved up eight spots to No. 15 after also beating Wisconsin 90–60,
— Alabama (7–3) dropped four spots to No. 16 after losing Saturday in Birmingham, Ala., to No. 1 Arizona 96–75.
Duke (10–0) remained at No. 3 after not playing last week. Louisville (9–1) stayed at No. 11 after a 99–73 victory over Memphis. Virginia (9–1) is up to No. 23 after an 84–60 win over Maryland Eastern Shore.
Elliot Cadeau’s unbeaten Michigan team (10–0) stayed at No. 2. Vanderbilt (10–0), with Tyler Nickel and Jalen Washington, went up two spots to No. 13, and Ian Jackson’s St. John’s team (6–3) stayed at No. 22.
Ranking UNC the highest at No. 10 was John Johnson of WXII-TV in Winston-Salem. Like every week this season, Shane Mettlen of the Daily News-Record in Harrisonburg, Va., ranked the Tar Heels the lowest, this time at No. 24.
Chris Lea of WRAL voted UNC No. 11 and Kate Rogerson of WTVD voted the Heels No. 12.
More on Tar Heels
— Check out an extensive photo gallery from the USC Upstate game.
— ETSU at No. 12 UNC: When, where to watch, stats, comparisons and notes
— Agitated Davis lets his team have it during late timeout in ugly win
— Caleb Wilson played through a foot injury in putting up seventh double-double.
— No brace for Trimble’s forearm as he’s been active in non-contact drills, nears return
— Powell brings quick-release perimeter shots, defense UNC needed
— Tar Heels slide in NET rankings after unimpressive Quad 4 win
AP Top 25
| Rank | School | Record (1st- place votes) | Poll points | Previous |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona (42) | 9-0 | 1,500 | 1 |
| 2 | Michigan (15) | 10-0 | 1,470 | 2 |
| 3 | Duke (3) | 10–0 | 1,406 | 3 |
| 4 | Iowa State (1) | 11–0 | 1,336 | 4 |
| 5 | UConn | 10–1 | 1,286 | 5 |
| 6 | Purdue | 10–1 | 1,195 | 6 |
| 7 | Gonzaga | 10–1 | 1,109 | 8 |
| 8 | Houston | 10–1 | 1,079 | 7 |
| 9 | Michigan State | 9–1 | 1,037 | 9 |
| 10 | BYU | 9–1 | 1,017 | 10 |
| 11 | Louisville | 9–1 | 921 | 11 |
| 12 | North Carolina | 9–1 | 794 | 14 |
| 13 | Vanderbilt | 10–0 | 766 | 15 |
| 14 | Arkansas | 8–2 | 726 | 17 |
| 15 | Nebraska | 11–0 | 655 | 23 |
| 16 | Alabama | 7–3 | 644 | 12 |
| 17 | Kansas | 8–3 | 502 | 19 |
| 18 | Illinois | 8–3 | 483 | 13 |
| 19 | Texas Tech | 7–3 | 314 | 16 |
| 20 | Tennessee | 7–3 | 286 | 20 |
| 21 | Auburn | 8–3 | 283 | 21 |
| 22 | St. John’s | 6–3 | 250 | 22 |
| T23 | Florida | 6–4 | 200 | 18 |
| T23 | Virginia | 9–1 | 200 | 24 |
| 25 | Georgia | 9–1 | 82 | NR |
Others receiving votes: Southern Cal 68, Iowa 47, Seton Hall 46, LSU 19, Kentucky 19, UCLA 16, Clemson 14, California 13, Saint Mary’s 12, Arizona St 5, Villanova 5, Notre Dame 4, Indiana 4, Miami (Ohio) 4, Miami 4, Utah St. 2, Saint Louis 1, Wisconsin 1.
| Date | Time/ scores | Month/day | Opponent/event (current ranks) | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October | Exhibitions | |||
| 9 | W, 88–70 | Friday | vs. No. 21 USC in Greensboro | |
| 18 | L, 76–58 | Sunday | vs. Indiana in Indianapolis | |
| 27 | W, 89–82, OT | Tuesday | vs. Charlotte | |
| November | Regular season | |||
| 2 | 7 p.m. | Monday | vs. Western Carolina | ACCN |
| 6 | 7 p.m. | Friday | vs. Wofford | ACCN |
| 10 | 7 p.m. | Tuesday | vs. Wyoming | ACCN |
| 13 | 7 p.m. | Friday | vs. Georgia | ESPN2 |
| 20 | 9 p.m. | Friday | vs. Marshall | ACCN |
| 23 | 7 p.m. | Monday | vs. Monmouth | ACCN |
| 27 | 7 p.m. | Friday | Dick Vitale Invitational vs. West Virginia in Charlotte | ESPN |
| December | ||||
| 1 | 7:30 | Tuesday | ACC/SEC Challenge vs. No. 12 Arkansas | ESPN |
| 6 | 3 p.m. | Sunday | vs. Butler | ESPN2 |
| 12 | Noon | Saturday | at Georgetown | Peacock |
| 15 | 7 p.m. | Tuesday | Tobacco Road Classic vs. N.C. State in Greensboro | ESPN2 |
| 19 | 2:30 | Saturday | CBS Sports Classic vs. No. 23 Kentucky in New York | CBS |
| 21 | 8 p.m. | Monday | vs. The Citadel | The CW |
| 30 | 4 p.m. | Wednesday | vs. California | ACCN |
| January | ||||
| 2 | 4 p.m. | Saturday | at Boston College | ESPN or ESPN2 |
| 5 | 9 p.m. | Tuesday | at No. 11 Louisville | ESPN or ESPNU |
| 9 | Noon | Saturday | vs. N.C. State | ESPN2 |
| 13 | 7 p.m. | Wednesday | at Florida State | ESPN2 or ESPNU |
| 16 | 2:15 | Saturday | vs. Stanford | The CW |
| 19 | 9 p.m. | Tuesday | vs. No. 9 Virginia | ESPN |
| 23 | Noon | Saturday | at Syracuse | ESPN or 2 or U |
| 26 | 7 p.m. | Tuesday | vs. SMU | ESPN or ESPN2 |
| 30 | 6 or 6:30 | Saturday | Nashville Hoops Showdown vs. No. 3 Illinois in Nashville, Tenn. | ESPN |
| February | ||||
| 2 | 7 p.m. | Tuesday | at Notre Dame | ESPN or ESPN2 |
| 6 | 2:15 | Saturday | vs. Georgia Tech | The CW |
| 8 | 6 p.m. | Monday | vs. No. 11 Louisville | ESPN |
| 13 | 5:30 | Saturday | at No. 2 Duke | ABC |
| 20 | 7 p.m. | Saturday | at Wake Forest | ACCN |
| 22 | 7 p.m. | Monday | vs. No. 14 Miami | ESPN |
| 27 | 7 p.m. | Saturday | at Virginia Tech | ESPN |
| March | ||||
| 2 | 9 p.m. | Tuesday | at Pittsburgh | ESPN or ESPN2 |
| 6 | 6 or 6:30 | Saturday | vs. No. 2 Duke | ESPN |
| 9–13 | Tues.-Sat. | ACC tournament in Greensboro |
Photo by Joshua Lawton
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