UNC in consecutive preseason women’s Top 25 polls for the first time in 8 years, but lower than expected

North Carolina enters the season full of expectations of a potential Final Four run. The players have a sign next to the dressing room entrance that reads, “final four team loading …” But, judging from the AP women’s basketball Top 25 preseason poll released Tuesday, the Tar Heels still have some convincing to do with many voters.

Carolina No. 19 in preseason men’s Top 25, potentially plays 9 games vs. ranked teams

Carolina will enter Coach Hubert Davis’ third season as head coach with a more realistic ranking but high expectations that the Tar Heels can rebound from last season’s frustrations with their massively restructured roster. UNC is No. 19 in the AP preseason Top 25 poll released on Monday, one of three ACC teams to make the list, along with No. 2 Duke and No. 13 Miami.

Unbeaten Tar Heels move up again in both polls, highest AP rank this late in 8 years

Undefeated North Carolina moved up in the AP Top 25 poll for the fifth consecutive week, becoming a top-10 team for the first time since the preseason 2021 poll. The Tar Heels (6–0, 3–0 ACC) are up two spots to No. 10 after their 41–31 home victory Saturday over Miami, which was No. 25 but is now unranked. UNC is 56–22 as a ranked team in 15 seasons under Coach Mack Brown.

Walker ignites second-half surge as No. 12 UNC blows by Canes

CHAPEL HILL — As tempting as it might be to call it the Tez Walker Game, the spectacular effort by the recently “freed” wide receiver might just be a prelude to the explosiveness to come. In his second game since the NCAA ruled the junior Kent State transfer eligible, he caught a career-high three touchdown passes, with 132 reception yards. His two third-quarter scores ignited No. 12 North Carolina as the Tar Heels rallied from their first halftime deficit of the season to beat No. 25 Miami 41–31 on Saturday night before a raucous Kenan Stadium crowd.

Cadeau, Gakdeng, other newcomers, put on show during Live Action

CHAPEL HILL — Change was apparent all around Friday night at Live Action, as was the swagger of freshman point guard Elliot Cadeau. The annual preseason spotlight on UNC’s men’s and women’s basketball teams at the Smith Center was all new to seven of Coach Hubert Davis’ players (five transfers and two freshmen) and eight of Coach Courtney Banghart’s players (three transfers and five freshmen).

Banghart focused on process for her talented team, not national title talk

CHAPEL HILL — The stars are aligned in more ways than one as Coach Courtney Banghart enters her fifth season as Carolina’s women’s basketball coach. A deep, talented roster with six players who were five-star recruits and five others who were four-star recruits has all the elements to contend for a national championship this year. With more talent on the way, her program has set a foundation to sustain long-term success.