North Carolina will open the season without a number beside its name in the preseason AP Top 25, and that alone says more about the state of this roster than any argument about respect.
For the first time since the 2005-06 season, the Tar Heels are starting a year unranked. That is an unusual sight for a program with UNC’s history, but it is not hard to understand why voters left it out. Michael Malone is working with a first roster in Chapel Hill that still needs time to sort itself out, and the questions around this team are still bigger than the answers.
The exhibition loss to Indiana only sharpened that picture. UNC got pushed around on the boards, and Malone did not pretend otherwise after the game. There were stretches when the Tar Heels simply did not match Indiana’s physical edge, a reminder that this group is still coming together.
That said, it is still October. Exhibition games do not go into the standings, and no one should be trying to make a final judgment on North Carolina based on a preseason scrimmage. Even so, there is no escaping the reality that the Tar Heels have not done enough yet to claim a spot among the country’s top 25 teams.
What they do have is time, and they have a schedule that will make them earn every bit of national attention they get.
If UNC wants to force its way into the rankings, the path is right there in front of it. Based on the preseason AP Top 25, the Tar Heels are set to play nine games against ranked opponents, including four against teams in the top 10. That list includes Duke twice, Illinois, Virginia, Louisville twice, Arkansas, Miami and Kentucky.
Here is the full slate of ranked foes on UNC’s schedule: Duke (No. 2) twice, Illinois (No. 3), Virginia (No.
9), Louisville (No. 11) twice, Arkansas (No. 12), Miami (No. 14) and Kentucky (No.
23).
That is a gauntlet by any standard. It also gives North Carolina every chance to prove it belongs in the conversation.
Teams that want Top 25 status do not get there by reputation alone. They get there by beating other ranked teams, and UNC will have more than enough shots to do exactly that.
The Tar Heels do not need preseason validation. They need to earn it once the games count.
In Other News...
Duke Loss Now Overshadowed By Kimari Robinson Sideline Backlash
The aftermath of Dukes latest on-field moment quickly spilled beyond the game itself after cornerback Kimari Robinson was seen swatting the arm of a female athletic trainer as she tended to injured teammate Landan Callahan. What was a brief sideline exchange on the field turned into the kind of clip that travels fast, and the reaction was immediate once fans began weighing in on social media.
For North Carolina observers, it adds another layer to a rivalry that already gets plenty of attention without the extra baggage. The bigger question now is whether the school will address the incident at all, or if it will pass without any disciplinary response, leaving the episode to linger as part of the broader conversation around the game. [Read more 🡒]
How UNC Fans Can Actually Watch Today's Indiana Preseason Game
North Carolinas second preseason tune-up comes this afternoon in Indianapolis, where the Tar Heels meet Indiana in a matchup that will only be available to watch through a paid stream. Tipoff is set for 5 PM ET on B1G+, meaning fans hoping to follow along on TV will need either a subscription or the $8.99 pay-per-view option.
For those who would rather keep it simple, the Tar Heel Sports Network will have the radio call through local affiliates and Sirius XM. It is the kind of game that forces a little more planning than usual, but with Carolina still early in its preseason work, plenty of fans will still want a way to keep tabs on how the group looks against another major program. [Read more 🡒]
No. 1 UNC Just Got A Frustrating ACC Reality Check
No. 1 North Carolina took an early lead on the road, but the afternoon quickly turned into a reminder of how unforgiving ACC play can be. Bella Devey got the Tar Heels on the board with her 15th goal of the season, giving Carolina a response to lean on in a matchup with No. 4 Wake Forest and the kind of top-five test that tends to expose even the smallest lapses.
Wake Forest answered with three unanswered goals, including one early in the second half, and never let UNC settle back into control. For a team that has spent most of the season at the top of the rankings, the loss offered a blunt reality check and a chance to reassess how quickly an elite opponent can flip a game on the road. [Read more 🡒]