After a tough road loss at Miami and an injury to standout freshman Caleb Wilson, UNC basketball took a noticeable dip in the latest national rankings - a reminder of just how quickly the college hoops landscape can shift in February.
The Tar Heels, now 20-5 overall and 8-4 in ACC play, slid seven spots to No. 20 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll. That drop reflects both the sting of the Miami loss and the uncertainty surrounding their roster, especially with Wilson sidelined due to a fractured left hand. Despite the setback, UNC bounced back with a 14-point win over Pitt - and they did it without Wilson and starting center Henri Veesaar, who also missed the game.
Now, the focus shifts to a high-stakes matchup on Tuesday night at N.C. State.
The Wolfpack (18-8, 9-4 ACC) are playing confident basketball under Will Wade, and they’ll be eager to defend home court at the Lenovo Center (7 p.m. ET, ESPN).
There’s a chance Veesaar returns for this one, which would be a significant boost for UNC’s frontcourt, but Wilson’s absence looms large. The freshman has been a key piece on both ends of the floor, and there’s no clear timetable for his return.
The Tar Heels’ ranking slide isn’t just limited to the coaches poll. They also dropped five spots in the latest AP Top 25, landing at No.
- And while they're still very much in the national conversation, the pressure is building as March approaches.
Around the ACC, the league continues to show its depth. Duke holds strong at No. 3 in both major polls, while Virginia (No.
14), Louisville (No. 21), and Clemson (No. 24) also cracked the Coaches Poll. That gives the ACC five teams in the top 25, a testament to how competitive the conference has been this season.
Looking at the analytics, UNC is still in a solid spot - but there’s work to do. In the NCAA’s NET rankings, the Tar Heels sit at No.
- Through 25 games, they’ve gone 5-5 in Quadrant 1 matchups, while taking care of business with a perfect 15-0 record in Quadrants 2 through 4.
Tuesday’s road game at N.C. State presents another Q1 opportunity, as the Wolfpack currently sit at No. 29 in the NET.
These are the kinds of games that can swing seeding come Selection Sunday.
Digging deeper into the advanced metrics, UNC ranks 28th on KenPom, 26th on EvanMiya, 25th in Bart Torvik’s T-Rank, and 22nd on Haslametrics. That consistency across the board shows a team that, while not elite at the moment, is still firmly in the upper tier nationally. The challenge now is staying there - and ideally climbing back up - as the regular season winds down.
With just a few weeks left before the ACC Tournament, every game matters. The Tar Heels have the talent, but with Wilson out and a tough schedule ahead, they’ll need to lean on their depth, experience, and defensive identity to weather the storm.
Tuesday’s showdown at N.C. State could be a tone-setter - not just for the rivalry, but for the stretch run of UNC’s season.