AP Polls Week 16: The Tar Heels Rise Above in This Week's Rankings

 


(Photo Courtesy Jim Hawkins/Inside Carolina) 

Chapel Hill - As this past week of games concludes, UNC is placed one spot higher in this week's listing of the AP Polls. A historical road win against Virginia this past Saturday for the first time since February 2012, ending at 54-44, provided the Tar Heels with the number nine spot. Arguably, Cormac Ryan's best performance of the season sparked the team's success. 
 
AP Poll Rankings Week 16, according to ESPN
 
 1. Houston 
 2. Purdue
 3. UConn   
 4. Tennessee
 5. Marquette
 6. Arizona
 7. Kansas
 8. Iowa State 
 9. North Carolina 
10. Duke
11. Auburn
12. Creighton
13. Illinois  
14. Alabama
15. Baylor
16. Kentucky
17. Saint Mary's   
18. South Carolina
19. Washington State
20. San Diego State 
21. Dayton 
22. Utah State 
23. Gonzaga
24. Florida
25. South Florida
 
Beginning today, North Carolina is scheduled to face off against the Miami Hurricanes (15-13, 6-11 conference) and NC State (17-10, 9-7 conference). Both contests mark two of the final four contests of the regular season, as next week's Duke matchup on March 9th finishes before March Madness starts. 
 
The Miami Hurricanes are currently on a six-game losing streak after games against UNC (2/10), Clemson (2/14), Boston College (2/17), Duke (2/21), and Georgia Tech (2/24). Coach Larrañaga and staff are in desperate need of a victory to regain confidence going into March. The Hurricanes find themselves towards the bottom of the ACC win-loss column behind Boston College at the number 12 spot. 
 
NC State has recently lost three out of their last five contests, as their losses were the results of games against Pittsburgh, Wake Forest, and Syracuse. The two victories were picked up against Clemson and Boston College. Amidst the ACC conference slate, the Wolfpack are seventh among the 15 teams, right behind Pittsburgh and in front of Syracuse. 

As of late in UNC's last outings against Virginia and Virginia Tech, the team has been averaging 75 points, 39 rebounds, and 12 assists. Its offense is producing 43% from the field, 26% from behind the three-point line, and at the charity stripe, 76%. 

Coach Davis' squad currently sits at the top of the ACC standings at 13-3, ahead of Duke (12-4 conference) and Virginia (11-6 conference) as they look to secure the number one seed heading into the ACC Tournament, which takes place at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. The games are scheduled to commence on Tuesday, March 12th, and end on March 16th for Championship Saturday. 


 


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