All Tar Heels

Road Blowout Significantly Boosts UNC Basketball NET Ranking

Despite recording a sixth straight win, UNC basketball may still have to defeat Duke to reach the NCAA Tournament.
Matt Giles|
UNC basketball head coach Hubert Davis
UNC basketball head coach Hubert Davis | Brian Bishop-Imagn Images

In this story:

North Carolina Tar Heels

Hubert Davis and his fourth UNC basketball team returned to Chapel Hill on Tuesday night with an impressive 91-59 win over the Virginia Tech Hokies (13-17, 8-11 ACC) in tow. The Tar Heels (20-11, 13-6 ACC), steadily ascending the March Madness bubble of late, have now won six in a row.

ALSO READ: First-Year UNC Forward Builds on Recent Production Uptick

Unfortunately for Carolina, all of those victories came against opponents with losing ACC records in this season's subpar conference. So, even though the past five victories are by double-digit margins, the streak hasn't exactly worked wonders for UNC's NET position.

However, the Tar Heels did jump five spots to No. 38 overall in the latest update to the NCAA NET Rankings on Wednesday morning.

In doing so, UNC basketball moved to No. 4 among ACC squads. The Tar Heels leapfrogged SMU, as the Mustangs slid five notches to No. 46 overall despite grinding out a 77-75 home victory over Syracuse on Tuesday night.

The NET, a key metric for the NCAA Tournament selection committee, currently lists three other ACC teams inside its top 50: Louisville at No. 25, Clemson at No. 21, and Duke at No. 1 (up from No. 2 in light of Auburn's Tuesday night loss at Texas A&M).

UNC hosts the archrival Blue Devils (27-3, 8-1 ACC) at 6:30 p.m. ET Saturday (ESPN), the regular season finale for both programs.

ALSO READ: High-Flying Tar Heel Reserve Erases Hokie Hopes at Rim

Stay tuned to North Carolina Tar Heels On SI for more UNC basketball news.

Published
Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, Duke Blue Devils on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining UNC on SI in 2023, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

Share on XFollow MattGilesBD
Home/Basketball