NCAA Basketball: Gonzaga, Kansas drops, Duke, UNC rises in latest top 25 power ranking

23. North Carolina Tar Heels – 14-6 (6-3 ACC)

After a varying level of up-and-down play, the Tar Heels have finally found some momentum, currently on a three-game winning streak. The first game this week was against Boston College, which proved to be a tough out for 35+ minutes.

UNC was able to keep them at arm’s length enough, eventually pulling off the 72-64 victory. Armando Bacot led the way with 20 points and 16 rebounds, while RJ Davis and Caleb Love had 18 and 16 points respectively. They didn’t shoot overly well in the game but held the Eagles to worse numbers from the field.

The game at home against NC State was much tougher and chippy as well. Unfortunately, star guard Terquavion Smith got injured via a hard foul by Leaky Black, who ended up ejected afterward. The Tar Heels did benefit from his absence and made a second-half run to eventually win the game, 80-69. Davis led all scorers with 26 points, while Bacot, who is the program’s all-time leader in double-doubles, finished with 23 points and 18 rebounds.

North Carolina now looks to continue its run in ACC play, taking on the Syracuse Orange this upcoming week. It’s the lone game for the Heels, followed by a fairly brutal stretch of games that includes both Duke and Miami.