Ranking all of UNC basketball's preseason Top 25 matchups
UNC opens its basketball season in just a few short days, and it gets feisty, quickly. The Tar Heels will welcome Elon into Chapel Hill on Monday. As the No. 9 ranked team in the country, according to the preseason AP Top 25 Poll, there are some expectations of North Carolina this season.
After falling short in several recent NCAA Tournaments and losing last year's ACC Tournament in the championship, there is unfinished business among many of the players. North Carolina does not have the easiest schedule ahead of them if championships are in their future.
They take on five different top-25-ranked opponents with the possibility of more. Here are all of North Carolina's top 25 opponents ranked from least anticipated to most.
Honorable Mention - vs UConn
Date: Potentially November 27, 2024
AP Top-25 Rank: No. 3
Location: Hawai'i
Event: Maui Invitational
Significance: This is only a potential game which is why it finds itself not ranked. North Carolina would have to beat Dayton and the winner of Auburn and Indiana just to get a shot at UConn if they were to beat Memphis and the winner of Colorado and Michigan State. However, this is the No. 3 team in the country so it would be dynamic.
No. 5 - vs UCLA
Date: December 21, 2024
AP Top-25 Rank: No. 22
Location: Madison Square Garden (New York, New York)
Event: HBCU Showcase / CBS Sports Classic
Significance: North Carolina has a tough non-conference schedule and a lot of times we can focus on the top 10 or top five schools. However, these No. 15-25 ranked schools can be just as dangerous. North Carolina took down UCLA in the NCAA Tournament the last time these two met so UCLA has revenge it wants on this neutral court.
No. 4 - vs Florida
Date: December 17, 2024
AP Top-25 Rank: No. 21
Location: Spectrum Center (Charlotte, North Carolina)
Event: Jumpman Invitational
Significance: Similar to UCLA, these lower-ranked top-25 teams have more to prove and many times fight harder. This is another game at a neutral site despite it being closer to UNC.
No. 3 - at Duke
Date: February 1, 2025 / March 8, 2025
AP Top-25 Rank: No. 7
Location: Camden Indoor Stadium (Durham, North Carolina) / Dean E. Smith Center (Chapel Hill)
Significance: The Duke / North Carolina rivalry is the best in sports, period. This rivalry happens twice a year, every year, one at both home gyms. They will start off in Durham and finish the season in Chapel Hill. On top of that, Duke is the No. 7 ranked team in the country and has the most touted prospect since LeBron James in Cooper Flagg.
No. 2 - at Kansas
Date: November 8, 2024
AP Top-25 Rank: No. 1
Location: Allen Fieldhouse (Lawrence, Kansas)
Significance: Kansas is the No. 1 team in the country making this artuably the biggest game of the season. In terms of straight ranking, this is the biggest game. However, it also comes EXTREMELY early in the season. North Carolina will be tested early and on the road.
No. 1 - vs Alabama
Date: December 4, 2024
AP Top-25 Rank: No. 2
Location: Dean E. Smith Center (Chapel Hill, NC)
Event: SEC/ACC Challenge
Significance: There is no denying the significance of this game. Alabama was the team that knocked North Carolina out of the NCAA Tournament last year in a tough game that went down to the wire. The battle between Mark Sears and RJ Davis will be one for the ages as UNC looks to spark its revenge in the SEC/ACC Challenge at home.
This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire : Ranking all of UNC basketball's preseason Top 25 matchups
