CHAPEL HILL, N.C.—The Associated Press has ranked North Carolina’s men’s basketball team No. 7 in the season’s final poll, which for the first time was released after the NCAA championship game.
Previously, the AP had released its final poll prior to the start of the NCAA Tournament.
This is the 39th time the AP has ranked the Tar Heels in the top 10 in the final poll, the third most in college basketball history. This is the 52nd time in the 76-year history of the AP poll UNC is ranked in the final poll. That is tied with Duke for second most all-time.
Carolina was picked 19th in the AP’s preseason poll. This is the first time since 2005-06 the Tar Heels are ranked in the top 10 in the final poll after not opening the season in the top 10. UNC was unranked to begin that season and finished No. 10.
This season’s No. 7 final ranking is Carolina’s highest since finishing third in 2018-19.
