Preseason AP Poll: North Carolina leads the way
North Carolina is on top of the preseason AP Poll for the 2022-23 basketball season.
UNC is ranked No. 1 to start the year after getting all the way to the National Championship Game last season. Duke at No. 7 is the only other ACC program in the top 10.
Virginia is ranked No. 18 as the Cavaliers return all 5 starters this season. No other ACC program is ranked in the top 25.
11. Tennessee
12. Texas
13. Indiana
14. TCU
15. Auburn
16. Villanova
17. Arizona
18. Virginia
19. San Diego State
20. Alabama
21. Oregon
22. Michigan
23. Illinois
24. Dayton
25. Texas Tech— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) October 17, 2022
North Carolina is No. 1 in the AP Poll for the first time since the 2015-16 season.
The Tar Heels were No. 1 in the preseason that year as well and were able to hold on to the ranking for one week before dropping to No. 9.
North Carolina is No. 1 in the preseason AP Poll!
This is North Carolina's first poll at No. 1 since the 2015-16 season. pic.twitter.com/PEJI3DzI64
— Saturday Road (@SaturdayRoad) October 17, 2022
North Carolina returns 4 starters from its national runner-up team from a year ago. Armando Bacot, Caleb Love, Leaky Black and RJ Davis are all back this season. The Tar Heels added a key transfer as well in Pete Nance, who is expected to replace Brady Manek in the starting lineup.
It will also be the second season for head coach Hubert Davis.
North Carolina faces UNCW in its season-opener on Nov. 7.