University of North Carolina Athletics
AP Slots Tar Heels No. 12
October 31, 2013 | Men's Basketball
The Associated Press released its preseason basketball poll today, and Carolina was picked No. 12 (full poll results).
This season marks just the third time in the Roy Williams era that the Tar Heels have been picked outside the AP preseason top 10. Prior to the 2005-06 season, after losing three seniors plus four underclassmen from the 2005 national champions, Carolina was unranked. And last season, after losing John Henson, Tyler Zeller, Harrison Barnes and Kendall Marshall, the AP voters picked Carolina 11th.
The new poll reemphasizes the strength of this year's schedule. The Tar Heels have games scheduled against the preseason No. 1 pick (Kentucky on Dec. 14), No. 2 pick (at Michigan State on Dec. 4), a possible tilt with the No. 3 team (Louisville in the Hall of Fame Tipoff Classic on Nov. 24) and at least two dates with the No. 4 squad (Duke at home on Feb. 12, and in Durham on March 8).
Carolina also has a road game at No. 8 Syracuse, a home-and-home against No. 21 Notre Dame, and a road trip to No. 24 Virginia.
