UNC Basketball Earns Top-Three Spot in 2025 ACC Preseason Poll: A New Era of Expectations in Chapel Hill
The conversation around Chapel Hill has shifted. After a season that fell short of the blue-blood standard, North Carolina basketball enters the 2025–26 campaign with renewed optimism and respect from across the ACC. The Tar Heels have officially been ranked No. 3 in the ACC preseason basketball poll, trailing only Duke and Louisville.
For a team that endured growing pains a year ago, that ranking speaks volumes about the belief in Hubert Davis’ new-look roster.
This year’s group feels more like a throwback to the Roy Williams era a balanced, high-tempo team with length, depth, and experience. The frontcourt, once a glaring weakness, now looks like a strength, while a core of returning guards provides the leadership and chemistry that last season’s unit lacked.
The ACC preseason poll reflects that confidence. Duke claimed the top spot with 34 of the 49 first-place votes (866 total points), while Louisville followed with 15 first-place votes and 842 points. North Carolina came in third with 741 points, edging out rival NC State by just 31 points.
That narrow margin underscores how competitive this year’s ACC race could be. The Wolfpack finished fourth in the poll, followed by Virginia rounding out the top five. The rest of the standings show SMU, Clemson, and Miami close behind a reminder that the ACC might be deeper than it’s been in years.
Here’s the full breakdown of the 2025 ACC Preseason Poll:
- Duke (34) — 866
- Louisville (15) — 842
- North Carolina — 741
- NC State — 710
- Virginia — 623
- SMU — 616
- Clemson — 510
- Miami — 500
- Syracuse — 489
- Notre Dame — 477
- Wake Forest — 412
- Virginia Tech — 355
- Georgia Tech — 315
- Pitt — 301
- Florida State — 221
- California — 156
- Stanford — 138
- Boston College — 107
For UNC, that top-three position pairs with their No. 25 national AP ranking, released just a day earlier. It’s clear that while national analysts may be cautious, the ACC sees the Tar Heels as a legitimate contender.
The challenge now shifts from preseason expectations to on-court execution. The Tar Heels will have every opportunity to prove themselves early, facing off against six teams ranked in the national Top 25, including home clashes with Kansas and Duke, and a tough road battle against Kentucky.
This season’s group carries both a chip on its shoulder and the pedigree of a program that refuses to stay down for long. If the chemistry builds quickly and the frontcourt holds its own, North Carolina could turn that No. 3 preseason ranking into something even bigger by March.
After a year of rebuilding, the Tar Heels are no longer chasing relevance they’re chasing banners again.
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