UNC Men's Hoops: Can They Stay Ranked Throughout the Season?
The UNC men's basketball team is set to start the 2025-2026 season ranked No. 25, just behind powerhouses like Wisconsin, Creighton, Michigan State, Gonzaga, and Auburn. But will they maintain this ranking all season? Or will they drop out, rise, or even face an early exit in March Madness? One thing's for sure: this team is significantly stronger than last year's.
The primary reason for UNC's initial ranking, despite a 23-14 record last season, is the arrival of a talented group of new players. Head coach Hubert Davis and General Manager Jim Tanner, the program's first, have assembled a strong lineup for the upcoming fall. Among them is the highly anticipated freshman, Caleb Wilson.
Wilson, a 6-foot-10 powerhouse with exceptional ball-handling, passing, shooting, and rebounding skills, will be a key component of Davis' offense in his fifth season. Projected as a lottery pick in next year's NBA Draft, Wilson has one year in Chapel Hill to make his mark. In his first press conference, he stated, 'I'm here to make myself a legend and win a bunch of games.'
The multi-million-dollar New Balance shoe deal signee has already embraced the Chapel Hill culture. He made a bold statement by running onto the stage during the Ludacris concert before UNC's football game against Clemson, announcing the Blue-White scrimmage.
While Wilson is undoubtedly a star, the success of UNC's ranking throughout the season relies on the collective effort of the entire team: Kyan Evans, Luka Bogavac, Seth Trimble, Henri Veesaar, Jarin Stevenson, Jonathan Powell, James Brown, Zayden High, Jaydon Young, Ivan Matlekovic, Derek Dixon, and Isaiah Denis. This group of players significantly enhances North Carolina's chances of maintaining a high ranking.
On paper, this is Davis' most talented team yet, though he has had many skilled players in the past. Notably, this is the first squad without any players from Roy Williams' era as head coach. The only player remaining from the previous season is former Tar Heel RJ Davis, who departed after the end of the last season.
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