(Photo: Nell Redmond/theACC.com)

We have already gotten a look at what some of the top college basketball analytic experts think about North Carolina in their preseason rankings.  Bart Torvik has been the friendliest to the Tar Heels with a No. 18 placement.  Evan Miyakawa has the Tar Heels a little bit lower at No. 26. 

But most of us can’t wait until Ken Pomeroy releases his preseason findings.  He did that on Sunday, and he has UNC in the lowest spot of the three at No. 33.  Those three numbers round North Carolina’s placement to 26th.  That is pretty much with many of the preseason polls who have them around the No. 25 spot.     

This is not the lowest KenPom has had Carolina to start the season in recent years.  They were preseason No. 40 in 2021-22.  That team finished 29-10, and made it to the National Championship Game.   They also had preseason rankings of No. 17 in 2023-24, and No. 14 last season. 

KenPom has seven upcoming opponents ranked above the Tar Heels.  Two are in the top-10.  Three made the top-20, and three more made it between No. 21 and No. 30.  In all, there are 11 games that UNC will play against preseason top 50 teams.  BYU also comes in at No. 18.  North Carolina will travel to Salt Lake City to play the Cougars on October 24 in one of the more anticipated preseason exhibition games.    

Here is a look at the Tar Heels’ non-conference opponents and their ranking out of a possible 365 NCAA Division I teams.    

Nov. 7                  Kansas                              No.   21 

Nov. 11                Radford                             No. 143

Nov. 14                NC Central                       No. 328

Nov. 18                Navy                                  No. 200

Nov. 25                St. Bonaventure              No. 122

Nov. 27                Michigan State                No.   25 

Dec.   2                 Kentucky                          No.     4 

Dec.   7                 Georgetown                     No.   82

Dec. 13                 USC-Upstate                    No. 336

Dec. 16                 ETSU                                 No.  140

Dec. 20                Ohio State                         No.   27

Dec. 22                East Carolina                    No.  146

North Carolina is ranked preseason fourth in the Atlantic Coast Conference behind Duke, Louisville, and Clemson.  Three more ACC teams: NC State, SMU, and Wake Forest cracked KenPom’s top-50.  That will provide the Tar Heels with seven opportunities against league teams inside the first 50. 

No. 1   Duke                     No.  7  (Home – Feb.7, Away- March 7)

No. 2   Louisville            No. 14 (Home- Feb. 23)

No. 3   Clemson              No. 32 (Home – March 3)

No. 4   North Carolina

No. 5   NC State              No. 38 (Away – Feb. 17)

No. 6   SMU                     No. 43 (Away – Jan. 3)      

No. 7   Wake Forest       No. 49 (Home – Jan. 10)

No. 8   Virginia               No. 59 (Away- Jan. 24)

No. 9   Pitt                        No. 63 (Home – Feb. 14)

No. 10 Syracuse              No. 68 (Home- Feb. 2, Away-Feb. 21)

No. 11 Georgia Tech       No. 70 (Away – Jan. 31)

No. 12 Virginia Tech      No. 71 (Home – Feb. 28)

No. 13 Miami                   No. 76 (Away- Feb. 10)

No. 14 Notre Dame        No. 77 (Home – Jan. 21) 

No. 15 California             No. 87 (Away- Jan. 17)   

No. 16 Stanford               No. 89 (Away – Jan. 14)

No. 17 Boston College    No. 90

No. 18 Florida St.            No. 96 (Home – Dec. 30)