North Carolina
College basketball rankings: North Carolina, Duke on another collision course for ACC championship
The last Saturday of the regular season is often highlighted by Duke-North Carolina. Sometimes, the second of two games scheduled annually between the rivals even settles the ACC race. That’s always fun. And such will be the case this weekend thanks to Duke winning 79-74 at NC State on Monday to stay within a game of UNC in the league standings,
“I think the story of the night was our bench — Sean [Stewart], TJ [Power] and Ryan [Young],” said Duke coach Jon Scheyer. “The work they did was huge.”
Stewart, Power and Young were the only three reserves who played for Duke now that Scheyer has more or less settled into a seven- or eight-man rotation with freshman Caleb Foster sidelined by a leg injury. Those three combined for 17 points, 11 rebounds, four blocks, three assists and two steals at NC State while helping Duke score 46 points in the final 20 minutes to pull away and improve to 8-1 since losing at North Carolina early last month.
Again, Duke’s rematch with UNC is Saturday.
But the Tar Heels still have one more game to play before traveling to Cameron Indoor Stadium — specifically, Tuesday night’s home finale with Notre Dame. North Carolina will clinch at least a share of the ACC title if it wins, meaning Saturday’s game with Duke would then be for an outright league championship and reduce Duke to playing for a share. However, if UNC loses to Notre Dame, both the Tar Heels and Blue Devils would be 15-4 in the ACC, at which point Saturday’s game would determine the outright ACC champion.
Either way, the stakes will be high. In addition to a conference title being on the line, UNC and Duke are both still in contention to be the fourth No. 1 seed in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. A victory Saturday would keep those hopes alive. A loss would damage them — and possibly end them.
North Carolina is No. 6, and Duke is No. 11, in Tuesday morning’s updated CBS Sports Top 25 And 1 daily college basketball rankings, where Purdue is No. 1 for the 14th consecutive day. Meantime, Baylor is up to No. 8 after Monday’s 93-85 win over Texas. Baylor moving up from No. 9 to No. 8 in the Top 25 And 1, and Duke jumping from No. 14 to No. 11, caused Creighton, Kansas, Auburn and Utah State to be pushed down one spot each, no fault of their own. Scott Drew’s Bears remain alone in third in the Big 12 standings behind only Houston and Iowa State. The Cougars and Cyclones are No. 3 and No. 6, respectively, in the Top 25 And 1.
Top 25 And 1 rankings
The North Carolina Tar Heels will be a young program across the board next season, with well over two dozen freshmen and numerous additions from the transfer portal this offseason. Expectations for the 2026 season are lowered dramatically after a disastrous first season for head coach Bill Belichick, though those expectations could help the Tar Heels fly under the radar.
As the Tar Heels approach the end of spring ball, it is time to look at the veterans of the team—the ones who have the experience to lead, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Let’s look at three underrated seniors for the 2026 football season.
Ade Willie, Cornerback
Willie joins the Tar Heels program after four years with Michigan State, as the former 4-star player in the 2022 recruiting class gets an opportunity to not only provide depth to the secondary, but potentially start Week 0 against TCU.
Willie played in over 30 games with the Spartans and brings experience in the secondary at cornerback and safety, along with quality length and closing speed to the football. For a defense that needs players to step up, the redshirt senior from IMG Academy will be asked to do so.
Isaiah Johnson, Defensive Lineman
The defensive line is beginning to look like one of the Tar Heels’ strengths for the 2026 season. Johnson, a former transfer from Arizona, enters his redshirt senior year looking to add another year of production after 40 tackles and two sacks this past season.
North Carolina has an impressive group of starters with Malkart Abou-Jaoude, Leroy Jackson, and incoming transfer Jaylen Harvey. Johnson adds value to the group as a run defender with the ability to penetrate the pocket. While not discussed as a key player, Johnson’s name will be used plenty during the regular season as a potential standout for the program’s defensive front.
Coleman Bryson, Safety
Bryson was a reserve player for the Tar Heels’ secondary last season as a big nickel defender in the rotation. Heading into his redshirt senior year, the former Minnesota Gopher is looking to become a full-time starter in the secondary.
It wasn’t long ago when Bryson was making plays as the 2022 Pinstripe Bowl Defensive MVP. His special teams abilities were valuable for North Carolina last season, and he flashed at times in coverage against tight ends, including a pass breakup in the season-opener against TCU. The Waynesville, North Carolina, native could be a key defender on the back-seven in 2026.
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Friends and family members gathered in Washington state on Saturday, remembering former Miss North Carolina Carrie Everett, who died on Easter Sunday. Another memorial service is planned in North Carolina next month.
Web Editor : Sydney Ross
Posted
Virginia 3, North Carolina 0 | First Quarter
Virginia 3, North Carolina 0 | Q1 8:19
After a faceoff win by Henry Metz, Brendan Millon finds Truitt Sunderland to give the Hoos a 3-0 lead. Timeout North Carolina.
Virginia 2, North Carolina 0 | Q1 9:00
Brendan Millon gets the scoring started for the Cavaliers with a question mark style goal. On the defensive end, Jake Marek opens the game with three early saves with his third save setting up a transition goal by Tommy Snyder.
Virginia vs North Carolina pregame notes
UVA owns a 59-33 advantage since the series began in 1938.
The 59 wins are UVA’s most against any opponent in program history (followed by 51 against Duke).
In Chapel Hill last year, the Tar Heels defeated the Cavaliers 18-9, snapping UVA’s six-game series win streak.
UVA has won nine of the last 11 meetings, dating back to 2018.
The Hoos have won the last two meetings with Carolina at Klöckner Stadium, 11-4 in 2022 and 14-6 in 2024.
The Tar Heels’ four goals in 2022 marked the fewest goals in a game under Joe Breschi, who was named UNC’s head coach in 2006.
The last time the Tar Heels knocked off the Cavaliers at Klöckner was a 16-13 decision during the first of three games between the two teams in 2021.
Later that year, UVA claimed back-to-back meetings against the Heels, including in the NCAA semifinals on the way to capturing the 2021 national title over Maryland.
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