Luke DeCock’s AP Top 25 basketball poll ballot: Week 17
Not only was Saturday’s historic win at Duke enough to assure North Carolina entry into the NCAA tournament -- really, it was happening anyway, but it removed any doubt -- it was good enough to secure the Tar Heels a place on this penultimate ballot of the season.
It’s been a wild ride for the Tar Heels on this ballot -- 17th, 16th and then out, until now-- but I’ve been of the belief all season that UNC was the second-best team in the ACC and that’s where they finished, tied with Notre Dame and the No. 3 seed on a tiebreaker.
North Carolina is one of several newcomers this week, joining Colorado State, San Diego State and San Francisco, as Baylor stays at No. 1 heading into the power-conference tournaments and Selection Sunday.
THIS SEASON’S BALLOTS
Preseason | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9 | Week 10 | Week 12 | Week 13 | Week 15 | Week 16
THIS WEEK’S TOP 25 BASKETBALL BALLOT
1. Baylor (Last week: 1)
2. Gonzaga (3)
3. Arizona (5)
4. Auburn (6)
5. Kentucky (7)
6. Kansas (4)
7. Duke (2)
8. Villanova (8)
9. Tennessee (12)
10. Purdue (9)
11. Houston (10)
12. UCLA (15)
13. Texas Tech (11)
14. St. Mary’s (16)
15. Murray State (17)
16. Illinois (18)
17. Wisconsin (13)
18. Providence (14)
19. Colorado State (NR)
20. North Carolina (NR)
21. Texas (20)
22. Arkansas (21)
23. San Diego State (NR)
24. Connecticut (23)
25. San Francisco (NR)
OUT USC (19), Ohio State (22), Alabama (24), Boise State (25)
This story was originally published March 7, 2022 at 7:00 AM.
