Over the first month of the college basketball regular season, UNC spent each week steadily improving its spot in the AP Top 25 as it rattled off a seven-game win streak to open the year.

Following a loss to then No. 13 Indiana last Wednesday, however, the Tar Heels dropped from No. 3 to No. 7 in this week’s edition of the poll.

It’s the lowest UNC (8-1) has been ranked in 2016-17, as it began the season at No. 6.

Defending national champion Villanova rose to the top spot in the rankings this week after Kentucky suffered its first loss of the season against UCLA–which jumped from to No. 11 all the way to No. 2 thanks to the upset.

Kansas (No. 3), Baylor (No. 4) and Duke (No. 5) rounded out the top five this week, while Kentucky slipped back to No. 6.

The ACC had five teams among the top 25, with No. 11 Louisville, No. 14 Virginia and No. 23 Notre Dame joining the Blue Devils and Tar Heels among the nation’s top teams.

Next on the schedule for UNC is a pair of home games against Davidson and Tennessee, before the Tar Heels travel to Las Vegas for a top-10 showdown with Kentucky on Dec. 17.

 

FULL AP TOP 25