The UNC women’s basketball team is ranked No. 16 in the preseason AP Top 25 poll, which was released on Tuesday. It’s the second consecutive season in which head coach Courtney Banghart’s team has been ranked in the preseason poll.

The Tar Heels are joined in the poll by ACC foes Virginia Tech at No. 8, Notre Dame at No. 10, Louisville at No. 17 and Florida State at No. 18. NC State, Duke and Miami also received votes. For a full look at the poll, click here.

The rankings reveal just how difficult Carolina’s schedule this season will be: the Tar Heels are guaranteed to play No. 2 UConn and No. 6 South Carolina in the non-conference slate, as well as each of the ranked ACC teams. That’s in addition to a potential game with No. 3 Iowa; the Hawkeyes and Tar Heels are both entrants in the eight-team Gulf Coast Showcase in Florida this November. All told, UNC could face three of last season’s Final Four during the season – Iowa, South Carolina and Virginia Tech.

Carolina’s season gets underway on November 8 when it hosts Gardner-Webb in Carmichael Arena at 7 p.m.

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