The UNC women’s basketball team’s 8-0 record is starting to turn heads around the country.
Head coach Courtney Banghart and the rest of the Tar Heels have passed every test with flying colors since the beginning of the season, and according to the NCAA’s metrics, it appears to be no fluke. The first NET ratings, which replaced the RPI metric and is used to diagnose a team’s overall quality and predict postseason seedings, have Carolina ranked No. 2 in the country. The Tar Heels trail only South Carolina, who are the unanimous No. 1 team in the country in all major polls.
Carolina is the highest-rated ACC team in the NET, ahead of perennial powers such as NC State (No. 3) and Louisville (No. 6). To view the full NET ratings, click here.
Among other things, NET ratings take into account strength of schedule, game location (UNC has played five of eight games away from Chapel Hill this season), scoring margin (UNC has won seven of eight games this season by double digits) and offensive and defensive efficiency. Despite the gaudy rating, UNC remained unranked in Monday’s newest AP Top 25 poll. The Tar Heels are in the “Receiving Votes” category, effectively making them the No. 29 team.
In response to the disparity between the NET and AP rankings, Banghart tweeted a graphic of the NET rating and said, “Earned, not given.”
Carolina did debut in the latest women’s basketball Coaches Poll, however, checking in at No. 24. It is their first appearance in the Coaches Poll since October 29, 2015. Once again, Banghart shared her thoughts on the poll via social media.
UNC will have a chance to defend its ranking on Sunday when UNC-Asheville visits Carmichael Arena. The program has not started 9-0 since the 2014-15 season. To view the full Coaches Poll, click here.
Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications/Jeffrey A. Camarati
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