12/26/2017 basketball Edit

The Heels & The RPI

THI digs into the RPIs of UNC's nonconference opponents, plus much more. (Bruce Young, THI)

Andrew Jones • TarHeelIllustrated

Publisher

Andrew Jones has covered sports for 26 years, including all major college & professional sports for daily newspapers & national sites. He's done radio and TV & is entering his seventh year at THI.

At 11-2 entering ACC play, lets take a look at how UNC’s nonconference foes rank in the most recent RPI, which is updated daily.

ACC RPIs are also noted at the bottom of this piece.

Here are the RPI’s of UNC’s opponents thus far:

UNC's Oppnent RPIs & More

7 – Michigan State (12-1) – The Spartans’ only loss is to Duke on a neutral floor. In addition to the Tar Heels, their other notable wins are over DePaul by 24, UConn by 20, Notre Dame by 22, Nebraska by 29 and Rutgers by 10.

9 – Tennessee (9-2) – The only other loss has been to Villanova. The Volunteers’ notable wins are over N.C. State, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest and Purdue.

12 – Arkansas (9-2) – Also lost to Houston by 26 points. Notable wins are over Fresno State, Oklahoma, UConn and Minnesota.

32 – Northern Iowa (8-4) – Also lost to Villanova by 12, Iowa State by 11 and Xavier by 10. Notable wins over SMU, N.C. State and UNLV.

36 – Michigan (11-3) – Also lost to LSU by 3 and Ohio State. Notable wins are over VCU, Indiana, UCLA and Texs.

59 – Ohio State (10-4) – Also lost to Gonzaga by 27, Butler by 1 and Clemson. Notable wins over Stanford, Wisconsin and Michigan.

90 – Wofford (8-4) – Lost to South Carolina, Cal, Texas Tech and UNC-Asheville. Other notable win is over Georgia Tech.

100 – Tulane (9-3) – Also lost to Georgia State and at Florida State by 21. Notable wins are over Miami (OH), Colorado State and South Alabama.

103 – Bucknell (6-7) – Also lost to Monmouth, Arkansas, Maryland, St. Joe’s, Northeastern and VCU. Notable wins Ball State, Vermont, Richmond and La Salle.

162 – Davidson (5-6) – Lost to Nevada, Appalachian State, Virginia, New Mexico State and Hawaii. Notable wins over Charlotte and Akron.

203 – Stanford (6-7) – Also lost to Eastern Washington, Florida, Ohio State, Portland State, Long Beach State and Kansas. Defeated San Francisco and Montana.

205 – Western Carolina (4-8) – Defeated UNC-Asheville.

216 – Portland (6-7) – Defeated only San Jose State in Division One.

ACC & The RPI

1 – Duke (12-1)

4 – UNC (11-2)

17 – Syracuse (10-2)

20 – Clemson (11-1)

25 – Virginia (11-1)

30 – Miami (11-1)

33 – Louisville (10-2)

40 – Florida State (11-1)

76 – Virginia Tech (10-2)

80 – Boston College (10-3)

85 – Notre Dame (10-3)

148 – N.C. State (10-3)

154 – Pittsburgh (8-5)

160 – Wake Forest (7-5)

240 – Georgia Tech (5-6)