UNC basketball completes its fall out of AP Top 25 on heels of fourth straight loss

North Carolina completed its slide right out of the Associated Press Top 25 Poll with its fourth straight loss on Sunday. The Tar Heels (5-4) time as the preseason No. 1 team is but a memory now.

They’ve got bigger issues than being worried about their ranking with Armando Bacot missing Sunday’s loss at Virginia Tech with a shoulder injury and no definitive timetable for his return.

The Heels don’t play again until Saturday against Georgia Tech in the Dean E. Smith Center, which should be a respite after playing five consecutive games on the road.

Virginia (No. 2) and Duke (No. 13) are the only two ACC teams I have on my ballot.

Highest rise

Maryland jumped nine spots up to No. 13 after its 71-66 win over Illinois.

Biggest drop

Creighton is currently on a three game losing streak and dropped from No. 7 down to No. 21. The Blue Jays and Gonzaga are the only three-loss teams ranked. They nearly rallied at Texas before losing 72-67. But then they lost at home to rival Nebraska in a game the Cornhuskers held them to a season-low 53 points.

Welcome to the 25

Mississippi State is one of 12 schools still unbeaten and makes its debut in the poll at No. 23. TCU was welcomed back to the poll at No. 24. The Horned Frogs played their first game with senior guard Damion Baugh, who was suspended by the NCAA to start the season for signing with an uncertified agent has he debated declaring for the NBA draft..

Outta here

Michigan State walked its way the exit doors along with the Tar Heels. The Spartans dropped two games last week, losing at Notre Dame in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge 70-52 and their Big Ten opener at home to Northwestern 70-63.

Associated Press Top 25

C.L. Brown’s AP Top 25 ballot