Ranked teams face tough tests in holiday basketball tournaments Posted Nov 22, 2022 North Carolina has been the nation’s No. 1 college basketball team all season and doesn’t figure to face much of a threat against Portland in the first round Thursday. It figures to get much tougher after that, with the Tar Heels playing Iowa State or Villanova in the second round. The Tar Heels will need to play better no matter which team they face. (Associated Press)