# 1972–73 NCAA University Division men's basketball rankings

The 1972–73 NCAA University Division men's basketball rankings was made up of two human polls, the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll, in addition to various other preseason polls.

## Legend

| | Increase in ranking |
| | Decrease in ranking |
| | New to rankings from previous week |
| Italics | Number of first place votes |
| (#–#) | Win–loss record |
| т | Tied with team above or below also with this symbol |

## AP Poll

| | Preseason | Week 1 Dec. 4 | Week 2 Dec. 11 | Week 3 Dec. 18 | Week 4 Dec. 26 | Week 5 Jan. 2 | Week 6 Jan. 8 | Week 7 Jan. 15 | Week 8 Jan. 22 | Week 9 Jan. 29 | Week 10 Feb. 5 | Week 11 Feb. 12 | Week 12 Feb. 19 | Week 13 Feb. 26 | Week 14 Mar. 5 | Final Mar. 12 | |
| 1. | UCLA | UCLA (3–0) | UCLA (3–0) | UCLA (4–0) | UCLA (6–0) | UCLA (8–0) | UCLA (10–0) | UCLA (12–0) | UCLA (14–0) | UCLA (16–0) | UCLA (17–0) | UCLA (18–0) | UCLA (21–0) | UCLA (23–0) | UCLA (25–0) | UCLA (26–0) | 1. |
| 2. | Florida State | Florida State (1–0) | Florida State (3–0) | Maryland (4–0) | Maryland (5–0) | Maryland (7–0) | Maryland (9–0) | NC State (12–0) | NC State (12–0) | NC State (14–0) | NC State (16–0) | NC State (19–0) | NC State (21–0) | NC State (23–0) | NC State (25–0) | NC State (27–0) | 2. |
| 3. | Maryland | Maryland (2–0) | Maryland (3–0) | Marquette (4–0) | Marquette (5–0) | Marquette (8–0) | NC State (9–0) | Maryland (10–1) | North Carolina (15–1) | Maryland (14–1) | Long Beach State (17–1) | Long Beach State (19–1) | Long Beach State (20–1) | Minnesota (18–2) | Minnesota (20–2) | Long Beach State (24–2) | 3. |
| 4. | Minnesota | Minnesota (2–0) | Marquette (3–0) | NC State (6–0) | NC State (8–0) | NC State (8–0) | Marquette (10–0) | North Carolina (13–1) | Maryland (12–1) | Long Beach State (16–1) | Indiana (14–2) | Minnesota (15–2) | Minnesota (16–2) | Long Beach State (22–2) | Long Beach State (24–2) | Providence (23–2) | 4. |
| 5. | Marquette | Marquette (1–0) | Minnesota (3–0) | Minnesota (4–0) | Minnesota (6–0) | Long Beach State (11–0) | Missouri (11–0) | Long Beach State (13–1) | Long Beach State (15–1) | Indiana (13–2) | Minnesota (14–2) | Marquette (18–2) | Marquette (20–2) | Marquette (22–2) | Providence (22–2) | Marquette (23–3) | 5. |
| 6. | Long Beach State | NC State (2–0) | NC State (4–0) | Long Beach State (4–0) | Long Beach State (8–0) | Minnesota (9–0) | Long Beach State (11–1) | Minnesota (10–1) | Indiana (11–2) | Alabama (13–1) | North Carolina (16–3) | North Carolina (18–4) | North Carolina (20–4) | Providence (21–2) | Marquette (22–3) | Indiana (19–5) | 6. |
| 7. | Southwestern Louisiana | Long Beach State (1–0) | Long Beach State (3–0) | Florida State (4–1) | Missouri (8–0) | Missouri (10–0) | North Carolina (12–1) | Marquette (11–1) | Missouri (13–2) | Missouri (14–2) | Marquette (16–2) | Houston (17–2) | Providence (18–2) | North Carolina (21–5) | Houston (22–3) | Southwestern Louisiana (23–3) | 7. |
| 8. | NC State | Kentucky (1–0) | Southwestern Louisiana (4–0) | Southwestern Louisiana (6–0) | Penn (5–0) | Southwestern Louisiana (6–0) | Minnesota (9–1) | Missouri (12–1) | Minnesota (11–2) | North Carolina (15–3) | Missouri (15–2) | Providence (16–2) | Maryland (17–4) | Houston (20–3) | North Carolina (22–6) | Maryland (22–6) | 8. |
| 9. | Penn | Penn (1–0) | Penn (3–0) | Indiana (5–0) | Southwestern Louisiana (6–0) | North Carolina (10–1) | Vanderbilt (10–1) | Providence (10–1) | Alabama (10–1) | Minnesota (12–2) | Maryland (14–3) | St. John's (17–2) | Houston (18–3) | Maryland (19–4) | Indiana (18–5) | Kansas State (22–4) | 9. |
| 10. | Ohio State | Southwestern Louisiana (1–0) | Oral Roberts (2–0) | Missouri (7–0) | Vanderbilt (8–0) | Houston (8–2) | Houston (10–2) | San Francisco (12–1) | Marquette (12–2) | Marquette (14–2) | Alabama (14–2) | Maryland (16–3) | Indiana (15–5) | Memphis State (21–4) | Maryland (20–5) | Minnesota (20–4) | 10. |
| 11. | Memphis State | Memphis State (1–0) | North Carolina (4–0) | Penn (4–0) | North Carolina (7–1) | Vanderbilt (8–1) | Providence (7–1) | Alabama (8–1) | Houston (12–2) | Houston (13–2) | Houston (15–2) | Indiana (14–4) | St. John's (18–3) | Southwestern Louisiana (22–2) | Kansas State (21–4) | North Carolina (22–7) | 11. |
| 12. | BYU | Oral Roberts (0–0) | Missouri (5–0) | Vanderbilt (7–0) | Florida State (5–2) | San Francisco (8–1) | San Francisco (10–1) | Houston (11–2) | Southwestern Louisiana (12–1) | Providence (12–2) | Providence (14–2) | Missouri (16–3) | Southwestern Louisiana (19–2) | Indiana (17–5) | Missouri (20–4) | Memphis State (21–5) | 12. |
| 13. | Kentucky | North Carolina (2–0) | Vanderbilt (5–0) | North Carolina (6–1) | Houston (7–1) | Providence (5–1) | Southwestern Louisiana (7–1) | Southwestern Louisiana (10–1) | Jacksonville (13–2) | Southwestern Louisiana (13–1) | Southwestern Louisiana (16–1) | Jacksonville (18–3) | Kansas State (18–3) | Missouri (18–4) | Syracuse (22–4) | Houston (22–3) | 13. |
| 14. | Tennessee | Tennessee (1–0) | Providence (1–0) | Houston (7–1) | BYU (6–1) | Alabama (5–1) | Alabama (7–1) | Kansas State (11–2) | Providence (10–2) | St. John's (13–2) | St. John's (15–2) | Southwestern Louisiana (18–2) | Memphis State (19–4) | Syracuse (20–4) | Southwestern Louisiana (22–3) | Syracuse (22–4) | 14. |
| 15. | Houston | Ohio State (1–1) | Indiana (3–0) | BYU (5–1) | Indiana (5–1) | BYU (8–2) | Jacksonville (10–2) | Jacksonville (11–2) | St. John's (11–2) | Jacksonville (14–3) | Memphis State (16–3) | Kansas State (16–3) | New Mexico (21–3) | New Mexico (23–4) | Memphis State (21–5) | Missouri (21–5) | 15. |
| 16. | South Carolina | Kansas State (2–0) | Houston (5–1) | Oral Roberts (4–1) | Kansas State (7–1) | New Mexico (9–0) | Indiana (8–2) | Indiana (10–2) | San Francisco (12–2) | San Francisco (14–2) | Jacksonville (16–3) | Memphis State (17–4) | Missouri (17–4) | Kansas State (19–4) | Jacksonville (21–5) | Arizona State (18–7) | 16. |
| 17. | Kansas State | USC (1–0) | BYU (3–1) | Kansas State (6–1) | Providence (5–1) | Penn (5–2) | Kansas State (9–2) | St. John's (9–2) | Memphis State (12–3) | Memphis State (14–3) | San Francisco (16–2) | Alabama (14–4) | Purdue (14–5) | St. John's (18–5) | St. John's (19–6) | Kentucky (19–7) | 17. |
| 18. | Oral Roberts | Michigan (1–0) | Michigan (3–1) | Providence (3–1) | Alabama (3–1) | Kansas State (9–2) | St. John's (8–2) т | Vanderbilt (10–3) | Kansas State (11–3) | Kansas State (13–3) | Kansas State (14–3) | New Mexico (18–3) | Alabama (16–4) | Jacksonville (20–5) | Saint Joseph's (22–5) | Penn (20–5) | 18. |
| 19. | Michigan | Providence (0–0) | Memphis State (7–2) | Oklahoma (6–0) | Oklahoma (6–0) | Florida State (7–3) | Florida State (8–3) т | Florida State (10–3) | New Mexico (15–2) | Oral Roberts (15–2) | Oral Roberts (16–3) | Virginia Tech (14–3) | Virginia Tech (15–4) | South Carolina (18–5) | Kentucky (18–7) | Austin Peay (22–5) | 19. |
| 20. | USC т Louisville т | Houston (3–1) | Kansas State (3–1) | Santa Clara (4–2) | San Francisco (7–1) | Indiana (6–2) | Louisville (10–2) | Louisville (11–2) | Purdue (10–3) | USC (13–4) | New Mexico (16–3) | BYU (17–4) | Jacksonville (19–4) | Purdue (15–6) | San Francisco (21–4) | San Francisco (22–4) | 20. |
| | Preseason | Week 1 Dec. 4 | Week 2 Dec. 11 | Week 3 Dec. 18 | Week 4 Dec. 26 | Week 5 Jan. 2 | Week 6 Jan. 8 | Week 7 Jan. 15 | Week 8 Jan. 22 | Week 9 Jan. 29 | Week 10 Feb. 5 | Week 11 Feb. 12 | Week 12 Feb. 19 | Week 13 Feb. 26 | Week 14 Mar. 5 | Final Mar. 12 | |
| | | Dropped: BYUSouth CarolinaLouisville | Dropped: KentuckyTennesseeOhio StateUSC | Dropped: MichiganMemphis State | Dropped: Oral RobertsSanta Clara | Dropped: Oklahoma | Dropped: BYUNew MexicoPenn (7–2) | None | Dropped: Vanderbilt (12–3)Florida StateLouisville | Dropped: New MexicoPurdue | Dropped: USC | Dropped: San FranciscoOral Roberts | Dropped: BYU | Dropped: AlabamaVirginia Tech | Dropped: New Mexico (25–5)South CarolinaPurdue | Dropped: JacksonvilleSt. John'sSaint Joseph's | |

## Coaches Poll

| | Preseason | Week 1 Dec. 4 | Week 2 Dec. 11 | Week 3 Dec. 18 | Week 4 Dec. 26 | Week 5 Jan. 2 | Week 6 Jan. 8 | Week 7 Jan. 15 | Week 8 Jan. 22 | Week 9 Jan. 29 | Week 10 Feb. 5 | Week 11 Feb. 12 | Week 12 Feb. 19 | Week 13 Feb. 26 | Week 14 Mar. 5 | Final Mar. 12 | |
| 1. | UCLA | UCLA (3–0) | UCLA (3–0) | UCLA (4–0) | UCLA (6–0) | UCLA (8–0) | UCLA (10–0) | UCLA (12–0) | UCLA (14–0) | UCLA (16–0) | UCLA (17–0) | UCLA (18–0) | UCLA (21–0) | UCLA (23–0) | UCLA (25–0) | UCLA (26–0) | 1. |
| 2. | Florida State | Florida State (1–0) | Florida State (3–0) | Marquette (4–0) | Marquette (5–0) | Marquette (8–0) | Maryland (9–0) | NC State (12–0) | NC State (12–0) | NC State (14–0) | NC State (16–0) | NC State (19–0) | NC State (21–0) | NC State (23–0) | NC State (25–0) | NC State (27–0) | 2. |
| 3. | Maryland | Maryland (2–0) | Marquette (3–0) | Maryland (4–0) | NC State (8–0) | Minnesota (9–0) | Marquette (10–0) | Maryland (10–1) | North Carolina (15–1) | Maryland (14–1) | Long Beach State (17–1) | Long Beach State (19–1) | Long Beach State (20–1) | Minnesota (18–2) | Long Beach State (24–2) | Long Beach State (24–2) | 3. |
| 4. | Minnesota | Minnesota (2–0) | Maryland (3–0) | NC State (6–0) | Maryland (5–0) | Maryland (7–0) | NC State (9–0) | North Carolina (13–1) | Maryland (12–1) | Long Beach State (16–1) | Indiana (14–2) | Minnesota (15–2) | Minnesota (16–2) | Marquette (22–2) | Minnesota (20–2) | Marquette (23–3) | 4. |
| 5. | Marquette | Marquette (1–0) | Minnesota (3–0) | Minnesota (4–0) | Minnesota (6–0) | NC State (8–0) | Missouri (11–0) | Minnesota (10–1) | Long Beach State (15–1) | Indiana (13–2) | Minnesota (14–2) | Marquette (18–2) | Marquette (20–2) | Long Beach State (22–2) | Marquette (22–3) | Providence (23–2) | 5. |
| 6. | Ohio State | Long Beach State (1–0) | NC State (4–0) | Long Beach State (4–0) | Long Beach State (8–0) | Long Beach State (11–0) | North Carolina (12–1) | Long Beach State (13–1) | Indiana (11–2) | Minnesota (12–2) | North Carolina (16–3) | North Carolina (18–4) | North Carolina (20–4) | Providence (21–2) | Providence (22–2) | Indiana (19–5) | 6. |
| 7. | Kentucky | NC State (2–0) | Long Beach State (3–0) | Missouri (7–0) | Missouri (8–0) | Missouri (10–0) | Minnesota (9–1) | Marquette (11–1) | Minnesota (11–2) | Alabama (13–1) | Alabama (14–2) | Maryland (16–3) | Kansas State (18–3) | North Carolina (21–5) | North Carolina (22–6) | Southwestern Louisiana (23–3) т | 7. |
| 8. | Long Beach State | Southwestern Louisiana (1–0) | Southwestern Louisiana (4–0) | Southwestern Louisiana (6–0) | Penn (5–0) | Southwestern Louisiana (6–0) | Long Beach State (11–1) | Missouri (12–1) | Marquette (12–2) | North Carolina (15–3) | Maryland (14–3) | Houston (17–2) | Providence (18–2) | Kansas State (19–4) | Kansas State (21–4) | Kansas State (22–4) т | 8. |
| 9. | Penn | Kentucky (1–0) | North Carolina (4–0) | Florida State (4–1) | Southwestern Louisiana (6–0) | North Carolina (10–1) | Vanderbilt (10–1) | Providence (10–1) | Houston (12–2) | Marquette (14–2) | Missouri (15–2) | Kansas State (16–3) | Maryland (17–4) | Houston (20–3) | Houston (22–3) | Minnesota (20–4) | 9. |
| 10. | NC State | Penn (1–0) | Missouri (5–0) | Indiana (5–0) | Vanderbilt (8–0) | New Mexico (9–0) | Providence (7–1) | Kansas State (11–2) | Southwestern Louisiana (12–1) | Missouri (14–2) | Marquette (16–2) | Indiana (14–4) | Houston (18–3) | Memphis State (21–4) | Indiana (18–5) | Maryland (22–6) | 10. |
| 11. | Houston | Kansas State (2–0) | Penn (3–0) | Penn (4–0) | Kansas State (7–1) | Vanderbilt (8–1) | San Francisco (10–1) | Indiana (10–2) | Missouri (13–2) т | Houston (13–2) | Houston (15–2) | Providence (16–2) | Memphis State (19–4) | Maryland (19–4) | Memphis State (21–5) | Memphis State (21–5) | 11. |
| 12. | North Carolina | North Carolina (2–0) | Indiana (3–0) | Vanderbilt (7–0) | North Carolina (7–1) т | St. John's (8–2) | St. John's (8–2) | Houston (11–2) | Alabama (10–1) т | Providence (12–2) | Kansas State (14–3) | Missouri (16–3) | New Mexico (21–3) | Southwestern Louisiana (22–2) | Southwestern Louisiana (22–3) | North Carolina (22–7) | 12. |
| 13. | Southwestern Louisiana | Memphis State (1–0) т | South Carolina (2–1) | Providence (3–1) | Providence (5–1) т | Providence (5–1) | Southwestern Louisiana (7–1) | San Francisco (12–1) | Providence (10–2) | Kansas State (13–3) | St. John's (15–2) | St. John's (17–2) | St. John's (18–3) | Indiana (17–5) | Maryland (20–5) | Arizona State (18–7) | 13. |
| 14. | Memphis State | Michigan (1–0) т | Providence (1–0) | North Carolina (6–1) | BYU (6–1) т | San Francisco (8–1) | Kansas State (9–2) | St. John's (9–2) | St. John's (11–2) | St. John's (13–2) | Southwestern Louisiana (16–1) | USC (14–5) | Indiana (15–5) | New Mexico (23–4) | Syracuse (22–4) | Syracuse (22–4) | 14. |
| 15. | BYU т | Oral Roberts (0–0) т | Houston (5–1) | Kansas State (6–1) | Indiana (5–1) т | Louisville (8–2) | Houston (10–2) | Southwestern Louisiana (10–1) | Kansas State (11–3) | Southwestern Louisiana (13–1) | Providence (14–2) | Memphis State (17–4) | Southwestern Louisiana (19–2) | Missouri (18–4) т | Missouri (20–4) | Kentucky (19–7) | 15. |
| 16. | Kansas State т | USC (1–0) т | Oklahoma (6–0) | New Mexico (6–0) | Washington (8–1) т | Kansas State (9–2) | Indiana (8–2) | Alabama (8–1) | Vanderbilt (12–3) | Memphis State (14–3) | Memphis State (16–3) | BYU (17–4) | Alabama (16–4) | Weber State (19–6) т | Arizona State (15–7) | South Carolina (20–6) | 16. |
| 17. | USC | Ohio State (1–1) | Oral Roberts (2–0) | Furman (4–0) | Florida State (5–2) т | South Carolina (7–3) | Alabama (7–1) | Michigan (10–3) | Jacksonville (13–2) | Oregon State (11–5) | San Francisco (16–2) | Southwestern Louisiana (18–2) | San Francisco (19–3) т | San Francisco (20–4) т | St. John's (19–6) | Missouri (21–5) | 17. |
| 18. | Providence | Providence (0–0) | San Francisco (4–0) | Houston (7–1) | Michigan (6–1) т | BYU (8–2) | Louisville (10–2) | Florida State (10–3) | New Mexico (15–2) | BYU (14–4) | New Mexico (16–3) т | New Mexico (18–3) | Louisville (18–6) т | Tennessee (14–6) т | New Mexico (25–5) | Houston (22–3) | 18. |
| 19. | Oral Roberts | Tennessee (1–0) т | Vanderbilt (5–0) | San Francisco (5–1) | South Carolina (6–2) | Florida State (7–3) | Penn (7–2) | Vanderbilt (10–3) т | San Francisco (12–2) т | San Francisco (14–2) т | Oregon State (12–5) т | Jacksonville (18–3) | Oral Roberts (20–4) т | Jacksonville (20–5) т | Weber State (19–7) | Weber State (20–7) | 19. |
| 20. | UTEP | Jacksonville (1–0) т | Iowa (3–0) | Marshall (6–1) | Louisville (6–1) | Penn (5–2) | South Carolina (9–3) | Louisville (11–2) т | Oregon State (10–5) т | South Carolina (12–5) т | BYU (15–4) | Oregon State (14–5) | South Carolina (17–5) т | South Carolina (18–5) т Saint Joseph's (20–5) т | Saint Joseph's (22–5) | Penn (20–5) | 20. |
| | Preseason | Week 1 Dec. 4 | Week 2 Dec. 11 | Week 3 Dec. 18 | Week 4 Dec. 26 | Week 5 Jan. 2 | Week 6 Jan. 8 | Week 7 Jan. 15 | Week 8 Jan. 22 | Week 9 Jan. 29 | Week 10 Feb. 5 | Week 11 Feb. 12 | Week 12 Feb. 19 | Week 13 Feb. 26 | Week 14 Mar. 5 | Final Mar. 12 | |
| | | Dropped: Houston (3–1)BYUUTEP | Dropped: KentuckyKansas State (3–1)Memphis State (7–2)Michigan (3–1)USCOhio StateTennesseeJacksonville | Dropped: South CarolinaOklahomaOral RobertsIowa | Dropped: New MexicoFurmanHoustonSan FranciscoMarshall | Dropped: IndianaWashingtonMichigan | Dropped: New MexicoBYUFlorida State (8–3) | Dropped: PennSouth Carolina | Dropped: MichiganFlorida StateLouisville | Dropped: VanderbiltJacksonvilleNew Mexico | Dropped: South Carolina | Dropped: Alabama (14–4)San Francisco | Dropped: Missouri (17–4)USCBYUJacksonville (19–4)Oregon State | Dropped: St. John'sAlabamaLouisvilleOral Roberts | Dropped: San Francisco (21–4)TennesseeJacksonville (21–5)South Carolina | Dropped: St. John'sNew MexicoSaint Joseph's | |