# 1976–77 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings

The 1976–77 NCAA Division I 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 Nov. 29 | Week 2 Dec. 6 | Week 3 Dec. 13 | Week 4 Dec. 20 | Week 5 Dec. 27 | Week 6 Jan. 3 | Week 7 Jan. 10 | Week 8 Jan. 17 | Week 9 Jan. 24 | Week 10 Jan. 31 | Week 11 Feb. 7 | Week 12 Feb. 14 | Week 13 Feb. 21 | Week 14 Feb. 28 | Week 15 Mar. 7 | Final Mar. 14 | |
| 1. | Michigan (21) | Michigan (1–0) | Michigan (2–0) | Michigan (3–0) | Michigan (4–0) | Michigan (5–0) | San Francisco (15–0) | San Francisco (17–0) | San Francisco (19–0) | San Francisco (19–0) | San Francisco (21–0) | San Francisco (23–0) | San Francisco (25–0) | San Francisco (27–0) (50) | San Francisco (29–0) | Michigan (24–3) | Michigan (25–3) | 1. |
| 2. | Marquette (6) | Marquette (0–0) | Marquette (1–0) | Marquette (4–0) | Notre Dame (6–0) | Notre Dame (7–0) | Cincinnati (9–0) | Kentucky (9–1) | Cincinnati (11–0) | Michigan (13–1) | UCLA (15–2) | UCLA (18–2) | Kentucky (18–2) | Kentucky (20–2) (2) | Kentucky (22–2) | UCLA (23–4) | UCLA (24–4) | 2. |
| 3. | North Carolina (9) | UCLA (2–0) | UCLA (3–0) | Kentucky (4–0) | San Francisco (10–0) | San Francisco (12–0) | Kentucky (7–1) | Cincinnati (10–0) | Alabama (14–0) | Alabama (14–1) | Kentucky (14–2) | Kentucky (16–2) | UCLA (19–3) | Michigan (20–3) | Michigan (21–3) | San Francisco (29–1) | Kentucky (25–3) | 3. |
| 4. | UCLA (2) | Indiana (1–0) | Kentucky (2–0) | Notre Dame (5–0) | Cincinnati (7–0) | Alabama (6–0) | Alabama (9–0) | Alabama (12–0) | North Carolina (10–1) | North Carolina (11–2) | UNLV (13–1) | Wake Forest (18–2) | Alabama (19–2) | UNLV (22–2) | UCLA (22–4) | North Carolina (25–4) | UNLV (26–2) | 4. |
| 5. | Indiana (7) | Kentucky (1–0) | UNLV (3–0) | San Francisco (7–0) | Alabama (6–0) | Cincinnati (7–0) | Michigan (6–1) | North Carolina (8–1) | Michigan (10–1) | UNLV (13–1) | Wake Forest (16–2) | Michigan (17–2) | Michigan (18–3) | UCLA (20–4) | UNLV (23–2) | UNLV (25–2) | North Carolina (25–4) | 5. |
| 6. | Kentucky (2) | UNLV (1–0) | San Francisco (4–0) | Cincinnati (5–0) | Marquette (4–1) | Kentucky (6–1) | North Carolina (6–1) | Michigan (9–1) | Kentucky (10–2) | Kentucky (12–2) | Marquette (14–2) | Louisville (16–2) | UNLV (20–2) | Arkansas (24–1) | North Carolina (22–4) | Kentucky (23–3) | Syracuse (26–3) | 6. |
| 7. | UNLV | Louisville (0–0) | Notre Dame (3–0) | Alabama (4–0) | Kentucky (6–1) | Wake Forest (7–0) | UCLA (9–1) | Wake Forest (11–1) | UNLV (11–1) | Tennessee (13–2) | Michigan (15–2) | Alabama (17–2) | Wake Forest (19–3) | Tennessee (19–4) | Arkansas (25–1) | Tennessee (21–5) | Marquette (21–7) | 7. |
| 8. | Maryland | Notre Dame (1–0) | Cincinnati (3–0) | Arizona (7–0) | UCLA (5–1) | UCLA (7–1) | Notre Dame (7–1) | UNLV (10–1) | Marquette (10–2) | UCLA (13–2) | Alabama (15–2) | Minnesota (16–1) | Louisville (18–3) | Alabama (19–3) | Providence (24–3) | Arkansas (26–1) | San Francisco (29–2) | 8. |
| 9. | Louisville (1) | North Carolina (1–1) | Arizona (4–0) | UCLA (3–1) | Wake Forest (6–0) | North Carolina (5–1) | UNLV (10–1) | Minnesota (10–0) | Wake Forest (12–2) | Marquette (13–2) | Louisville (15–2) | Marquette (14–2) | Marquette (16–3) | North Carolina (18–4) | Minnesota (22–3) | Minnesota (24–3) | Wake Forest (23–6) | 9. |
| 10. | Arizona | San Francisco (3–0) | Alabama (4–0) | Wake Forest (5–0) | North Carolina (4–1) | Clemson (7–0) | Wake Forest (9–1) | Arizona (11–1) | UCLA (13–2) | Wake Forest (14–2) | Minnesota (15–1) | UNLV (15–2) | Cincinnati (18–3) | Louisville (19–4) | Louisville (21–5) | Syracuse (25–3) | Notre Dame (21–6) | 10. |
| 11. | San Francisco (1) | Arizona (1–0) | Wake Forest (4–0) | North Carolina (4–1) | Clemson (7–0) | UNLV (8–1) | Arizona (10–1) | Marquette (9–2) | Minnesota (11–1) | Louisville (12–2) | Tennessee (14–2) | Tennessee (16–3) | Arkansas (22–1) | Wake Forest (20–4) | Tennessee (20–5) | Cincinnati (25–4) | Alabama (25–4) | 11. |
| 12. | Cincinnati | Cincinnati (0–0) | North Carolina (2–1) | UNLV (4–1) | UNLV (6–1) | Marquette (4–2) | Marquette (7–2) | UCLA (11–2) | Louisville (10–2) | Cincinnati (12–2) | Cincinnati (14–2) | Cincinnati (15–3) | Minnesota (18–2) | Providence (22–3) | Alabama (20–4) | Alabama (22–4) | Detroit (25–3) | 12. |
| 13. | Alabama | Alabama (1–0) | Indiana (1–1) | Clemson (4–0) | Louisville (4–2) | Arizona (8–1) | Minnesota (9–0) | Louisville (9–2) | Maryland (12–2) | Minnesota (12–1) | North Carolina (11–4) | Arkansas (19–1) | North Carolina (17–4) | Minnesota (20–3) | Syracuse (23–3) | Providence (24–4) | Minnesota (22–3) | 13. |
| 14. | Notre Dame | Wake Forest (2–0) | Louisville (1–1) | Maryland (3–1) | Arizona (7–1) | Louisville (5–2) | Louisville (7–2) | Maryland (11–2) | Tennessee (11–2) | Providence (15–2) | Arkansas (17–1) | North Carolina (13–4) | Tennessee (17–4) | Cincinnati (19–4) | Cincinnati (22–4) | Louisville (21–6) | Utah (22–6) | 14. |
| 15. | NC State | Tennessee (1–0) | Tennessee (2–0) | Syracuse (6–1) | Maryland (6–1) | Minnesota (8–0) | Maryland (9–1) | Providence (11–2) | Providence (13–2) | Arkansas (14–1) | Providence (17–2) | Clemson (17–3) | Detroit (20–1) | Syracuse (21–3) | Detroit (24–2) | Notre Dame (20–6) | Tennessee (22–6) | 15. |
| 16. | Tennessee | Maryland (0–1) | Clemson (4–0) | Indiana (1–2) | Utah (5–3) | Maryland (7–1) | Clemson (9–1) | Arkansas (10–1) | Arizona (12–2) | Arizona (14–2) | Clemson (15–3) | Providence (18–2) | Providence (20–3) | Detroit (22–2) | Wake Forest (20–6) | Marquette (20–7) | Kansas State (23–7) | 16. |
| 17. | Rutgers | Southern Illinois (1–0) | Maryland (3–1) | Louisville (3–2) | Syracuse (7–1) | Arkansas (8–0) | Providence (8–2) | Clemson (10–2) | Arkansas (12–1) | Syracuse (14–2) | Syracuse (16–2) | Syracuse (18–2) | Arizona (18–3) | Oregon (17–7) | Arizona (21–4) | Detroit (24–3) | UNC Charlotte (24–3) | 17. |
| 18. | DePaul | DePaul (0–1) | Southern Illinois (3–0) | Southern Illinois (5–1) | Arkansas (6–0) | Syracuse (7–1) | Arkansas (8–1) | Memphis State (13–1) | Memphis State (14–1) | Purdue (11–4) | Purdue (13–4) | Arizona (16–3) | Clemson (18–4) | Marquette (16–6) | Clemson (21–5) | UNC Charlotte (23–3) | Arkansas (26–2) | 18. |
| 19. | UNC Charlotte | Rutgers (0–0) | DePaul (2–1) | Arkansas (5–0) | Tennessee (5–2) | Utah (6–3) | Syracuse (8–2) | Notre Dame (7–3) | Purdue (10–3) | Clemson (13–3) | Arizona (15–3) | Detroit (18–1) | VMI (21–1) | Clemson (19–5) | Marquette (18–6) | Utah (21–6) | Louisville (21–7) | 19. |
| 20. | Missouri | UNC Charlotte (1–0) | Syracuse (3–1) | St. John's (5–0) | Minnesota (6–0) | Auburn (5–0) | Memphis State (10–1) | Oregon (11–2) | Syracuse (13–2) | Memphis State (16–2) | Detroit (16–1) | VMI (18–1) | Syracuse (19–3) | Utah (19–5) | Utah (20–6) | Arizona (21–5) | VMI (26–3) | 20. |
| | Preseason | Week 1 Nov. 29 | Week 2 Dec. 6 | Week 3 Dec. 13 | Week 4 Dec. 20 | Week 5 Dec. 27 | Week 6 Jan. 3 | Week 7 Jan. 10 | Week 8 Jan. 17 | Week 9 Jan. 24 | Week 10 Jan. 31 | Week 11 Feb. 7 | Week 12 Feb. 14 | Week 13 Feb. 21 | Week 14 Feb. 28 | Week 15 Mar. 7 | Final Mar. 14 | |
| | | Dropped: NC StateMissouri | Dropped: RutgersUNC Charlotte | Dropped: TennesseeDePaul | Dropped: IndianaSouthern IllinoisSt. John's | Dropped: Tennessee | Dropped: Utah (9–3)Auburn | Dropped: Syracuse | Dropped: ClemsonNotre DameOregon | Dropped: Maryland | Dropped: Memphis State | Dropped: Purdue | None | Dropped: VMI | Dropped: Oregon | Dropped: Wake ForestClemson | Dropped: CincinnatiProvidenceArizona | |

## UPI Poll

| | Preseason | Week 2 Dec. 6 | Week 3 Dec. 13 | Week 4 Dec. 20 | Week 5 Dec. 27 | Week 6 Jan. 3 | Week 7 Jan. 10 | Week 8 Jan. 17 | Week 9 Jan. 24 | Week 10 Jan. 31 | Week 11 Feb. 7 | Week 12 Feb. 14 | Week 13 Feb. 21 | Week 14 Feb. 28 | Final Mar. 7 | |
| 1. | Marquette | Michigan (2–0) | Michigan (3–0) | Michigan (4–0) | Michigan (5–0) | San Francisco (15–0) | San Francisco (17–0) | San Francisco (19–0) | San Francisco (19–0) | San Francisco (21–0) | San Francisco (23–0) | San Francisco (25–0) | San Francisco (27–0) | San Francisco (29–0) | Michigan (24–3) | 1. |
| 2. | Michigan | Marquette (1–0) | Marquette (4–0) | Notre Dame (6–0) | Notre Dame (7–0) | Kentucky (7–1) | Cincinnati (10–0) | North Carolina (10–1) | Michigan (13–1) | UCLA (15–2) | UCLA (18–2) | Kentucky (18–2) | Kentucky (20–2) | Kentucky (22–2) | San Francisco (29–1) | 2. |
| 3. | North Carolina | UCLA (3–0) | Kentucky (1–0) | San Francisco (10–0) | San Francisco (12–0) | Michigan (6–1) | Kentucky (9–1) | Cincinnati (11–0) | North Carolina (11–2) | UNLV (13–1) | Louisville (16–2) | UCLA (19–3) | Michigan (20–3) | Michigan (21–3) | North Carolina (25–4) | 3. |
| 4. | UCLA | UNLV (3–0) | Notre Dame (5–0) | Alabama (6–0) | Alabama (6–0) | Cincinnati (9–0) | Alabama (12–0) | Alabama (14–0) | Alabama (14–1) | Marquette (14–2) | Michigan (17–2) | Michigan (18–3) | UNLV (22–2) | UCLA (22–4) | UCLA (23–4) | 4. |
| 5. | Indiana | Kentucky (2–0) | San Francisco (7–0) | Marquette (4–1) | Cincinnati (7–0) | Alabama (9–0) | North Carolina (8–1) | Michigan (10–1) | UNLV (13–1) | Michigan (15–2) | Kentucky (16–2) | Louisville (18–3) | Tennessee (19–4) | North Carolina (22–4) | Kentucky (23–3) | 5. |
| 6. | Kentucky | Alabama (4–0) | North Carolina (4–1) | Cincinnati (7–0) | North Carolina (5–1) | UCLA (9–1) | Michigan (9–1) | UNLV (11–1) | Tennessee (13–2) | Kentucky (14–2) | Wake Forest (18–2) | Marquette (16–3) | UCLA (20–4) | UNLV (23–2) | UNLV (25–2) | 6. |
| 7. | UNLV | Arizona (4–0) | Alabama (4–0) | Kentucky (6–1) | Kentucky (6–1) | North Carolina (6–1) | UNLV (10–1) | Kentucky (10–2) | Kentucky (12–2) | Louisville (15–2) | Marquette (14–2) | UNLV (20–2) | Arkansas (24–1) | Arkansas (25–1) | Arkansas (26–1) | 7. |
| 8. | Louisville | San Francisco (4–0) | Arizona (7–0) | UCLA (5–1) | UCLA (7–1) | Notre Dame (7–1) | Wake Forest (11–1) | Marquette (10–2) | Marquette (13–2) | Wake Forest (16–2) | UNLV (15–2) | Alabama (19–2) | North Carolina (18–4) | Providence (24–3) | Tennessee (21–5) | 8. |
| 9. | Arizona | North Carolina (2–1) | Cincinnati (5–0) | North Carolina (4–1) | UNLV (8–1) | UNLV (10–1) | Marquette (9–2) | Wake Forest (12–2) | UCLA (13–2) | Alabama (15–2) | Alabama (17–2) | Wake Forest (19–3) | Wake Forest (20–4) | Louisville (21–5) | Syracuse (25–3) | 9. |
| 10. | Cincinnati | Cincinnati (3–0) | UCLA (3–1) | Clemson (7–0) | Wake Forest (7–0) | Arizona (10–1) | Arizona (11–1) | UCLA (13–2) | Louisville (12–2) | Tennessee (14–2) | Tennessee (16–3) | Arkansas (22–1) | Louisville (19–4) | Tennessee (20–5) | Utah (21–6) | 10. |
| 11. | Maryland | Notre Dame (3–0) | UNLV (4–1) | UNLV (6–1) | Clemson (7–0) | Marquette (7–2) | Minnesota (10–0) | Tennessee (11–2) | Wake Forest (14–2) | Cincinnati (14–2) | Cincinnati (15–3) | North Carolina (17–4) | Alabama (19–3) | Syracuse (23–3) | Kansas State (22–7) | 11. |
| 12. | San Francisco | Indiana (1–1) | Wake Forest (5–0) | Wake Forest (6–0) | Minnesota (8–0) | Minnesota (9–0) | UCLA (11–2) | Purdue (10–3) | Cincinnati (12–2) | North Carolina (11–4) | Arkansas (19–1) т | Cincinnati (18–3) | Providence (22–3) | Alabama (20–4) | Cincinnati (25–4) | 12. |
| 13. | Tennessee | Tennessee (2–0) | Maryland (3–1) | Louisville (4–2) | Arizona (8–1) | Wake Forest (9–1) | Purdue (8–3) | Minnesota (11–1) | Arizona (14–2) | Arkansas (17–1) | North Carolina (13–4) т | Tennessee (17–4) | Syracuse (21–3) | Minnesota (22–3) | Louisville (21–6) | 13. |
| 14. | NC State | Wake Forest (4–0) | Clemson (4–0) | Arizona (7–1) | Marquette (4–2) | Providence (8–2) | Louisville (9–2) | Arizona (12–2) | Minnesota (12–1) | Purdue (13–4) | Minnesota (16–1) | Arizona (18–3) | Utah (19–5) | Wake Forest (20–6) | Marquette (20–7) | 14. |
| 15. | Missouri | Maryland (3–1) | Syracuse (6–1) | Utah (5–3) | Louisville (5–2) | Clemson (9–1) | Oregon (11–2) | Arkansas (12–1) | Providence (15–2) | Arizona (15–3) | Arizona (16–3) | Minnesota (18–2) | Creighton (21–3) | Arizona (21–4) | Providence (24–4) | 15. |
| 16. | Wichita State | Louisville (1–1) | Southern Illinois (5–1) | Minnesota (6–0) | Maryland (7–1) | Louisville (7–2) | Arkansas (10–1) | Louisville (10–2) | Arkansas (14–1) | Minnesota (15–1) | Providence (18–2) | Providence (20–3) | Minnesota (20–3) | Indiana State (23–2) | Indiana State (25–2) | 16. |
| 17. | Georgetown | Washington (3–0) | Purdue (4–2) | Syracuse (7–1) | Arkansas (8–0) | Missouri (9–2) | Tennessee (8–2) | Providence (13–2) | Purdue (11–4) | Providence (17–2) | Utah (16–4) | Notre Dame (15–5) | Cincinnati (19–4) | Detroit (24–2) | Minnesota (22–3) | 17. |
| 18. | Rutgers | Southern Illinois (3–0) | Minnesota (4–0) | Oregon (5–1) | Syracuse (7–1) | Maryland (9–1) т | Providence (11–2) | Maryland (12–2) | Oregon (12–4) | Clemson (15–3) | Missouri (17–4) | Syracuse (19–3) | Detroit (22–2) | Houston (24–6) | Alabama (22–4) | 18. |
| 19. | Penn | Oregon (2–1) | Indiana (1–2) | Missouri (6–2) | Iowa (7–0) | Purdue (6–3) т | Holy Cross (10–1) т | Memphis State (14–1) | Indiana State (16–1) | Missouri (16–3) | Syracuse (18–2) | Detroit (20–1) | Houston (22–6) т | Oral Roberts (21–5) | Detroit (24–3) | 19. |
| 20. | Purdue | Clemson (4–0) | Oregon (3–1) | Georgetown (4–0) | Oregon (5–1) | Utah (9–3) | St. John's (9–2) т | Utah (12–3) | Missouri (14–3) | Utah (15–4) | Clemson (17–3) | Clemson (18–4) | Oral Roberts (20–5) т | Cincinnati (22–4) | Purdue (19–8) | 20. |
| | Preseason | Week 2 Dec. 6 | Week 3 Dec. 13 | Week 4 Dec. 20 | Week 5 Dec. 27 | Week 6 Jan. 3 | Week 7 Jan. 10 | Week 8 Jan. 17 | Week 9 Jan. 24 | Week 10 Jan. 31 | Week 11 Feb. 7 | Week 12 Feb. 14 | Week 13 Feb. 21 | Week 14 Feb. 28 | Final Mar. 7 | |
| | | Dropped: NC StateMissouriWichita StateGeorgetownRutgersPennPurdue | Dropped: TennesseeLouisvilleWashington | Dropped: MarylandSouthern IllinoisPurdueIndiana | Dropped: UtahMissouriGeorgetown | Dropped: ArkansasSyracuseIowaOregon | Dropped: Notre DameClemsonMissouriMarylandUtah | Dropped: OregonHoly CrossSt. John's | Dropped: MarylandMemphis StateUtah | Dropped: OregonIndiana State | Dropped: Purdue | Dropped: UtahMissouri | Dropped: MarquetteArizonaNotre DameClemson | Dropped: UtahCreighton | Dropped: Wake ForestArizonaHoustonOral Roberts | |