# 1969–70 NCAA University Division men's basketball rankings

The 1969–70 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. 8 | Week 2 Dec. 15 | Week 3 Dec. 22 | Week 4 Dec. 29 | Week 5 Jan. 5 | Week 6 Jan. 12 | Week 7 Jan. 19 | Week 8 Jan. 26 | Week 9 Feb. 2 | Week 10 Feb. 9 | Week 11 Feb. 16 | Week 12 Feb. 23 | Week 13 Mar. 2 | Final Mar. 9 | |
| 1. | South Carolina | Kentucky (2–0) | Kentucky (4–0) | Kentucky (6–0) | Kentucky (7–0) | UCLA (8–0) | UCLA (10–0) | UCLA (12–0) | UCLA (14–0) | UCLA (16–0) | UCLA (17–0) | UCLA (20–0) | Kentucky (21–1) | UCLA (23–1) | Kentucky (25–1) | 1. |
| 2. | Kentucky | UCLA (2–0) | UCLA (4–0) | UCLA (4–0) | UCLA (6–0) | Kentucky (9–0) | Kentucky (11–0) | Kentucky (13–0) | Kentucky (14–0) | South Carolina (15–1) | South Carolina (17–1) | Kentucky (19–1) | UCLA (21–1) | Kentucky (23–1) | UCLA (24–2) | 2. |
| 3. | Purdue | New Mexico State (3–0) | New Mexico State (6–0) | South Carolina (6–1) | South Carolina (6–1) | South Carolina (8–1) | South Carolina (10–1) | South Carolina (12–1) | St. Bonaventure (12–0) | Kentucky (15–1) | Kentucky (17–1) | St. Bonaventure (17–1) | St. Bonaventure (19–1) | South Carolina (23–2) | St. Bonaventure (23–1) | 3. |
| 4. | UCLA | Davidson (2–0) | Davidson (2–0) | North Carolina (5–1) | North Carolina (6–1) | North Carolina (9–1) | St. Bonaventure (10–0) | St. Bonaventure (10–0) | South Carolina (12–1) | St. Bonaventure (13–1) | St. Bonaventure (15–1) | South Carolina (19–2) | South Carolina (21–2) | St. Bonaventure (20–1) | Jacksonville (24–1) | 4. |
| 5. | Davidson | North Carolina (2–0) | South Carolina (4–1) | Ohio (6–0) | Ohio (7–0) | St. Bonaventure (8–0) | New Mexico State (14–1) | New Mexico State (15–1) | New Mexico State (16–1) | NC State (15–1) | NC State (17–1) | New Mexico State (20–2) | New Mexico State (21–2) | New Mexico State (23–2) | New Mexico State (24–2) | 5. |
| 6. | New Mexico State | USC (2–0) | Notre Dame (5–0) | Tennessee (4–0) | Tennessee (5–0) | New Mexico State (12–1) | Jacksonville (12–0) | Jacksonville (13–0) | Jacksonville (13–0) | New Mexico State (17–2) | New Mexico State (18–2) | Jacksonville (19–1) | Jacksonville (21–1) | Jacksonville (22–1) | South Carolina (25–3) | 6. |
| 7. | North Carolina | Duquesne (3–0) | North Carolina (3–1) | New Mexico State (8–1) | New Mexico State (10–1) | Jacksonville (9–0) | North Carolina (11–2) | Houston (12–1) | Marquette (13–1) | North Carolina (13–3) | Jacksonville (17–1) | Penn (21–1) | Penn (23–1) | Penn (25–1) | Iowa (19–4) | 7. |
| 8. | Marquette | South Carolina (1–1) | Tennessee (2–0) | Houston (8–0) | Houston (9–0) | Davidson (7–1) | Davidson (10–1) | Marquette (12–1) | NC State (13–1) | Jacksonville (14–1) | Penn (19–1) | Florida State (20–2) | Marquette (18–3) | Iowa (17–4) | Marquette (22–3) | 8. |
| 9. | Villanova | Tennessee (1–0) | Villanova (3–0) | Davidson (3–1) | Washington (7–0) | Ohio (9–1) | Houston (12–1) | North Carolina (12–3) | North Carolina (12–3) | Marquette (14–2) | Florida State (18–2) | Davidson (18–3) | Iowa (15–4) | Marquette (20–3) | Notre Dame (21–6) | 9. |
| 10. | Colorado | Notre Dame (3–0) | Ohio (3–0) | Washington (6–0) | Jacksonville (8–0) | NC State (10–0) | Marquette (11–1) | NC State (12–1) | Illinois (12–2) | Penn (16–1) | North Carolina (14–4) | Marquette (17–3) | Florida State (21–3) | Davidson (22–4) | NC State (22–6) | 10. |
| 11. | Duquesne | Louisville (1–0) | Santa Clara (4–0) | Notre Dame (6–1) | Davidson (4–1) | Houston (11–1) | NC State (11–1) | Davidson (11–2) | Davidson (13–2) | USC (13–3) | Drake (16–4) | Iowa (13–4) | Davidson (19–4) | Florida State (23–3) | Florida State (23–3) | 11. |
| 12. | Santa Clara | Marquette (2–0) | Purdue (3–1) | USC (4–2) | St. Bonaventure (5–0) | Tennessee (7–1) | Niagara (11–0) | Illinois (12–2) | Houston (12–2) | Florida State (16–2) | Marquette (14–3) | NC State (18–3) | Western Kentucky (19–2) | Western Kentucky (21–2) | Houston (25–3) | 12. |
| 13. | Notre Dame | Villanova (2–0) | USC (3–1) | Jacksonville (5–0) | Notre Dame (6–2) | Marquette (9–1) | Columbia (13–1) | Ohio (11–2) | Ohio (12–2) | Drake (15–4) | Davidson (16–3) | North Carolina (16–5) | Notre Dame (19–5) | Houston (22–3) | Penn (25–2) | 13. |
| 14. | St. John's | Purdue (2–0) | Louisville (2–1) | Louisville (3–1) | Penn (7–0) | Washington (9–2) | Ohio (9–2) | Penn (12–1) | Penn (14–1) | Illinois (12–3) | Iowa (11–4) | Notre Dame (16–5) | NC State (19–4) | Drake (20–6) | Drake (21–6) | 14. |
| 15. | Louisville | Santa Clara (2–0) | LSU (4–0) | Illinois (6–0) | Columbia (8–0) | Niagara (10–0) | Washington (10–2) т | USC (10–3) | USC (11–3) | Davidson (14–3) | Houston (16–3) | Houston (18–3) | Houston (20–3) | Notre Dame (20–6) | Davidson (22–5) | 15. |
| 16. | USC | Ohio State (2–0) | Colorado (5–1) | Kansas (6–1) | NC State (9–0) | Oklahoma (10–1) | Penn (11–1) т | Duke (9–2) | Drake (13–4) | Houston (14–3) | Notre Dame (14–5) | Western Kentucky (17–2) | Drake (19–5) | Kansas State (19–6) | Utah State (21–6) | 16. |
| 17. | St. Bonaventure | Colorado (3–1) | Marquette (4–1) | Penn (6–0) | Purdue (6–2) | Columbia (11–1) | Illinois (10–2) | Kansas State (12–3) | Columbia (13–2) | Columbia (14–2) | Western Kentucky (15–2) | Drake (17–5) | Kansas State (18–5) | Ohio (20–4) | Niagara (22–5) | 17. |
| 18. | Ohio State | Jacksonville (2–0) | Jacksonville (4–0) | Purdue (5–2) | Marquette (8–1) | Penn (8–1) | Louisville (7–2) | Iowa (8–3) т | Florida State (14–2) | Kansas State (14–3) | USC (13–4) | Kansas State (16–5) | Columbia (20–3) | Utah State (19–6) | Western Kentucky (22–3) | 18. |
| 19. | Drake | Ohio (2–0) | Houston (5–0) | St. Bonaventure (4–0) | USC (5–3) | Duke (8–1) | Duke (9–2) | Louisville (7–4) т | Kansas State (12–3) | Villanova (12–5) | Columbia (16–3) | Louisville (15–4) | North Carolina (17–6) | NC State (19–6) т | Long Beach State (24–3) | 19. |
| 20. | Houston | St. Bonaventure (1–0) | Washington (4–0) | Villanova (3–1) | Colorado (6–3) | Louisville (5–2) | USC (10–3) | Notre Dame (11–4) | Iowa (8–4) | Iowa (9–4) | Georgia (11–6) | Santa Clara (17–3) | Utah State (17–5) | Cincinnati (20–4) т | USC (18–8) | 20. |
| | Preseason | Week 1 Dec. 8 | Week 2 Dec. 15 | Week 3 Dec. 22 | Week 4 Dec. 29 | Week 5 Jan. 5 | Week 6 Jan. 12 | Week 7 Jan. 19 | Week 8 Jan. 26 | Week 9 Feb. 2 | Week 10 Feb. 9 | Week 11 Feb. 16 | Week 12 Feb. 23 | Week 13 Mar. 2 | Final Mar. 9 | |
| | | Dropped: St. John'sDrakeHouston | Dropped: DuquesneOhio StateSt. Bonaventure (2–0) | Dropped: Santa ClaraLSUColorado (5–3)Marquette (5–1) | Dropped: LouisvilleIllinois (6–1)Kansas (6–2)Villanova | Dropped: Notre DamePurdueUSCColorado | Dropped: TennesseeOklahoma | Dropped: NiagaraColumbia (13–2)Washington | Dropped: DukeLouisvilleNotre Dame | Dropped: Ohio | Dropped: Illinois (12–5)Kansas StateVillanova | Dropped: USCColumbia (18–3)Georgia | Dropped: LouisvilleSanta Clara | Dropped: ColumbiaNorth Carolina (18–7) | Dropped: Kansas StateOhioCincinnati (21–5) | |

## Coaches Poll

| | Preseason | Week 1 Dec. 9 | Week 2 Dec. 16 | Week 3 Dec. 23 | Week 4 Dec. 30 | Week 5 Jan. 6 | Week 6 Jan. 13 | Week 7 Jan. 20 | Week 8 Jan. 27 | Week 9 Feb. 3 | Week 10 Feb. 10 | Week 11 Feb. 17 | Week 12 Feb. 24 | Week 13 Mar. 3 | Final Mar. 10 | |
| 1. | UCLA | Kentucky (2–0) | Kentucky (4–0) | Kentucky (6–0) | Kentucky (7–0) | UCLA (8–0) | UCLA (10–0) | UCLA (12–0) | UCLA (14–0) | UCLA (16–0) | UCLA (17–0) | UCLA (20–0) | UCLA (21–1) | UCLA (23–1) | Kentucky (25–1) | 1. |
| 2. | South Carolina | UCLA (2–0) | UCLA (4–0) | UCLA (4–0) | UCLA (6–0) | Kentucky (9–0) | Kentucky (11–0) | Kentucky (13–0) | Kentucky (14–0) | South Carolina (15–1) | South Carolina (17–1) | Kentucky (19–1) | Kentucky (21–1) | Kentucky (23–1) | UCLA (24–2) | 2. |
| 3. | Kentucky | New Mexico State (3–0) | New Mexico State (6–0) | South Carolina (6–1) | South Carolina (6–1) | South Carolina (8–1) | South Carolina (10–1) | South Carolina (12–1) | St. Bonaventure (12–0) | Kentucky (15–1) | Kentucky (17–1) | South Carolina (19–2) | South Carolina (21–2) | South Carolina (23–2) | St. Bonaventure (23–1) | 3. |
| 4. | Purdue | South Carolina (1–1) | South Carolina (4–1) т | North Carolina (5–1) | North Carolina (6–1) | St. Bonaventure (8–0) | St. Bonaventure (10–0) | St. Bonaventure (10–0) | South Carolina (12–1) | St. Bonaventure (13–1) | St. Bonaventure (15–1) | St. Bonaventure (17–1) | St. Bonaventure (19–1) | St. Bonaventure (20–1) | New Mexico State (24–2) | 4. |
| 5. | New Mexico State | USC (2–0) т | USC (3–1) т | Houston (8–0) | Ohio (7–0) | North Carolina (9–1) | New Mexico State (14–1) | New Mexico State (15–1) | New Mexico State (16–1) | New Mexico State (17–2) | New Mexico State (18–2) | New Mexico State (20–2) | New Mexico State (21–2) | New Mexico State (23–2) | Jacksonville (24–1) | 5. |
| 6. | Colorado | Duquesne (3–0) т | Davidson (2–0) | Tennessee (4–0) | Washington (7–0) | New Mexico State (12–1) | North Carolina (11–2) | Jacksonville (13–0) | Jacksonville (13–0) | North Carolina (13–3) | NC State (17–1) | Jacksonville (19–1) | Jacksonville (21–1) | Jacksonville (22–1) | South Carolina (25–3) | 6. |
| 7. | North Carolina | Davidson (2–0) | Notre Dame (5–0) | New Mexico State (8–1) | St. Bonaventure (5–0) | Jacksonville (9–0) | Jacksonville (12–0) | Houston (12–1) | Marquette (13–1) | NC State (15–1) | Jacksonville (17–1) | Penn (21–1) | Penn (23–1) | Iowa (17–4) | Iowa (19–4) | 7. |
| 8. | Davidson | North Carolina (2–0) | Santa Clara (4–0) | Ohio (6–0) | New Mexico State (10–1) | Houston (11–1) | Houston (12–1) | Marquette (12–1) | North Carolina (12–3) | Jacksonville (14–1) | North Carolina (14–4) | NC State (18–3) | Iowa (15–4) | Penn (25–1) | Notre Dame (21–6) | 8. |
| 9. | USC | Tennessee (1–0) | North Carolina (3–1) | Kansas (6–1) | Houston (9–0) | Ohio (9–1) | Davidson (10–1) | Illinois (12–2) | Illinois (12–2) | Illinois (12–3) | Penn (19–1)Florida State (18–2) | Iowa (13–4) | Florida State (21–3) | Drake (20–6) | Drake (21–6) | 9. |
| 10. | Duquesne | Villanova (2–0) | Villanova (3–0) | St. Bonaventure (4–0) | Jacksonville (8–0) | Tennessee (7–1) | Marquette (11–1) | North Carolina (12–3) | Houston (12–2) | Marquette (14–2) | Drake (16–4) | Davidson (18–3) | Marquette (18–3) | Marquette (20–3) | Marquette (22–3) | 10. |
| 11. | Santa Clara | Ohio State (2–0) | Tennessee (2–0) | Washington (6–0) | Tennessee (5–0) | Washington (9–2) | Ohio (9–2) | Davidson (11–2) | Davidson (13–2) | Drake (15–4) | Davidson (16–3) т | Florida State (20–2) | NC State (19–4) т | Houston (22–3) | Houston (25–3) | 11. |
| 12. | Kansas | Louisville (1–0) | Ohio (3–0) | Illinois (6–0) | Notre Dame (6–2) | NC State (10–0) | Illinois (10–2) | Ohio (11–2) | NC State (13–1) | Utah (14–4) | Iowa (11–4) т | Drake (17–5) | Houston (20–3) т | Florida State (23–3) | NC State (22–6) | 12. |
| 13. | Marquette | Santa Clara (2–0) | Colorado (5–1) | Notre Dame (6–1) | Penn (7–0) | Marquette (9–1) | Washington (10–2) | UTEP (11–2) | Utah (12–4) | USC (13–3) | Houston (16–3) | North Carolina (16–5) | Davidson (19–4) | Davidson (22–4) | Penn (25–2) | 13. |
| 14. | St. John's | Marquette (2–0) | Illinois (4–0) | USC (4–2) | Wyoming (7–0) | Davidson (7–1) | Columbia (13–1) | Columbia (13–2) | USC (11–3) | Penn (16–1) | Wyoming (15–4) | Houston (18–3) | Drake (19–5) | UTEP (17–6) | Florida State (23–3) | 14. |
| 15. | Villanova | Purdue (1–1) | Washington (4–0) | Villanova (3–1) | Kansas (6–2) | Columbia (11–1) | UTEP (9–2) | USC (10–3) | Ohio (12–2) | Kansas State (14–3) | Marquette (14–3) т | Marquette (17–3) | Notre Dame (19–5) | Western Kentucky (21–2) | Long Beach State (24–3) т | 15. |
| 16. | St. Bonaventure | Notre Dame (3–0) | St. Bonaventure (2–0) | Davidson (3–1) | Davidson (4–1) | Oklahoma (10–1) | Penn (11–1) т | Penn (12–1) т | Penn (14–1) т | Davidson (14–3) | Notre Dame (14–5) т | Notre Dame (16–5) т | Western Kentucky (19–2) т | NC State (19–6) | Villanova (21–6) т | 16. |
| 17. | Arizona т | Illinois (2–0) | LSU (4–0) | St. John's (5–1) | Marquette (8–1) | Oregon (7–2) т | USC (10–3) т | Santa Clara (12–2) т | UTEP (11–3) т | Florida State (16–2) | Santa Clara (15–3) | Utah (16–6) т | Columbia (20–3) т | Cincinnati (20–4) | Utah State (21–6) т | 17. |
| 18. | New Mexico т | Colorado (3–1) | Dayton (3–0) | Wyoming (7–0) | Purdue (6–2) | Santa Clara (8–2) т | Utah (11–3) т | Wyoming (11–2) | Drake (13–4) | Santa Clara (13–2) т | Western Kentucky (15–2) | Western Kentucky (17–2) | North Carolina (17–6) т | Notre Dame (20–6) | Niagara (22–5) т | 18. |
| 19. | Louisville | Western Kentucky (2–0) | Jacksonville (4–0) | Jacksonville (5–0) | USC (5–3) | Utah (9–3) т | Wyoming (9–2) т | NC State (12–1) т | Santa Clara (13–2) | Utah State (13–3) т | Florida State (18–2) | Utah State (15–4) | Utah (17–7) | North Carolina (18–7) | Western Kentucky (22–3) т | 19. |
| 20. | La Salle | Jacksonville (2–0) St. Bonaventure (1–0) | Houston (5–0) | Marquette (5–1) | Colorado (6–3) | Washington State (9–2) т Wyoming (8–1) т | Niagara (11–0) | Drake (12–4) т Utah (11–4) т | Western Kentucky (12–2) | Houston (14–3) т Columbia (14–2) т | Illinois (12–5) т Ohio (15–3) т | Columbia (18–3) | Kansas State (18–5) | Villanova (19–6) | Cincinnati (21–5) т UTEP (17–7) т | 20. |
| | Preseason | Week 1 Dec. 9 | Week 2 Dec. 16 | Week 3 Dec. 23 | Week 4 Dec. 30 | Week 5 Jan. 6 | Week 6 Jan. 13 | Week 7 Jan. 20 | Week 8 Jan. 27 | Week 9 Feb. 3 | Week 10 Feb. 10 | Week 11 Feb. 17 | Week 12 Feb. 24 | Week 13 Mar. 3 | Final Mar. 10 | |
| | | Dropped: KansasSt. John'sArizonaNew MexicoLa Salle | Dropped: DuquesneOhio StateLouisville (2–1)Marquette (4–1)Purdue (3–1)Western Kentucky | Dropped: Santa ClaraColorado (5–3)LSUDayton | Dropped: IllinoisVillanovaSt. John's | Dropped: Notre DamePenn (8–1)KansasPurdueUSCColorado | Dropped: NC State (11–1)TennesseeOklahomaOregonSanta ClaraWashington State | Dropped: WashingtonNiagara | Dropped: ColumbiaWyoming | Dropped: OhioUTEPWestern Kentucky | Dropped: Utah (14–6)USC (13–4)Kansas StateUtah StateColumbia (16–3) | Dropped: WyomingSanta ClaraIllinoisOhio | Dropped: Utah State | Dropped: ColumbiaUtahKansas State (19–6) | Dropped: Davidson (22–5)North Carolina (18–8) | |