# 1970–71 NCAA University Division men's basketball rankings

The 1970–71 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. 7 | Week 2 Dec. 14 | Week 3 Dec. 21 | Week 4 Dec. 28 | Week 5 Jan. 4 | Week 6 Jan. 11 | Week 7 Jan. 18 | Week 8 Jan. 25 | Week 9 Feb. 1 | Week 10 Feb. 8 | Week 11 Feb. 15 | Week 12 Feb. 22 | Week 13 Mar. 1 | Week 14 Mar. 8 | Final Mar. 15 | |
| 1. | UCLA | UCLA (2–0) | UCLA (4–0) | UCLA (4–0) | UCLA (6–0) | UCLA (9–0) | UCLA (11–0) | UCLA (13–0) | Marquette (14–0) | Marquette (16–0) | UCLA (16–1) | UCLA (18–1) | UCLA (20–1) | UCLA (21–1) | UCLA (24–1) | UCLA (25–1) | 1. |
| 2. | South Carolina | South Carolina (2–0) | South Carolina (3–0) | South Carolina (5–0) | South Carolina (6–0) | South Carolina (9–0) | Marquette (11–0) | Marquette (13–0) | UCLA (14–1) | USC (16–0) | Marquette (18–0) | Marquette (20–0) | Marquette (21–0) | Marquette (23–0) | Marquette (26–0) | Marquette (27–0) | 2. |
| 3. | Kentucky | Jacksonville (2–0) | Kentucky (4–0) | Marquette (5–0) | Marquette (6–0) | Marquette (9–0) | USC (12–0) | USC (14–0) | USC (14–0) | UCLA (15–1) | USC (16–1) | USC (18–1) | USC (20–1) | USC (21–1) | USC (24–1) | Penn (27–0) | 3. |
| 4. | Jacksonville | Marquette (2–0) | Marquette (4–0) | Jacksonville (5–0) | USC (7–0) | USC (10–0) | Penn (11–0) | Penn (13–0) | Penn (15–0) | Penn (16–0) | Penn (18–0) | Penn (20–0) | Penn (22–0) | Kansas (22–1) | Penn (26–0) | Kansas (25–1) | 4. |
| 5. | Notre Dame | Kentucky (2–0) | Jacksonville (5–0) | Penn (5–0) | Western Kentucky (7–0) | Penn (8–0) | Western Kentucky (11–1) | Kansas (11–1) | Kansas (13–1) | Kansas (14–1) | Kansas (16–1) | Kansas (18–1) | Kansas (20–1) | Penn (24–0) | Kansas (23–1) | USC (24–2) | 5. |
| 6. | Marquette | Notre Dame (1–1) | Penn (4–0) | USC (6–0) | Penn (6–0) | Western Kentucky (9–1) | South Carolina (10–2) | Jacksonville (10–2) | Jacksonville (12–2) | Jacksonville (14–2) | Jacksonville (16–2) | Jacksonville (18–2) | Jacksonville (21–2) | South Carolina (19–4) | South Carolina (20–4) | South Carolina (23–4) | 6. |
| 7. | USC | Drake (2–0) | Notre Dame (3–1) | Kentucky (5–1) | Drake (8–0) | Jacksonville (7–2) | Jacksonville (8–2) | Western Kentucky (12–2) | Notre Dame (9–4) | South Carolina (11–3) | Western Kentucky (15–3) | South Carolina (14–4) | South Carolina (16–4) | Western Kentucky (20–4) | Western Kentucky (20–5) | Western Kentucky (21–5) | 7. |
| 8. | Villanova | Penn (2–0) | USC (4–0) | Kansas (6–0) | Kentucky (6–1) | Kansas (9–1) | Kansas (9–1) | Tennessee (11–2) | Tennessee (12–2) | Kentucky (13–3) | Kentucky (15–3) | North Carolina (16–3) | Duquesne (19–2) | Kentucky (20–4) | Kentucky (22–4) | Kentucky (22–4) | 8. |
| 9. | Western Kentucky | USC (2–0) | Drake (4–0) | Drake (6–0) | Jacksonville (5–1) | Notre Dame (6–2) | Notre Dame (7–2) | Notre Dame (8–3) | Utah State (15–2) | Western Kentucky (14–3) | Notre Dame (11–5) | Western Kentucky (16–4) | Western Kentucky (18–4) | Jacksonville (21–3) | Jacksonville (22–3) | Fordham (25–2) | 9. |
| 10. | Drake | Villanova (2–0) | Villanova (4–0) | Western Kentucky (5–0) | Tennessee (6–0) | St. Bonaventure (8–0) | Kentucky (9–2) | St. Bonaventure (9–1) | South Carolina (10–3) | La Salle (14–1) | South Carolina (13–4) | Duquesne (17–2) | Kentucky (18–4) | Fordham (21–2) | Fordham (23–2) | Ohio State (19–5) | 10. |
| 11. | Penn | Indiana (2–0) | Western Kentucky (4–0) | Indiana (5–1) | Villanova (8–1) | Kentucky (7–2) | Indiana (9–2) | South Carolina (10–3) | Kentucky (11–3) | Tennessee (13–3) | North Carolina (13–3) | La Salle (17–2) | Fordham (20–1) | Duquesne (19–3) | Duquesne (21–3) | Jacksonville (22–4) | 11. |
| 12. | Utah State | Kansas (2–0) | Kansas (4–0) | Tennessee (5–0) | Kansas (7–1) | Indiana (8–2) | St. Bonaventure (9–1) | Kentucky (10–3) | Western Kentucky (12–3) | Notre Dame (10–5) | Duquesne (15–2) | Kentucky (16–4) | Michigan (14–4) | North Carolina (19–4) | Ohio State (18–5) | Notre Dame (20–7) | 12. |
| 13. | Duke | Western Kentucky (2–0) | Indiana (3–1) | Villanova (6–1) | St. Bonaventure (6–0) | Louisville (8–1) | Villanova (11–3) | Utah State (12–2) | Oregon (10–2) | Utah State (15–3) | La Salle (15–2) | Tennessee (16–4) | North Carolina (17–4) | Ohio State (16–5) | North Carolina (20–5) | North Carolina (22–6) | 13. |
| 14. | Kansas | Army (2–0) | Tennessee (3–0) | Notre Dame (3–2) | Indiana (6–2) | Villanova (8–2) | Fordham (12–0) | Villanova (13–3) | La Salle (12–1) | Duquesne (12–2) | Tennessee (14–4) | Notre Dame (13–6) | La Salle (18–3) | Tennessee (19–5) | Notre Dame (19–7) | Houston (21–6) | 14. |
| 15. | New Mexico State | New Mexico State (2–0) | Utah State (5–1) | St. Bonaventure (5–0) | Notre Dame (3–2) | Utah State (9–2) | North Carolina (10–2) | La Salle (10–1) | Virginia (11–2) | Illinois (9–3) | Houston (17–3) | Utah State (19–4) | Louisville (17–4) | Houston (20–5) | Tennessee (20–6) | Duquesne (21–4) | 15. |
| 16. | Indiana | Utah State (2–1) | Oregon (4–1) | Purdue (5–2) | Oregon (6–1) | Drake (8–2) | Louisville (10–2) | Oregon (9–2) | Villanova (14–4) | North Carolina (12–3) | Michigan (12–4) | Michigan (13–4) | Utah State (19–5) | Notre Dame (17–7) | Utah State (20–6) | Long Beach State (23–4) | 16. |
| 17. | Houston | Tennessee (2–0) | New Mexico State (6–0) т | Oregon (5–1) т | Louisville (5–1) | Tennessee (7–2) | Utah State (10–2) | Fordham (12–1) | Duquesne (10–2) | Villanova (15–4) | Murray State (15–2) | Murray State (17–2) | Tennessee (17–5) | Long Beach State (21–4) | Long Beach State (22–4) | Tennessee (20–6) | 17. |
| 18. | Long Beach State | Oregon (3–0) | Florida State (5–1) т | North Carolina (5–1) т | LSU (5–0) | Fordham (11–0) | Tennessee (9–2) | Indiana (9–3) | Illinois (8–2) | Houston (15–3) | Villanova (16–4) | Fordham (18–1) | Ohio State (14–5) | Indiana (16–4) | Houston (20–6) | Drake (20–7) | 18. |
| 19. | NC State | St. Bonaventure (2–0) | St. Bonaventure (3–0) | St. John's (6–0) | Utah State (5–2) | North Carolina (8–2) т | Memphis State (11–2) | Virginia (11–2) | Murray State (13–2) | Murray State (14–2) | Utah State (17–4) | Louisville (16–4) | Notre Dame (15–7) | La Salle (19–4) | Duke (18–7) | Villanova (24–6) | 19. |
| 20. | St. Bonaventure | Louisville (2–0) | North Carolina (3–0) | New Mexico State (6–1) | Purdue (5–3) | Purdue (6–5) т | Oregon State (9–2) | North Carolina (11–3) | North Carolina (11–3) | Michigan (10–4) | Fordham (16–1) | Ohio State (12–5) | Long Beach State (20–4) | Utah State (20–6) | Miami (OH) (20–4) | BYU (19–9) | 20. |
| | Preseason | Week 1 Dec. 7 | Week 2 Dec. 14 | Week 3 Dec. 21 | Week 4 Dec. 28 | Week 5 Jan. 4 | Week 6 Jan. 11 | Week 7 Jan. 18 | Week 8 Jan. 25 | Week 9 Feb. 1 | Week 10 Feb. 8 | Week 11 Feb. 15 | Week 12 Feb. 22 | Week 13 Mar. 1 | Week 14 Mar. 8 | Final Mar. 15 | |
| | | Dropped: DukeHoustonLong Beach StateNC State | Dropped: ArmyLouisville | Dropped: Utah StateFlorida State | Dropped: North CarolinaSt. John'sNew Mexico State | Dropped: OregonLSU | Dropped: DrakePurdue | Dropped: LouisvilleMemphis StateOregon State | Dropped: St. BonaventureFordhamIndiana | Dropped: OregonVirginia | Dropped: Illinois (10–4) | Dropped: HoustonVillanova | Dropped: Murray State | Dropped: MichiganLouisville (17–6) | Dropped: IndianaLa Salle (20–6) | Dropped: Utah StateDukeMiami (OH) | |

## Coaches Poll

| | Preseason | Week 1 Dec. 7 | Week 2 Dec. 14 | Week 3 Dec. 21 | Week 4 Dec. 28 | Week 5 Jan. 4 | Week 6 Jan. 11 | Week 7 Jan. 18 | Week 8 Jan. 25 | Week 9 Feb. 1 | Week 10 Feb. 8 | Week 11 Feb. 15 | Week 12 Feb. 22 | Week 13 Mar. 1 | Week 14 Mar. 8 | Final Mar. 15 | |
| 1. | UCLA | UCLA (2–0) | UCLA (4–0) | UCLA (4–0) | UCLA (6–0) | UCLA (9–0) | UCLA (11–0) | UCLA (13–0) | USC (14–0) | USC (16–0) | UCLA (16–1) | UCLA (18–1) | UCLA (20–1) | UCLA (21–1) | UCLA (24–1) | UCLA (25–1) | 1. |
| 2. | South Carolina | South Carolina (2–0) | South Carolina (3–0) | South Carolina (5–0) | South Carolina (6–0) | South Carolina (9–0) | USC (12–0) | USC (14–0) | UCLA (14–1) | UCLA (15–1) | Marquette (18–0) | Marquette (20–0) | Marquette (21–0) | Marquette (23–0) | Marquette (26–0) | Marquette (27–0) | 2. |
| 3. | Jacksonville | Kentucky (2–0) | Jacksonville (5–0) | Jacksonville (5–0) | Marquette (6–0) | USC (10–0) | Marquette (11–0) | Marquette (13–0) | Marquette (14–0) | Marquette (16–0) | USC (16–1) | USC (18–1) | USC (20–1) | USC (21–1) | USC (24–1) | Penn (27–0) | 3. |
| 4. | Kentucky | Jacksonville (2–0) | Kentucky (4–0) | Marquette (5–0) | USC (7–0) | Marquette (9–0) | Penn (11–0) | Penn (13–0) | Penn (15–0) | Penn (16–0) | Penn (18–0) | Penn (20–0) | Penn (22–0) | Penn (24–0) | Penn (26–0) | Kansas (25–1) | 4. |
| 5. | Marquette | Marquette (2–0) | Marquette (4–0) | USC (6–0) | Western Kentucky (7–0) | Penn (8–0) | Western Kentucky (11–1) | Kansas (11–1) | Kansas (13–1) | Kansas (14–1) | Kansas (16–1) | Kansas (18–1) | Kansas (20–1) | Kansas (22–1) | Kansas (23–1) | USC (24–2) | 5. |
| 6. | Notre Dame | Notre Dame (1–1) | USC (4–0) | Penn (5–0) | Penn (6–0) | Western Kentucky (9–1) | South Carolina (10–2) | Jacksonville (10–2) | Jacksonville (12–2) | Jacksonville (14–2) | Jacksonville (16–2) | Jacksonville (18–2) | Jacksonville (21–2) | South Carolina (19–4) | Jacksonville (22–3) | South Carolina (23–4) | 6. |
| 7. | Penn | USC (2–0) | Penn (4–0) | Kentucky (5–1) | Kentucky (6–1) | Kansas (9–1) | Jacksonville (8–2) | Western Kentucky (12–2) | Notre Dame (9–4) | South Carolina (11–3) | Western Kentucky (15–3) | Western Kentucky (16–4) | South Carolina (16–4) | Western Kentucky (20–4) | South Carolina (20–4) | Western Kentucky (21–5) | 7. |
| 8. | Western Kentucky | Western Kentucky (2–0) | Kansas (4–0) | Kansas (6–0) | Jacksonville (5–1) | Kentucky (7–2) | Kansas (9–1) | South Carolina (10–3) | Tennessee (12–2) | Western Kentucky (14–3) | Kentucky (15–3) | Michigan (13–4) | Western Kentucky (18–4) | Jacksonville (21–3) | Western Kentucky (20–5) | Kentucky (22–4) | 8. |
| 9. | Utah State | Kansas (2–0) | Notre Dame (3–1) | St. John's (6–0) | Drake (8–0) | Jacksonville (7–2) | Kentucky (9–2) | Tennessee (11–2) | South Carolina (10–3) | Tennessee (13–3) | South Carolina (13–4) | South Carolina (14–4) | Fordham (20–1) | Fordham (21–2) | Kentucky (22–4) | Fordham (25–2) | 9. |
| 10. | USC | Penn (2–0) | Villanova (4–0) | Drake (6–0) | Villanova (8–1) | Notre Dame (6–2) | Notre Dame (7–2) | Villanova (13–3) | Western Kentucky (12–3) | Kentucky (13–3) | Notre Dame (11–5) | North Carolina (16–3) | Michigan (14–4) | Kentucky (20–4) | Fordham (23–2) | Ohio State (19–5) | 10. |
| 11. | Kansas | Indiana (2–0) | Western Kentucky (4–0) | Western Kentucky (5–0) | Kansas (7–1) | St. Bonaventure (8–0) | Fordham (12–0) | Utah State (12–2) | Utah State (15–2) | Illinois (9–3) | North Carolina (13–3) | La Salle (17–2) | Duquesne (19–2) | North Carolina (19–4) | Ohio State (18–5) | Jacksonville (22–4) т | 11. |
| 12. | Indiana | Villanova (2–0) | Drake (4–0) | Indiana (5–1) | Tennessee (6–0) | Villanova (8–2) | St. Bonaventure (9–1) | St. Bonaventure (9–1) | Oregon (10–2) | La Salle (14–1) | Michigan (12–4) | Duquesne (17–2) | Kentucky (18–4) | Duquesne (19–3) | Duquesne (21–3) | BYU (19–9) т | 12. |
| 13. | Villanova | Utah State (2–1) | Utah State (5–1) | Villanova (6–1) | St. John's (7–1) | Indiana (8–2) | Villanova (11–3) | Notre Dame (8–3) | Kentucky (11–3) | Notre Dame (10–5) | Duquesne (15–2) | Fordham (18–1) | North Carolina (17–4) т | Ohio State (16–5) | BYU (18–9) | North Carolina (22–6) | 13. |
| 14. | Florida State | Drake (2–0) | North Carolina (3–0) | Notre Dame (3–2) | Louisville (5–1) | Louisville (8–1) т | Indiana (9–2) | La Salle (10–1) | La Salle (12–1) | Fordham (13–1) | Fordham (16–1) | Kentucky (16–4) | La Salle (18–3) т | Houston (20–5) | North Carolina (20–5) | Notre Dame (20–7) т | 14. |
| 15. | Long Beach State | Louisville (2–0) | Indiana (3–1) | Oregon (5–1) | Colorado State (7–1) т | Oregon (7–2) т | North Carolina (10–2) | Oregon (9–2) | Fordham (12–1) | North Carolina (12–3) | La Salle (15–2) т | Tennessee (16–4) | Louisville (17–4) т | Louisville (17–6) | Houston (20–6) т | Long Beach State (23–4) т | 15. |
| 16. | Drake т | Florida State (3–0) | New Mexico State (6–0) | North Carolina (5–1) | New Mexico (9–1) т | Fordham (11–0) | Oregon (9–2) | Fordham (12–1) | Illinois (8–2) | Utah State (15–3) | Tennessee (14–4) т | Utah State (19–4) | Tennessee (17–5) | La Salle (19–4) | Drake (19–7) т | Drake (20–7) | 16. |
| 17. | Utah т | Long Beach State (1–1) | Colorado State (5–0) | Tennessee (5–0) т | Oregon (6–1) | Utah State (9–2) | Weber State (9–1) | Kentucky (10–3) т | Villanova (14–4) | Michigan (10–4) | Houston (17–3) т | Louisville (16–4) | Villanova (20–6) | Utah State (20–6) | Hawaii (22–4) т | Villanova (24–6) | 17. |
| 18. | Kansas State | Tennessee (2–0) | Florida State (5–1) | Utah State (5–2) т | Indiana (6–2) т | North Carolina (8–2) | Utah State (10–2) | Weber State (10–1) т | Duquesne (10–2) т | Duquesne (12–2) | Illinois (10–4) т | Houston (17–4) т | Utah State (19–5) т | Hawaii (22–4) т | Notre Dame (19–7) т | Houston (21–6) т | 18. |
| 19. | Duke | New Mexico (2–0) | Long Beach State (4–1) | Colorado State (6–1) т | LSU (5–0) т | Drake (8–2) т | Louisville (10–2) т | Illinois (8–2) | North Carolina (11–3) т | Villanova (15–4) т | Oregon (12–4) т | Villanova (18–6) т | Arizona State (15–7) т | Villanova (22–6) т | Utah State (20–6) т | Duquesne (21–4) т | 19. |
| 20. | Illinois | North Carolina (2–0) | St. John's (3–0) | New Mexico (8–1) т | Utah State (5–2) т | New Mexico (9–2) т | New Mexico (10–3) т | North Carolina (11–3) | Memphis State (12–3) т | Nebraska (12–3) т | Louisville (15–4) | Notre Dame (13–6) | Hawaii (21–3) т | Weber State (20–5) т | La Salle (20–6) т Louisville (19–7) т Weber State (21–5) т | Weber State (21–6) | 20. |
| | Preseason | Week 1 Dec. 7 | Week 2 Dec. 14 | Week 3 Dec. 21 | Week 4 Dec. 28 | Week 5 Jan. 4 | Week 6 Jan. 11 | Week 7 Jan. 18 | Week 8 Jan. 25 | Week 9 Feb. 1 | Week 10 Feb. 8 | Week 11 Feb. 15 | Week 12 Feb. 22 | Week 13 Mar. 1 | Week 14 Mar. 8 | Final Mar. 15 | |
| | | Dropped: UtahKansas StateDukeIllinois | Dropped: LouisvilleTennesseeNew Mexico | Dropped: New Mexico State (6–1)Florida StateLong Beach State | Dropped: Notre DameNorth Carolina | Dropped: TennesseeSt. John'sColorado StateLSU | Dropped: Drake | Dropped: Indiana (9–3)LouisvilleNew Mexico | Dropped: St. BonaventureWeber State | Dropped: OregonMemphis State | Dropped: Utah State (17–4)Villanova (16–4)Nebraska | Dropped: IllinoisOregon | Dropped: HoustonNotre Dame (15–7) | Dropped: MichiganTennesseeArizona State | Dropped: Villanova | Dropped: HawaiiUtah StateLa SalleLouisville | |