# 1971–72 NCAA University Division men's basketball rankings

The 1971–72 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. 6 | Week 2 Dec. 13 | Week 3 Dec. 20 | Week 4 Dec. 27 | Week 5 Jan. 3 | Week 6 Jan. 10 | Week 7 Jan. 17 | Week 8 Jan. 24 | Week 9 Jan. 31 | Week 10 Feb. 7 | Week 11 Feb. 14 | Week 12 Feb. 21 | Week 13 Feb. 28 | Week 14 Mar. 6 | Final Mar. 13 | |
| 1. | UCLA | UCLA (2–0) | UCLA (4–0) | 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 (19–0) | UCLA (20–0) | UCLA (23–0) | UCLA (25–0) | UCLA (26–0) | 1. |
| 2. | North Carolina | Marquette (2–0) | Marquette (4–0) | Marquette (5–0) | Marquette (6–0) | Marquette (8–0) | Marquette (10–0) | Marquette (12–0) | Marquette (14–0) | Marquette (16–0) | Marquette (17–0) | Marquette (19–0) | Marquette (22–0) | Louisville (20–2) | Penn (23–2) | North Carolina (23–4) | 2. |
| 3. | USC | North Carolina (2–0) | South Carolina (4–0) | South Carolina (4–0) | South Carolina (5–0) | North Carolina (8–1) | North Carolina (9–1) | North Carolina (11–1) | Louisville (12–1) | Louisville (15–1) | North Carolina (16–2) | North Carolina (17–2) | Louisville (19–2) | North Carolina (20–3) | North Carolina (21–4) | Penn (23–2) | 3. |
| 4. | Marquette | Ohio State (2–0) | North Carolina (3–1) | North Carolina (5–1) | North Carolina (5–1) | South Carolina (7–1) | South Carolina (7–2) | Long Beach State (14–1) | Long Beach State (15–1) | North Carolina (13–2) | Louisville (16–2) | Louisville (18–2) | Penn (18–2) | Penn (20–2) | Louisville (20–3) | Louisville (24–3) | 4. |
| 5. | Ohio State | Maryland (2–0) | Penn (4–0) | USC (5–1) | USC (6–1) | Indiana (8–1) | Louisville (9–1) | South Carolina (8–2) | North Carolina (12–2) | Long Beach State (16–1) | Penn (14–2) | Penn (16–2) | North Carolina (18–3) | Marquette (22–1) | Long Beach State (23–3) | Long Beach State (23–3) | 5. |
| 6. | Maryland | Long Beach State (2–0) | BYU (4–0) | Ohio State (4–1) | Ohio State (6–1) | Penn (7–1) | Penn (9–1) | Louisville (11–1) | Ohio State (11–2) | Penn (12–2) | Virginia (15–1) | Virginia (17–1) | Long Beach State (21–3) | Long Beach State (23–3) | South Carolina (22–4) | South Carolina (22–4) | 6. |
| 7. | Houston | Kentucky (2–0) | Kentucky (3–1) | BYU (6–1) | Indiana (6–1) | Louisville (8–1) | Long Beach State (12–1) | Ohio State (10–2) | USC (11–2) | Virginia (13–1) | Ohio State (14–3) | South Carolina (16–3) | BYU (18–3) | BYU (20–3) | Marquette (24–2) | Marquette (24–2) | 7. |
| 8. | Long Beach State | Jacksonville (2–0) | St. John's (3–1) | Indiana (5–1) | BYU (7–1) | Long Beach State (9–1) | Virginia (11–0) | USC (11–2) | Virginia (12–1) | South Carolina (12–3) | Long Beach State (18–2) | Ohio State (15–4) | Marshall (21–2) | South Carolina (19–4) | BYU (20–4) | Southwestern Louisiana (24–3) | 8. |
| 9. | Louisville | Michigan (2–0) | Florida State (5–0) | Long Beach State (5–1) | St. John's (7–1) | Virginia (9–0) | Ohio State (9–2) | Virginia (12–1) | Penn (10–2) | Ohio State (12–3) | South Carolina (16–3) | Long Beach State (19–3) | South Carolina (17–4) | Marshall (22–2) | Southwestern Louisiana (23–3) | BYU (21–5) | 9. |
| 10. | Kentucky | Penn (2–0) | Ohio State (3–1) | St. John's (5–1) | Long Beach State (7–1) | Ohio State (7–2) | USC (9–2) | Penn (9–2) | Florida State (15–2) | BYU (14–2) | BYU (16–2) | Marshall (19–2) | Southwestern Louisiana (20–2) | Florida State (23–4) | Marshall (23–3) | Florida State (24–5) | 10. |
| 11. | Jacksonville | South Carolina (1–0) | USC (3–1) | Kentucky (5–2) | Virginia (7–0) | USC (7–2) | Villanova (10–1) | Florida State (13–2) | South Carolina (10–3) | Marshall (15–2) | Marshall (17–2) | BYU (17–3) | Florida State (21–4) | Southwestern Louisiana (22–3) | Memphis State (21–5) | Minnesota (17–6) | 11. |
| 12. | South Carolina | Houston (2–1) | Indiana (4–0) | Southwestern Louisiana (4–1) | Kentucky (5–2) | Maryland (8–1) | Florida State (11–2) | Southwestern Louisiana (11–1) | Southwestern Louisiana (12–1) | Florida State (16–3) | Providence (14–2) | Southwestern Louisiana (17–2) | Maryland (17–3) | Virginia (20–4) | Hawaii (24–2) | Marshall (23–4) | 12. |
| 13. | Michigan | USC (1–1) | Long Beach State (3–0) | Penn (4–1) | Southwestern Louisiana (4–1) | Marshall (9–1) | Southwestern Louisiana (8–1) | BYU (11–2) | BYU (12–2) | Southwestern Louisiana (13–2) | Southwestern Louisiana (14–2) | Providence (14–2) | Virginia (18–3) | Houston (19–5) | Maryland (21–4) | Memphis State (21–6) | 13. |
| 14. | Kansas | St. John's (1–0) | Jacksonville (4–1) | Florida State (5–1) | Penn (5–1) | Villanova (9–1) | BYU (10–2) | Princeton (14–2) | Marshall (14–2) | Hawaii (17–1) | Florida State (17–4) | Florida State (19–4) | Missouri (19–3) | Ohio State (16–5) | Florida State (23–5) | Maryland (23–5) | 14. |
| 15. | Penn | BYU (2–0) | Maryland (2–1) | Maryland (4–1) | Louisville (5–1) | Southwestern Louisiana (5–1) | Kentucky (8–2) | Villanova (11–2) | Hawaii (15–1) | Missouri (14–2) | Memphis State (14–4) | Missouri (17–3) | Ohio State (15–5) | Hawaii (24–2) | Virginia (20–5) | Villanova (19–6) | 15. |
| 16. | New Mexico | Louisville (1–1) | Southwestern Louisiana (4–1) | Jacksonville (5–1) | Maryland (6–1) | Hawaii (9–0) | Illinois (9–1) | Marshall (12–2) | Minnesota (10–3) | Providence (13–2) | Jacksonville (14–2) | Hawaii (20–2) | Houston (17–5) | Michigan (13–7) | Minnesota (16–6) | Oral Roberts (25–1) | 16. |
| 17. | St. John's | Arizona State (2–0) | Louisville (3–1) | Ohio (3–1) | Marshall (7–0) | St. John's (8–2) | Indiana (8–3) | Minnesota (8–3) | Princeton (14–3) | Jacksonville (12–2) | Missouri (15–3) | Kentucky (15–4) | Hawaii (22–2) | Oral Roberts (22–1) | Oral Roberts (24–1) | Indiana (17–7) | 17. |
| 18. | Villanova | Florida State (2–0) т | Princeton (3–1) | Virginia (5–0) | Hawaii (6–0) | BYU (8–2) | Missouri (11–1) | Hawaii (13–1) | Maryland (11–2) | USC (11–5) | Hawaii (18–2) | Memphis State (15–5) | Kentucky (17–4) | Maryland (18–4) | Missouri (21–4) | Kentucky (20–6) | 18. |
| 19. | BYU | Villanova (2–1) т | Virginia (4–0) | Louisville (3–1) | West Virginia (5–0) | Kentucky (7–2) | Hawaii (10–1) | Tennessee (8–2) | Northern Illinois (10–1) | Minnesota (11–4) | Minnesota (12–4) | Maryland (16–3) | Memphis State (17–5) | Missouri (19–4) | Houston (20–6) | Ohio State (18–6) | 19. |
| 20. | Oklahoma | NC State (2–0) | Houston (3–2) | Marshall (6–0) | Tennessee (3–1) | Florida State (8–2) | Marshall (10–2) | Northern Illinois (10–1) | Missouri (13–2) | Michigan (10–6) | Duquesne (14–2) | Tennessee (13–4) | Oral Roberts (20–1) | Memphis State (19–5) | Indiana (15–7) | Virginia (21–6) | 20. |
| | Preseason | Week 1 Dec. 6 | Week 2 Dec. 13 | Week 3 Dec. 20 | Week 4 Dec. 27 | Week 5 Jan. 3 | Week 6 Jan. 10 | Week 7 Jan. 17 | Week 8 Jan. 24 | Week 9 Jan. 31 | Week 10 Feb. 7 | Week 11 Feb. 14 | Week 12 Feb. 21 | Week 13 Feb. 28 | Week 14 Mar. 6 | Final Mar. 13 | |
| | | Dropped: KansasNew MexicoOklahoma | Dropped: MichiganArizona StateVillanovaNC State (3–1) | Dropped: PrincetonHouston | Dropped: Florida State (5–2)Jacksonville (5–1)Ohio | Dropped: West VirginiaTennessee | Dropped: Maryland (9–2)St. John's | Dropped: KentuckyIllinoisIndianaMissouri (12–2) | Dropped: VillanovaTennessee | Dropped: PrincetonMarylandNorthern Illinois | Dropped: USCMichigan | Dropped: JacksonvilleMinnesotaDuquesne | Dropped: Providence (16–4)Tennessee | Dropped: Kentucky | Dropped: Ohio StateMichigan | Dropped: HawaiiMissouri (21–5)Houston | |

## 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 Feb. 29 | Week 14 Mar. 7 | Final Mar. 14 | |
| 1. | UCLA | UCLA (2–0) | UCLA (4–0) | 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 (19–0) | UCLA (20–0) | UCLA (23–0) | UCLA (25–0) | UCLA (26–0) | 1. |
| 2. | Marquette | North Carolina (2–0) | Marquette (4–0) | Marquette (5–0) | Marquette (6–0) | Marquette (8–0) | Marquette (10–0) | Marquette (12–0) | Marquette (14–0) | Marquette (16–0) | Marquette (17–0) | Marquette (19–0) | Marquette (22–0) | North Carolina (20–3) | North Carolina (21–4) | North Carolina (23–4) | 2. |
| 3. | USC | Marquette (2–0) | South Carolina (4–0) | South Carolina (4–0) | South Carolina (5–0) | North Carolina (8–1) | North Carolina (9–1) | North Carolina (11–1) | Louisville (12–1) | Louisville (15–1) | North Carolina (16–2) | North Carolina (17–2) | North Carolina (18–3) | Louisville (20–2) | Penn (23–2) | Penn (23–2) | 3. |
| 4. | North Carolina | Ohio State (2–0) | BYU (4–0) | North Carolina (5–1) | North Carolina (5–1) | South Carolina (7–1) | South Carolina (7–2) | South Carolina (8–2) | Long Beach State (15–1) | North Carolina (13–2) | Louisville (16–2) | South Carolina (16–3) | Penn (18–2) | Penn (20–2) | South Carolina (22–4) | Louisville (24–3) | 4. |
| 5. | Ohio State | Maryland (2–0) | North Carolina (3–1) | USC (5–1) | USC (6–1) | Indiana (8–1) | Penn (9–1) | Louisville (11–1) | North Carolina (12–2) | Long Beach State (16–1) | Penn (14–2) | Penn (16–2) | Louisville (19–2) | Marquette (22–1) | Long Beach State (23–3) | South Carolina (22–4) | 5. |
| 6. | Houston | Kentucky (2–0) | St. John's (3–1) | Ohio State (4–1) | Ohio State (6–1) | Louisville (8–1) | Louisville (9–1) | Long Beach State (14–1) т | Ohio State (11–2) | South Carolina (12–3) | South Carolina (16–3) | Louisville (18–2) | Long Beach State (21–3) | South Carolina (19–4) | Louisville (20–3) | Long Beach State (23–3) | 6. |
| 7. | Maryland | Long Beach State (2–0) | Ohio State (3–1) | Long Beach State (5–1) | Indiana (6–1) | Penn (7–1) | Long Beach State (12–1) | Ohio State (10–2) т | USC (11–2) | Penn (12–2) | Ohio State (14–3) | Virginia (17–1) | BYU (18–3) т | BYU (20–3) | Marquette (24–2) | Marquette (24–2) | 7. |
| 8. | Louisville | South Carolina (1–0) | USC (3–1) | Indiana (5–1) | St. John's (7–1) | Long Beach State (9–1) | Ohio State (9–2) | USC (11–2) | South Carolina (10–3) | Ohio State (12–3) | Long Beach State (18–2) | Long Beach State (19–3) | South Carolina (17–4) т | Long Beach State (23–3) | BYU (20–4) | Southwestern Louisiana (24–3) | 8. |
| 9. | Long Beach State | Michigan (2–0) | Penn (4–0) | St. John's (5–1) | BYU (7–1) | Ohio State (7–2) | Virginia (11–0) | Penn (9–2) | Penn (10–2) | Virginia (13–1) | Virginia (15–1) | Ohio State (15–4) | Missouri (19–3) | Virginia (20–4) | Memphis State (21–5) | BYU (21–5) | 9. |
| 10. | Kentucky | Houston (2–1) | Indiana (4–0) | Southwestern Louisiana (4–1) | Long Beach State (7–1) | Maryland (8–1) | USC (9–2) | Florida State (13–2) | Florida State (15–2) | BYU (14–2) | BYU (16–2) | BYU (17–3) | Virginia (18–3) | Marshall (22–2) | Marshall (23–3) | Florida State (24–5) | 10. |
| 11. | Jacksonville | Jacksonville (2–0) | Kentucky (3–1) | BYU (6–1) | Southwestern Louisiana (4–1) | USC (7–2) | Missouri (11–1) | Virginia (12–1) | Virginia (12–1) | Florida State (16–3) | Southwestern Louisiana (14–2) | Florida State (19–4) | Maryland (17–3) | Florida State (23–4) | Southwestern Louisiana (23–3) | Maryland (23–5) | 11. |
| 12. | New Mexico State | USC (1–1) | Southwestern Louisiana (4–1) | Florida State (5–1) | Hawaii (6–0) | Florida State (8–2) | Florida State (11–2) | Southwestern Louisiana (11–1) | Southwestern Louisiana (12–1) | Missouri (14–2) | Florida State (17–4) | Missouri (17–3) | Southwestern Louisiana (20–2) | Southwestern Louisiana (22–3) | Missouri (21–4) | Minnesota (17–6) | 12. |
| 13. | South Carolina | St. John's (1–0) | Florida State (5–0) | Maryland (4–1) | Louisville (5–1) | St. John's (8–2) | Villanova (10–1) | Princeton (14–2) | BYU (12–2) | Southwestern Louisiana (13–2) | Providence (14–2) | Southwestern Louisiana (17–2) | Florida State (21–4) | Maryland (18–4) | Hawaii (24–2) | Memphis State (21–6) | 13. |
| 14. | BYU | BYU (2–0) | Arizona State (4–1) | Kentucky (5–2) | Maryland (6–1) | Hawaii (9–0) | Illinois (9–1) | BYU (11–2) | Minnesota (10–3) | Providence (13–2) | Kentucky (13–4) | Maryland (16–3) | Ohio State (15–5) | Houston (19–5) | Maryland (21–4) | Kentucky (20–6) | 14. |
| 15. | St. John's | Penn (2–0) | Maryland (2–1) | Ohio (3–1) | Kentucky (5–2) | Villanova (9–1) т | BYU (10–2) | Maryland (10–2) | Missouri (13–2) | Hawaii (17–1) | Missouri (15–3) | Providence (14–2) | Kentucky (17–4) | Ohio State (16–5) т | Houston (20–6) | Villanova (19–6) | 15. |
| 16. | Kansas | Minnesota (2–0) | Long Beach State (3–0) | Louisville (3–1) | Jacksonville (5–1) | Kentucky (7–2) т | Southwestern Louisiana (8–1) | Villanova (11–2) | Maryland (11–2) | Marshall (15–2) | Marshall (17–2) | Marshall (19–2) | Marshall (21–2) | Michigan (13–7) т | Minnesota (16–6) | Kansas State (18–8) | 16. |
| 17. | Villanova | Arizona State (2–0) | Louisville (3–1) | Arizona State (5–2) | Florida State (5–2) | Southwestern Louisiana (5–1) | Duquesne (8–0) | Hawaii (13–1) | Princeton (14–3) | Jacksonville (12–2) | Hawaii (18–2) т | Hawaii (20–2) | Houston (17–5) | Memphis State (19–5) | UTEP (20–5) | UTEP (20–6) | 17. |
| 18. | Michigan | Kansas (1–1) | Princeton (3–1) | Minnesota (3–1) | Villanova (6–1) | Virginia (9–0) | Kentucky (8–2) | Minnesota (8–3) т | Marshall (14–2) | UTEP (15–3) | Maryland (14–3) т | Kentucky (15–4) | Hawaii (22–2) | Detroit (17–5) | Virginia (20–5) | Marshall (23–4) | 18. |
| 19. | Harvard | Villanova (2–1) | NC State (3–1) | Penn (4–1) т | Penn (5–1) | Missouri (10–1) | UTEP (11–2) | Tennessee (8–2) т | Hawaii (15–1) т | Washington (13–3) | Villanova (13–5) т | Houston (14–5) т | Providence (16–4) т | Missouri (19–4) | Providence (19–5) | Missouri (21–5) т | 19. |
| 20. | Pacific | NC State (2–0) | Saint Louis (3–1) | Jacksonville (5–1) т | Arizona State (6–2) | BYU (8–2) | Maryland (9–2) | Missouri (12–2) т | Fordham (10–4) т | Minnesota (11–4) | Washington (14–3) т | Saint Joseph's (15–4) т | Toledo (16–4) т | Duquesne (18–4) | Temple (23–7) | Weber State (17–9) т | 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 Feb. 29 | Week 14 Mar. 7 | Final Mar. 14 | |
| | | Dropped: LouisvilleNew Mexico StateHarvardPacific | Dropped: MichiganHouston (3–2)Jacksonville (3–1)MinnesotaKansasVillanova | Dropped: PrincetonNC StateSaint Louis | Dropped: OhioMinnesota | Dropped: JacksonvilleArizona State | Dropped: IndianaSt. John'sHawaii | Dropped: IllinoisDuquesneKentuckyUTEP | Dropped: VillanovaTennessee | Dropped: USCMarylandPrincetonFordham | Dropped: JacksonvilleUTEPMinnesota | Dropped: VillanovaWashington | Dropped: Saint Joseph's | Dropped: KentuckyHawaiiProvidenceToledo | Dropped: Florida StateOhio StateMichiganDetroitDuquesne | Dropped: HawaiiHoustonVirginia (21–6)ProvidenceTemple | |